Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore Cristina Sirbu ’24 was named St. Lucia at the College’s 82nd annual Festival of St. Lucia on Dec. 8, 2022. After being nominated with five other sophomore women based on service to others, strength of character, courageous leadership, and compassion, Sirbu was selected as the 2022 honoree after a campus-wide vote.
Sirbu is a philosophy and Russian Eastern European Studies double-major from Chisinau, Moldova. On campus she is a Center for Inclusive Excellence student staffer, GAIN mentor, Phonathon supervisor, International Cultures Club president, Eastern European Club vice president, and a member of the CASA student organization. She also participates in the Lucia Singers and Philharmonic Orchestra and will be performing as a dancer in Shared Space and acting in the J-Term theatre production. She intends to declare minors in music and theatre.
Sirbu expressed her thanks to the professors at Gustavus who show empathy for students, all the organizations that plan events for students, and everyone’s efforts to help her and other students at Gustavus succeed.
Sirbu was nominated for the 2022 St. Lucia Court alongside fellow sophomores Linnea Hanson, Morgan Kelly, Abby McCready, Grace McFarlane, and Lily Goloh. Hanson is a biochemistry & molecular biology major involved in Pre-Health Club and the Lucia Singers. Kelly, a communication studies and Spanish double-major with a political science minor, participates in the Gustavus Women in Leadership Executive Board, Hall Council, and Student Senate. She is a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and plays for the Gustavus basketball team. McCready, a biology major with minors in music and statistics, is a Gustie Greeter and campus tour guide as well as a member of the Pre-PT/OT Club and the Gustavus Choir. McFarlane is a biochemistry & molecular biology major and works for the chemistry department. She is the secretary of the Diversity Leadership Council and a member of the Lucia Singers. Goloh is a computer science major with a minor in statistics and is the co-chair of the Community Outreach Community of Pan-African Student Organization, Collegiate Fellow, and a computer science tutor on campus.
The campus celebrated the festival on Thursday, Dec. 8 in Christ Chapel. The ceremony was livestreamed on the St. Lucia website. The day included a luncheon in Alumni Hall sponsored by the Friends of the Library – Gustavus Library Associates. This year’s program featured religion professor and associate provost Sarah Ruble, who presented her talk “Justice, Service, and Telling the Truth.”
The College’s celebration of the Festival of St. Lucia began in 1941 and commemorates the courage shown by the legendary St. Lucia, who is known for her faith and service to others. In homes throughout Sweden, the eldest daughter plays the role of St. Lucia by preparing and serving baked goods and coffee to her family at sunrise, traditionally on Dec. 13. The St. Lucia Festival celebrates community, light, an end to long winter nights, and a peaceful holiday season.
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