Registration Open for SGA’s Home for the Holidays Initiative

Ahead of Thanksgiving, the undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) is inviting students to participate in its Home for the Holidays initiative. 

The annual tradition allows students who may not be able to spend the holiday at home to be matched with a local Yellow Jacket host — faculty, staff, or alumni — and enjoy a meal together. 

“We know that not everyone is going to be able to be with their family for the break, so SGA is proud to facilitate this program to give those students the opportunity to enjoy a warm, traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” SGA Vice President Xiomara Salinas said.  

The initiative is open to all students, and registration for participants and hosts is open through Nov. 18. At least two students are matched with each host (students can request to be paired together), and SGA helps coordinate transportation. 

Tom McPike and Joanna Liu, a retired Georgia Tech employee, have hosted students for four years and are among the returning hosts for 2025. Having welcomed students from multiple countries, they see the initiative as not only a way to “help them avoid feeling homesick,” but also a valuable experience that fosters community.  

“We’re as happy to have them as they are to be here. This is such a great opportunity to promote a mutual understanding of the differences and similarities between cultures, and it gives us a chance to connect with the students studying at Tech. It’s also a great feeling to have them at our home and let them know that they are welcomed and valued here as they take part in this tradition,” the couple said.  

Dietary restrictions are taken into consideration when pairing students and hosts. For questions about the initiative, contact Xiomara Salinas at ug.evp@sga.gatech.edu.