The icy cold that comes with winter is followed by the warmth of the holidays. For students, the holiday season often coincides with final exams. This already busy season is burdened with more stress as students attempt to balance school with their holiday activities.

The University of Wisconsin-Superior strives to spread the holiday warmth by making the season a little easier for these students. One way they do so is through their campus centers.

UWS’s Veteran and Nontraditional Student Center (VNSC) acts as a valuable source of support for nontraditional students. Nontraditional students are especially susceptible to additional challenges this time of year. A nontraditional student is someone who meets any one of the following characteristics: 25 years or older, married (with or without children), single with children, active duty military, a veteran, or a family member of a veteran or of active duty military.

The VNSC is once again presenting its Giving Tree this holiday season. Starting in 2013, the Giving Tree is a charitable project in which givers can assist UW-Superior families by helping with holiday gifts.

The center took over the organization of the project in 2015. Since then, the Giving Tree has helped more than 230 families.

Children from 14 families are benefiting from the tradition this year. Each ornament provides ideas for what each child would like as gifts. Families send in a mixture of gift ideas and necessities that will aid them in the coming season.

Gift givers can stop by the center in Old Main, Room 188, to pick up an ornament. The VNSC asks that gifts be brought back to the center by December 15. There, staff will assure that gifts get to every participating UWS family.

Members of the community are welcome to visit the VNSC and check out a Giving Tree ornament and purchase a gift. Currently, there are more than 11 ornaments remaining.

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.