Marshmallow snowmen stacked on chocolate bars will decorate Christmas trees this holiday season.

“The children always look forward to making decorations every year,” said Dorothy Bennett, art teacher at Jefferson Elementary School.

At 5 p.m. today in the Cougill Foyer in Old Main, Christmas trees decorated by the Charleston Area Middle Schools will be on display.

There are six trees throughout the foyer, five of which feature more than 100 holiday ornaments made by students.

“This is really nice because it is bridging the gap between the community and Eastern,” Bennett said.

The tree-decorating tradition started during the 1994-95 holiday season with former Eastern President David Jorns.

Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, said it was an opportunity to bring the community into the university.

What began with one tree has grown into six.

Every year in August, a letter is sent to the area grade school art teachers, informing them of the theme and inviting them to participate and make holiday ornaments.

This year, the theme is “Wishing on a Star.”

“The President’s Office comes up with the theme every year,” said Colleen Peterlich, Eastern’s catering supervisor.

She said a lot of thought is put into the theme decision.

“Sometimes we would look through magazines, or if something just strikes us in particular,” Peterlich said.

Each grade school is given its own tree for ornaments to be displayed on.

The ornaments are collected from the grade schools and hung on the trees by the Charleston High School students.

Peterlich recruits students from the high school’s service learning program.

“It is a nice way for them to gain some service hours,” Nilsen said.

Food and drink will be available at the social gathering, and CHS students will also sing Christmas carols.

Grade schools including Jefferson and Carl Sandburg were among grade schools that provided the ornaments.

At Carl Sandburg Elementary, each child in the building receives the opportunity to make an ornament.

“This means a lot to them, and they are always excited about it,” said Heather Bryant, art teacher at Carl Sandburg.

This year, Carl Sandburg students turned their holiday wishes into ornaments.

“I wish I was a Ninja” was a holiday wish made by one of the students.

“These are very precious,” Nilsen said.

Other wishes, such as the desire that the world be made of candy and the hope to be strong, decorate the Christmas trees as well.

In the middle of the foyer is a 15-foot alpine spruce decorated with blue and white stars to represent Eastern’s school colors.

All the children with ornaments will be in attendance at the holiday gathering tonight.

“It’s fun to see them go and look for the ornaments they made and see the work they put into making them,” Nilsen said.

Another Christmas tree viewing event will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday. Faculty and students are welcome to attend.