CREDIT: MELISSA NOVACASKA AND KERRA SEAY
The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) put a smile on students' faces as they granted a number of wellness wishes.

In the holiday spirit, members from the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) surprised a number of lucky students by granting them with wellness wishes on Dec.7 and 8.

Morganna Sampson, VP Entertainment, coordinated the event along with her team and said the initiative came about as a way for the FSU to help students cope during this stressful time.

“We’re just looking to make the lives of students better one step at a time, just helping them out through the exam season and getting them an awesome start to the winter holidays,” Sampson said.

According to Sampson, there were approximately 400 holiday wishes that were filled out while at the FSU’s Winter Fair the previous week. That number was more than Sampson expected. 61 of those 400 wishes were actually granted by the FSU.

“For all the people we’ve seen walk into the office, they’ve been so excited and some have had no idea of how to even respond to a nice gesture from the FSU, so [I’m] very happy to be doing this,” Sampson said.

According to Sampson, the entire FSU team was supportive in making this initiative come to life and she is thankful that the FSU is helping to make the “lives of students better”.

“It’s pretty exciting [and] an awesome opportunity to give some stress relief to the students,” Sampson said.

From gift cards of assorted places like Winners, Tim Hortons and grocery stores, to baskets of candy, a Michael Bublé CD, socks, a nursing lab kit, popcorn, fuzzy socks, Roots clothing, Fanshawe gear, flowers, Fitbits and more.

Hannah Gray, Laura Park and Caleb Nielson, all friends and first year pre-health students, found out about the FSU Winter Fair and Wellness Wishes through a friend’s social media post, but didn’t expect to win anything. They all agreed it was awesome to have actually won.

“[It] makes my finals a little bit easier,” Park, who won earbuds, said.

Neilson won a dinky car and Gray received a Fitbit.

“A fun gift is always helpful,” Neilson said.

Other gifts held great meaning to students, proving that the simplest things can go a long way.

Priyanka Mondal, who won the chance to treat herself and a friend to dinner, was very happy to have won her prize.

“It was my Christmas wish and it came true,” Mondal said. “My unplanned Christmas is planned now and I’m looking forward to going out with my friend after exams and having fun.”

Akshara Chundu, who received a Winners gift card, initially thought she was being pranked when she got the call she had won a prize.

Since this is Chundu’s first Christmas, she was saving up for a winter coat, which is what her prize was for.

“I didn’t expect this and then I won the prize for buying a winter coat, that’s really awesome,” Chundu said. “My Christmas wish came true.”

Nichole Sikma-Kroesbergen, a Pre-Health Sciences student was given her wish of flowers.

Sikma-Kroesbergen, was overjoyed and squealed an “eeek” while expressing her excitement.

Like other students, she had entered her name into the wellness wishes for fun, and didn’t think she would actually get flowers. She was surprised she received them and was at a loss for words.

She agreed these gifts make student’s day better, at least for a while.

“This [flowers] would brighten anyone’s day,” she said.

While everyone had their own way of expressing their gratitude, Chantelle Belleville was smiling from ear to ear.

Chantal Belleville, a first year recreation and leisure services student received a basket full of SmartFood popcorn, which she may or may not share with her sister Tara. Belleville was pleased with her gift.

“I’m just really happy that this happened to me. I don’t find myself to be a lucky person, so something nice like this happening to me or to anyone is honestly a great opportunity,” Belleville said. “It’s a nice way to do something nice for the students.”

Belleville said the FSU’s plan of easing student’s through the exam period was a great idea.

“I thought it was amazing. They’re very festive and energetic so I think it’s very enjoyable and contagious and everything’s a lot calmer and they kind of set the mood.”