Dr. Louis J. Agnese stirs spaghetti sauce in Marian Hall in preparation for this year’s annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner.

Dr. Louis J. Agnese stirs spaghetti sauce in Marian Hall in preparation for this year’s annual President’s Spaghetti Dinner.

It was an Italian Christmas at UIW as President Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr. hosted his 27th annual Spaghetti Dinner for all UIW students on Dec. 5 in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room.

The President’s Spaghetti Dinner is the university’s yearly way of saying “thank you” to students who make UIW such a unique and special place. Over 900 students enjoyed Dr. Agnese’s delicious family recipe with the ambiance of a five-star dining experience; it marked the largest turnout in the history of the dinner.

UIW faculty, staff and administrators volunteered to host, serve food and bus tables. Prior to the event, 47 faculty, staff and administrators helped prepare for the dinner by rolling 170 pounds of meat into 2,960 meatballs. The evening included live musical entertainment by James Waller, professor of music, and his talented jazz band colleagues.