Benny the Elf is a new edition to the Jesuit community.
Student Government has helped make this new tradition unwrap in Jesuit, especially Holly Tinker and Wynter Veber.
Benny is an Elf on the Shelf, being hidden in a new spot everyday.
An Elf on the Shelf is a tradition for families or communities to adopt a “scout elf” who reports back to Santa every night about the children’s behavior.
Once the elf returns, he is hidden in a new spot everyday for people to find. The most important rule is to not touch the elf or they lose all their magic for the night.
For Jesuit students, it’s an interactive and joyful way for the Jesuit community to get into the Christmas spirit.
“I think it was a good way to reach out to a broader aspect of our community [and] anyone and everyone can be a part of it,” Veber said.
The new tradition of Benny the Elf is a way to get excited for the holidays and hopefully a bit of nostalgia for students who grew up with an elf on the shelf.
“Winter can be dark, and so, [making sure] you keep an eye out for something and something to talk about with your friends,” Tinker said.
The name Benny came from the Encounter location, St. Benedict’s lodge.
“We had a long discussion about names in class and I think Benny was just one that came up that has meaning behind it,” Tinker said as she recalled the decision making behind the name.
The rules around Benny is he will be in common places such as the student center or hallways, not classrooms or bathrooms. He will be in a fairly visible spot if you look closely!
When you find Benny, take a selfie with him and submit it to the Good Form Link that is sent through email and is also linked on the Jesuit Student Government instagram.
The first person to find Benny for the day gets a gift card at the end of the day.
