College Students Surprise A Dining-Hall Employee With The Trip Of A Lifetime

January 23, 2016

59 year-old Vicke Davis is a local celebrity among students at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. On Thursday afternoon, about 100 students rushed Davis' cash register to surprise her with an oversize check for nearly $2,500 to see the Northern Lights in Canada.

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Photo: Rob Schumacher / The Republic

As an employee in the college's dining hall for the last three years, Davis has asked about the students' lives before every breakfast, lunch and dinner. And because she cares, she remembers their answers.

One chilly fall day last semester, junior Quintin Woods handed Davis his meal card to buy lunch and, as she swiped it, asked about her "dream trip."

Without hesitation, she replied "the Northern Lights." She heard that if you sing or whistle, the colorful streaks will dance with you.

Woods took it upon himself to start a fundraiser for Davis on GoFundMe.com. Within 48 hours, more than 150 people had raised his goal of $2,000.

As Woods handed her the check and a camera to document her travels, Davis began to cry: