A Zag Holiday: Meet the Poet from This Year’s Christmas Video

For Alexis Sandoval (’27), it doesn’t take a lot to get her excited around the holidays.

She starts listening to her Christmas playlist in November -- “holiday tunes are pure happiness,” Sandoval says – and tries to attend “The Nutcracker” ballet each year between readings and viewings of classics like “The Polar Express” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” She also enjoys some of the holiday traditions on campus, such as the Candlelight Christmas Concert, saying “there’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit.”

“And every year, campus looks so magical after that first snowfall,” Sandoval says.

This year, Alexis became part of a Gonzaga holiday tradition as the author of an original poem, “A Zag Holiday,” penned to be part of the University’s annual Christmas video. Fellow student Julia Porter ('27) edited the poem.

President Katia Passerini wanted to get students involved with this year’s video, and word reached Sandoval through some of her English writing professors that Gonzaga’s Marketing & Communications folks – including video producer Zack Bagdon (’16) – were hoping for a student-penned poem.

Sandoval is relatively new to poetry, but after taking Professor Tod Marshall’s poetry writing class last year, she now considers it her favorite form of creative writing, and she’s been published in multiple literary journals. When Marshall heard about the Christmas poem request, he passed Sandoval’s name along and in short order Sandoval was not only writing a new poem full of Gonzaga holiday imagery, but acting in the annual video alongside President Passerini.

“This project had a pretty tight deadline, so I needed to work quickly,” Sandoval says. “I know it sounds silly, but sometimes I get lucky with a poem. I think I wrote this poem in a half-hour because I was in such a zone with all of the end-rhyme and Gonzaga-specific references. I made a few edits, but the finished product is almost identical to my first draft.”

"I was also thinking about the Christmas classics. Words and phrases, traditions, and activities that most people are familiar with. I wanted to keep things light and fun, warm and fuzzy.”

She did just that, as you can see below. And Sandoval believes she was able to connect this new piece of Gonzaga-specific holiday fare with one of her childhood Christmas staples.

“When the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes — that was the feeling I wanted to capture in my poem.”

“A Zag Holiday”

by Alexis Sandoval (‘27)

Gonzaga’s holiday season is full of joy, and hope, and cheer.
These classic, festive feelings are even better here.
People laugh and chat fireside with a twinkling tree in view.
Together, Zags celebrate; Zags like you, and you, and you!

Outside, a snowy scene—icicles dance in the soft light.
From The Kennel to St. Al’s, this time of year excites.
Let us reflect and give back, for the semester wraps up soon.
Let us carol, deck the halls, or stir hot cider with a spoon!

There’s nothing quite like it—fun traditions, delicious food.
Don’t forget the Christmas Concert, warmest wishes all renewed.
Thinking of loved ones, of home—wherever that may be,
Gonzaga is our link, a shared place of yuletide glee.

So, be merry! Yes, merry, for there are so many reasons.
Once more, at Gonzaga, this is the best of seasons.
Give thanks, shine your light, treasure time with those near and dear.
Rejoice in faith! Carry peace and love into a happy New Year!