Ugly Sweater Party and inaugural DePaul tree lighting

Students stand in line for their free T-shirts before the Ugly Sweater Party and inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. More than 500 shirts were handed out in 27 minutes. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

DePaul students pose at one of the photo booths set up along The Quad during the Ugly Sweater Party hosted by Student Affairs. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Student groups show off their decorating prowess during the Parade of Trees competition as others enjoy a massive bounce house set up on the Lincoln Park Campus Quad. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Hundreds of DePaul students gather on The Quad for the Ugly Sweater Party, hours before the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Lincoln Park Campus. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Josean Amill hangs an ornament high on his team's entry during the Parade of Trees competition at the university's Ugly Sweater Party. The student-decorated trees will be on display at the Loop's DePaul Center, 11th floor, beginning Monday, Nov. 19. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The Estebans pose for photos with students and staff inside a giant snow globe as hundreds gather on The Quad for the Ugly Sweater Party and inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Members of the campus community begin gathering inside St. Vincent's Circle in preparation for the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Lincoln Park Campus. Before the lighting, faculty, staff, students and guests were treated to hot chocolate, cider and holiday cookies. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

As the afternoon light begins to fade, members of the campus community gather inside St. Vincent's Circle for the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. The tree, a 23-foot short needle evergreen from Huntley, Illinois, was planted last spring and is decorated with 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and a 36-inch tall star on top. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

With their noses all aglow, members of the faculty and staff choir wait in the late afternoon cold to perform during the inaugural holiday tree lighting ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Soloist Quiana Stone performs "O Come, All Ye Faithful" for the crowd during the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Josephine Esteban, left, and A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of DePaul, wish the crowd gathered inside St. Vincent's Circle a happy holiday season during the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

The faculty and staff choir lead the campus community in a carol during the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Santa DIBS directs the choir and campus community as they join together to sing a holiday carol during the tree lighting ceremony on the Lincoln Park Campus. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Student emcee Alexandra Goodman joins Santa DIBS, trustee Jim Ryan and his wife Michelle, Josephine Esteban, DePaul University president A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., and Student Government Association president Nahal Hashemian, left to right, as they flip the switch during the inaugural lighting of the DePaul holiday tree. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)

Jim Ryan and his wife Michelle join Josephine Esteban and DePaul University president A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., as they applaud along with Student Government Association president Nahal Hashemian, left to right, following the inaugural lighting of the DePaul holiday tree. (DePaul University/Maria Toscano)

The platform committee throws a giant switch to illuminate the 50,000 lights on the holiday tree during the inaugural DePaul Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Lincoln Park Campus. The tree, a 23-foot short needle evergreen from Huntley, Illinois, was planted inside St. Vincent’s Circle last spring and features a 36-inch tall star on top. (DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)