A little over 10 years ago, someone told Creighton’s fire safety specialist he looked like Santa Claus and invited him to wear the red suit for a campus event. Justin Burgett has been Creighton’s Santa ever since. And his duties go well beyond taking selfies with students and making occasional TikTok videos in the KFC. He does charity work. He’s flown in helicopters. He’s surprised kids at their homes. “If you’re going to be Santa Claus, you have to play the part.” Learn more about Burgett and why this gig is so special to him.

On days when the holidays feel a bit stressful — when your cup of cheer needs a refill — don’t forget about prioritizing your own mental health. Creighton’s Student Counseling Services has a few tips to consider.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Everywhere you go (on campus). Take a look at the church and the Mall. Glistening, for us all. With candy canes and silver lanes — well, you get the picture. 

Which classic Christmas movies truly embody Creighton values — and which ones do not??? We have some thoughts! There’s even an interactive quadrant analysis chart, so you can see where your favorite films fall on our hypothetical scale of Creightonness. Get your popcorn ready! 

Celebrate the Holidays with the Jays! Be a student for the day and purchase your tickets in the student section for select games starting at just $40. Your package includes seats in the student section for your selected game, plus an exclusive Creighton Basketball t-shirt per ticket purchased. Spots are limited, so hurry and secure your tickets.

When you make a tax-deductible gift before Wednesday, Dec. 31, your contributions will immediately go to work, helping students start strong in the new year. In this season of giving, consider supporting the scholarships and programs that make Creighton great. Make a gift. 

We polled our alumni audience this fall and asked a very important Christmas question: What is your favorite holiday movie? Before you scroll to the bottom of this email to see the most popular pick, make your guesses! 

(Spoiler: “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” “Christmas Vacation” and “The Polar Express” were high on the list. But not the No. 1 answer.) 

After teaching high school biology in an underserved community in Arizona for four years, Lucas Fornefeld, MD’25, decided to go to medical school. Creighton was the perfect fit. He’s also proud to be part of the Phoenix campus’s first full class of med school grads. Read more.

Because who doesn’t need a little more Bluejay spirit this holiday season??? We have digital Creighton-themed Christmas cards that you can screenshot/download and share with your families and friends. Plus, Creighton-inspired gift tag designs! Get the cards. And the tags.

One of the gifts of Advent: An invitation to reflect on God’s love and power of hope. Instead of examining the struggles and annoyances immediately before us, we can look beyond. And that’s where Fr. Jim Caime, SJ, finds himself gazing this month. Read Fr. Caime’s reflection. 

Creighton’s volleyball team advanced to its third-consecutive Sweet 16 by winning two NCAA Tournament matches inside D.J. Sokol Arena last weekend. The Jays defeated Northern Colorado and Northern Iowa — and now they’re riding a 22-match win streak all the way to Lexington, Ky. Up first on Friday: Arizona State. Read more about Creighton’s Sweet 16 run. 

Each month, we share a selection of updates and accomplishments from our Creighton alumni community! Click here to view all Class Notes.

“Elf” is the best Christmas movie of all-time, as it received the most votes in our unscientific but totally accurate alumni poll. 

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