Each December, the University of Dayton transforms for Christmas on Campus, welcoming children from across Dayton for one of the university’s most cherished traditions. More than 1,000 students work behind the scenes to bring the event to life, including students from the School of Business Administration who serve in key leadership roles across multiple committees.
From managing finances and coordinating school partnerships to planning entertainment and leading communications, School of Business Administration students turn Christmas on Campus into a real-world leadership experience built on teamwork, responsibility and service. Here are just a few who are leading the way!
Entertainment Committee: Ava Larkin ’26 | Management and Marketing
Ava is serving her first term on the Entertainment Committee after years of participating in the event. She helps bring COC to life by coordinating entertainment, managing contracts, organizing volunteers and ensuring each activity runs smoothly.
“My studies in Management and Marketing directly support the work I do on this committee. From the management side, I use skills such as organizing tasks, coordinating schedules, communicating clearly, and working effectively with a team. From a marketing perspective, I draw on what I’ve learned about understanding audiences and planning experiences that meet their needs. Together, these skills allow me to approach my role with structure and professionalism.”
Finance Committee: Andrew Dirk ’25 | Finance and Economics and Graham Brown ’27 | Accounting and Finance
Andrew and Graham help manage the financial side of Christmas on Campus, overseeing everything from budgeting and invoices to fundraising and major expenses.
“I wanted to serve on the Finance Committee because, as a finance major, I was looking for hands-on experience in the financial world. I saw this as an amazing opportunity to grow. Serving on the committee has not only helped me build valuable skills, but it has also supported my internship and job search by providing me with experience,” said Dirk, who has been involved with COC for the past three years.
“A lot of what I do for COC, in a technical sense, translates well to my classes. A lot of our responsibility is staying organized and diligent about how we spend and track our money. We use Excel to keep track of all inflows and outflows,” said Brown, who is participating in Christmas on Campus for the first time.
School Outreach Committee: Mitch Doorley ’25 | Management Information Systems and Finance and Ashley Zwolinski ’26 | Economics
Mitch and Ashley connect UD with 21 local elementary schools, managing communication, logistics and student data for more than 1,200 children and volunteers.
“I am currently taking an MIS class where we are learning how to build and analyze data with a database on Microsoft Access. This is also the platform we use to keep track of all of our buddies' information for Christmas on Campus. Both of these experiences have helped me better understand how the database works. Having experience with the database helped me understand what we were learning in class. At the same time, learning in detail about Access in class enhanced my knowledge of exactly how the Christmas on Campus database is set up and run,” said Zwolinski, who first participated as a buddy before joining the committee.
“I specifically gravitated toward the School Outreach Committee because I wanted to work directly with the participating elementary schools. I knew I'd really enjoy the organizational side of the committee, being responsible for managing all the student data and the rewarding challenge of pairing all 1,200 first and second-graders with their UD buddies,” said Doorley, who has been involved with COC for four years. “The role provides me with a unique opportunity to enhance both my professional and social skills in ways that I could never have imagined when I first joined as a first-year student.”
Public Relations Committee: Gabby Capozella ’26 | Finance and Marketing
Gabby works on branding, social media and strategic communication for the event.
“As a business student, I’ve been able to apply skills in marketing, communication, and project management directly to my work on the committee. Courses focused on consumer behavior and strategic communication have helped me think more intentionally about our audience and how to reach them effectively. I also use organizational and teamwork skills I’ve learned in my major to coordinate tasks, manage deadlines, and keep our messaging consistent,” said Capozella, who has been involved with COC for one year.
Leading With Purpose
Christmas on Campus is more than a one-night event. For students, it is a hands-on leadership experience that turns learning into lasting community impact and culminates in seeing months of work come alive for children and families.
Senior Mitch Doorley reflected on the team behind the tradition:
"Christmas on Campus would not be around for its 62nd annual event without each member. All members, from newcomers to seniors, carry an immense weight in making this event an unforgettable experience. I am beyond grateful for the memories Christmas on Campus has given me, and I cannot imagine my time as an undergraduate student without it.”To learn more about the School of Business Administration, visit our website at https://udayton.edu/business