02/12/2025
💕 Last Saturday, the Meelia Center hosted its 33rd annual Valentine’s Day Dance for friends with intellectual and cognitive disabilities! The event welcomed over 150 guests from the community and more than 100 campus volunteers. Our guests enjoyed dancing to music, making crafts, and capturing fun moments in our Polaroid photo booth.
This beloved Anselmian tradition, which creates an inclusive and supportive space for community members, is one of our favorite events on campus.
One long-time guest, Betsy, has attended since the very first year! Her mother shared how this event has become a yearly highlight for them. Another guest, Greg, has been part of the dance for the last three years and had been eagerly counting down the days to this year’s event.
"It’s so nice to see all the volunteers. The students do a great job, and it really makes him feel included," said Greg’s caregiver. "The music, crafts, and love shared made this event a heartwarming celebration for all. Thank you for helping make this day so special!"
A huge thank you to the student volunteers and community members who make this event possible. As Sal Parent ’25, student body president, put it, "I love this event because I enjoy collaborating with the Manchester community, and I love seeing all the togetherness here at St. A's."
Saint Anselm
