From the Nominator

Kalamazoo College made the difficult decision to go virtual in the fall, due to the coronavirus pandemic. As we approached our gradual reopening in January, we wanted to create a holiday card that acknowledged the challenges of the past several months, while capturing a sense of optimism about the future. In our take on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," our mascot, Buzz, delivers a special gift to the president and his wife that reminds viewers that, despite the miles and health protocols that may separate us, the strong bonds of our K community are what make Kalamazoo College such a special place.

From the Judges

Just like the Paddington films, the Kalamazoo College 2020 holiday video is all heart. The warmth jumps off the screen from the first frame to the last frame of the exceptional alumni-made cross-stitch with Kalamazoo’s president’s rendition “The Night Before Christmas,” with a school-specific twist. It balances the fine line between being too cheerful and too sullen during the COVID-19 pandemic with aplomb, and its success with the Kalamazoo community shows. Watching this video makes it feel like the holidays any time of the year.