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Scene at MIT: The community gathers for Winterfest

The annual campus event provided ample reason to feel holiday cheer — and included a surprise honor for outgoing President L. Rafael Reif.
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President L. Rafael Reif speaks with a circule of community members in the crowded Stata Center
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Caption: MIT President L. Rafael Reif mingled with community members at Winterfest, held in the Stata Center and the first floor of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
MIT's illuminated Great Dome and hallways glow in a dark night sky as seen from Killian Court
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Caption: The Great Dome was adorned with the number 17 to honor L. Rafael Reif, MIT’s 17th president.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
President Reif and his wife smile while looking up at the dome in Killian Court at night
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Caption: A group including President Reif and his wife Christine gathered at the edge of Killian Court for the surprise.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
A community member trails two children in line behind a table spread of food on small plates
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Caption: With music, food, and a variety of holiday treats, Winterfest provided ample reason for all community members to feel the holiday cheer.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
A community member trails two children in line behind a table spread of food on small plates
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Caption: Tim the Beaver also made rounds, taking pictures and giving out hugs.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
President Reif hugs someone while other members of the community smile around him
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Caption: A colorfully lit corridor connected the two buildings and served as the closest thing MIT could get to an igloo on the unseasonably warm afternoon.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher
President Reif with his back to the camera facing the great dome, illluminated in red and with the nuber 17
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Caption: The dome lighting surprise came at the conclusion of Winterfest, making for a meaningful end to a lighthearted afternoon.
Credits: Image: Jake Belcher

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President L. Rafael Reif speaks with a circule of community members in the crowded Stata Center
Caption:
MIT President L. Rafael Reif mingled with community members at Winterfest, held in the Stata Center and the first floor of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Credits:
Image: Jake Belcher

As the sun faded on a clear Thursday afternoon, the MIT community came together to enjoy excellent food, music, and company at the annual Winterfest celebration.

Each year Winterfest kicks off the holiday season and all that comes with it for MIT’s community members, from final exams to a much-deserved year-end break to Independent Activities Period in January.

The event included a surprise lighting of MIT’s Great Dome in cardinal red, to honor President L. Rafael Reif, who will be stepping down from the helm at the end of 2022.

MIT's illuminated Great Dome and hallways glow in a dark night sky as seen from Killian Court
The Great Dome was adorned with the number 17 to honor L. Rafael Reif, MIT’s 17th president.
Image: Jake Belcher

President Reif and his wife smile while looking up at the dome in Killian Court at night
A group including President Reif and his wife Christine gathered at the edge of Killian Court for the surprise.
Image: Jake Belcher

A community member trails two children in line behind a table spread of food on small plates
With music, food, and a variety of holiday treats, Winterfest provided ample reason for all community members to feel the holiday cheer.
Image: Jake Belcher

Tim the beaver poses with two community members in Stata Center
Tim the Beaver also made rounds, taking pictures and giving out hugs.
Image: Jake Belcher

President Reif hugs someone while other members of the community smile around him
A colorfully lit corridor connected the two buildings and served as the closest thing MIT could get to an igloo on the unseasonably warm afternoon.
Image: Jake Belcher

President Reif with his back to the camera facing the great dome, illluminated in red and with the nuber 17
The dome lighting surprise came at the conclusion of Winterfest, making for a meaningful end to a lighthearted afternoon.
Image: Jake Belcher

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