At nightfall, Cameron Park Zoo transforms into a brilliantly-lit Christmas wonderland complete with photo opportunities, food trucks and a visit from Santa Claus for the zoo’s annual Wild Lights event.

April showers may bring May flowers, but December weather and Seasonal Affective Disorder can arrive together. For students going through finals this season, SAD poses a unique challenge.

The Board of Regents approved the addition of “Pro Mundo” to the university motto in May 2024. Over a year later, its impact radiates throughout research across campus.

As finals approach, students check their dwindling bank accounts to find they burned all of their dining dollars on Sushic, Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks. Those who spent it all said they wished they had saved properly throughout the semester after realizing they had nothing left. Now with a minimal budget, they seek creative ways to spend their money on food.

https://youtu.be/3G-NRP6yx50By Braden Murray | Executive Producer, Irma Peña | Managing EditorIt’s our last newscast of the semester, where we’re taking…

Lisa Bardach and Kou Murayama conclude that extrinsic rewards are useful entry points for engagement that can become intrinsically rewarding through motivational transformations, though later extrinsic rewards can disrupt this process and undermine long-term engagement.

Finding the perfect study method looks different for every student, so here are three well-researched methods that are shown to promote learning and memory recall.

As finals loom larger by the day and each study session becomes more essential, spiritual life leaders say staying grounded in faith means choosing presence over panic.

It’s an all too familiar time of year. As campus Christmas lights twinkle in the cold night, the bright fluorescents of Moody Memorial Library seem to echo a similar feeling of exhaustion and futility felt by its crowds of caffeine-filled students.

Long wishlists and tight deadlines aren’t the only things stacked against consumers this holiday season. Prices are rising due to a policy put in place by Washington over the past year.

Nearly 35% of Waco’s residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, a demographic that comes to light during the Christmas season when families prepare festive food, drinks and decor.

In anticipation of the coming Christmas holiday, Baylor’s advancement office is encouraging alumni with daily Advent devotionals, featuring reflections from 24 Baylor staff, faculty and students, plus an introductory message from President Linda Linvingstone.

It was standing room only in the Mark and Paula Hurd Ballroom Monday evening as President Linda Livingstone officially introduced Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug McNamee to the Baylor-Waco community.

Handwriting notes is proven to be psychologically beneficial for memory retention and study habits. So this finals season, experts suggest closing that laptop, getting out the notebook and writing between the lines.

“Students have the opportunity to speak a little bit of Portuguese, or if they don’t speak it, they can hear it, which helps them a lot,” Costa said. “This is about not only language, but also community and friendship as well.”

https://youtu.be/aDYRxgFx-QYBy Braden Murray | Executive Producer, Irma Peña | Managing EditorThe Christmas spirit was spread all throughout campus at Christmas…

According to a recent Gallup poll, 47% of U.S. adults are concerned about affording healthcare in 2026, the highest percentage since West Health and Gallup began polling for this measure in 2021.

The cold front came just in time for Christmas on Fifth. Despite rain concerns, Christmas on Fifth continued in full swing, drawing students out of their dorm and families from staying at home. Students said the Christmas spirit was infectious, helping ease stress around finals.

“Linguistics develops analytical thinking and problem-solving, communication skills that are useful in virtually any profession,” Calafate said. “It provides students with a toolkit to work in fields that require understanding and navigating human interaction.”

Most student-led organizations are lucky to sign up a few new members and get funding for an occasional meal. But one group, led by a network of college students across the country—including a Baylor freshman—has already gotten hundreds of students to sign up and received commitments for over $1 million in charitable donations. And they don’t launch until next month.

“My hope is that this program will equip, enable and empower participants to be more thoughtful, faithful and fruitful in serving the Lord and those with whom they are privileged to serve,” Still said.

In anticipation of end-of-semester sickness, Baylor Health Services officials say flu cases rise just as much as mental health concerns do in the final weeks of the semester. They advise students to seek treatment earlier rather than “powering through.”

More than 5,000 students are now working on campus — up from 3,600 just two years ago. This increase is in part due to Baylor’s addition of a standalone student employment department, which oversees all student jobs on campus and provides one-on-one consultations for students seeking on-campus job opportunities.

As students prepare for finals week, many trek the familiar trail to Moody Memorial Library or the SUB. However, the crowding has significantly intensified this year — not just because of exams, but because of the construction in Moody’s garden level. The construction has temporarily closed much of Moody’s bottom floor, leaving only the atrium spaces, outdoor tables and the Makerspace open.

The penny has been in Americans’ pockets since 1793. But after Nov. 12, the U.S. Mint says it’s done making the iconic coin, largely because each one costs more than it’s worth. Economists say shoppers may barely notice its disappearance.

The Trump administration’s Liberation Day tariffs haven’t appeared to be liberating for America’s small businesses or shoppers, but trade agreements and bargaining power will likely be threatened if ruled unconstitutional.

According to the NeuroMental Wellness Facebook page, the services listed include meditation, yoga for kids, adults and beginners and sound therapy.

The Baylor Modern Languages and Cultures department will bring caroling groups from 11 different languages to unite Christmas on Fifth Street in global harmony as part of its Holiday Carols from Around the World tradition.

“We’re really trying to foster and create a new community for students to come to that’s more peer-to-peer rather than peer-to quote unquote ‘adult,’ so it’s more of a comfortable connection,” Villalon said.

Former Baylor volleyball player Emily Huston created HomeTeam, which is “the first centralized hub for athlete-centered care and community,” according to its website. HomeTeam was born to combat the loneliness athletes face after leaving their sport.