This year marks my 30th Thanksgiving meal on campus.
Thirty. That is not only a lot of turkey but also more than a few stories worth remembering. I can’t tell you exactly how long this event has been happening here at Fresno Pacific, but I can tell you it has been an important and cherished part of campus life since before I arrived as a student in 1995.
From the beginning, the heart of it has always been the same: a chance for our entire university family, students, faculty, staff and friends, to share one table and one meal together.
For our international students, this meal may be their first Thanksgiving experience. For those of us who grew up with it, it serves as a reminder not to take the day for granted. I used to think of Thanksgiving as turkey, family and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys to lose, but seeing students celebrate far from home made me understand it differently. We all have a chance to feel like we are part of a new family, even when we are away from the people who usually fill our table.
One of my favorite parts each year is the Parade of Nations.
Students carry the flags of their home countries through the Special Events Center while the rest of us cheer them on. This year, thirty-six nations are represented, with the United States always filing in last. The flags are then displayed on the mezzanine for the rest of the meal, serving as a colorful reminder of who we are as a community.
And while the meal itself has evolved, some years the turkey is perfect, others… well, I’ll never forget the year it became turkey soup. It has always been about more than what is on the plate. It is the people and the spirit behind it that make it special. The event comes together through the work of so many offices, including events, the President’s Office, international programs, marketing and communications, music, the Office of Spiritual Formation and the Registrar’s Office. (Fun fact: after the 2019 table-decorating contest, the trophy never left the Registrar’s Office. Rumor has it that we did so well they decided to retire the competition entirely, and we have been happy to display that “permanent” win ever since.)
These days, the event does not usually have a formal theme, and it does not need one.
Classes pause, and the entire SEC becomes a family dining hall. People from every part of the university pitch in, from handing out water to taking tickets and helping everyone find the food lines.
Often, the Office of Spiritual Formation provides a way to give back, another reminder that Thanksgiving is not just about receiving but about sharing what we have with others.
I hope that as this community Thanksgiving tradition continues to evolve, a few things never change: the flags, the food and the feeling that, for one afternoon, we all sit together as one family.
Jeff Jones
Project Manager - ERP SaaS Migration
Associate Registrar
Project manager for ERP SaaS and associate registrar at Fresno Pacific University, Jeff Jones (MA ’22, BA ’01) never aimed to be in the data world. As a Bakersfield native (yet no fan of twang), a 1991 Godspell audition in high school led him to FPU, where he’s stayed for 30 years as student and employee. Originally a choir teacher hopeful, he found his calling in data and operations. Rooted in Mennonite Brethren faith, Jeff loves equipping others to succeed and enjoys 3D printing and story-driven video games in Sanger with his family.
