Student Council (StuCo) will hand out free hot chocolate in North and Main commons after school today, Jan. 10. StuCo holds the event, Hot Chocolooza, to celebrate the first week of second semester. 

Peyton Brooks, a junior representative on StuCo, said planning for Hot Chocolooza began this week but StuCo formed the committee that oversees the process before winter break. 

“[For Hot Chocolooza] we get together all the supplies and make sure that it’s enough for all the students to have after school,” Brooks said. “We have to get out of class a little bit before everyone else to have it all ready for them after school.”

This will be the seventh year that Hot Chocolooza has occurred, club sponsor Kelley Wittenborn said. StuCo puts on two other events like this throughout the year, Wittenborn said, to give back to students and make their time at school enjoyable.

“We have Popsicleooza for the first week back in the fall, Hot Chocolooza for the first week back in the winter and Lemonalooza for the first week back from spring break,” Wittenborn said. “Just a little treat for making it through the sometimes tough weeks back from a break.”

This year, StuCo bought more than 500 cups and will make eight Gatorade coolers worth of hot chocolate for the many students that will participate in the event. Junior Phillip Lei said he looks forward to Hot Chocolooza and has gotten the free drink after school every year. 

“I like the hot chocolate because it’s nice to have something warm after school, [especially] when it’s cold out,” Lei said. 

Brooks said it’s difficult to make sure StuCo buys enough supplies because students seem to love Hot Chocolooza. Brooks enjoys helping organize it each year to bring “spirit and positivity” back into the school and kick off second semester with something enjoyable for students. 

“My favorite part of this event is the smiles that kids have after they hear our music and get some hot chocolate,” Brooks said. 

Members of the committee who oversee Hot Chocolooza meet every morning the week of to organize it. Wittenborn said seeing the excitement of students, especially those who didn’t remember the event was happening, makes all that planning worth it.

“It seems to just add a nice pep in their step on their way out the door to start their weekend,” Wittenborn said. 

What’s your favorite part of Hot Chocolooza? Let us know in the comments below.