On Tuesday, 935 students flocked to the Kennedy Union Greenspace to help Christmas on Campus hit two milestones: continuing into a 45th year and adopting the most elementary kids ever on the first day of the kickoff.

Of the 1,000 Dayton public elementary school students signed up to participate, 935 of them were spoken for on Tuesday. By Wednesday, all were matched up with a buddy.

Publicity co-chair Marissa Malson said although COC will be held a different day this year (Dec. 11), interest in the event has not faltered.

"The enthusiasm everyone has shown so far will be really great on the day of COC," Malson said. "I think the spirit of COC will be there no matter what day it is."

Whether by running a 5K in the rain or wrapping countless strands of lights around a house, UD students have been finding dozens of ways to get in the COC spirit.

COC held a Reindeer Trot Saturday and even the rain didn't put a damper on the Christmas spirit. The team that won "best costume" showed up as three reindeer tied in a line with rope.

A much-anticipated and competitive part of COC will also be back this year: the house decorating contest, Malson said.

COC will end this year as always, with Mass in the Frericks Center. Holding it on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has incorporated new traditions in addition to the old, co-Mass coordinator Michelle Wintering said.

Wintering said riding the students buses two years ago showed her the true spirit of COC.

"On the way there you see how excited they are, and on the way back you see how sugared up and excited they are," Wintering said. "They don't know the UD student they're paired up with but by the end of the night they're pulling them around to show them things."

The committee is still looking for volunteers and groups to hold activities the night of COC. E-mail coc@notes.udayton.edu.