SGA invited students to dress their best for a night under the stars at the 2026 Winter Formal on Feb. 27.
The event was hosted at the Ent Center for the Arts. This was the second-ever formal dance at UCCS, and thankfully due to better advertising this time around, I had some advance to find a dress this year!
Students enjoyed free food, a photo booth, karaoke, showing off their moves and gazing at the stars through a telescope outside. Transportation was provided through shuttle service and lyft vouchers.
Groups gathered in the hallway by the buffet, which featured various charcuterie, sweets and lemonade.
Unlike last year, everyone seemed to be dressed on theme and looked like they were going to the same event. I think I only saw one or two people in jeans.
The almost empty dance floor was a bit surprising, especially compared to how full it was last year. The student DJ was playing a mix of all the classic dance-worthy pop hits under the disco ball and colorful mood lights, but where was everyone?
I figured out where all of the attendees had gone after I wandered into the Shockley-Zalabak Theater to find the karaoke I missed last year.
Attendees lined up to the side of the stage, with UCCS Radio’s Brody Schmidt running the queue. Students sang their hearts out, performing everything from “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood to songs from “Hamilton.”
The dance floor filled out a bit more as the night went on, and the photobooth to the side of the entrance was always busy, with duos, groups and dates posing against the backdrop using a variety of photo props with printing on site.
Just like last year, the fan-favorite Cupid Shuffle brought everyone to the floor. I unfortunately sat this one out, as my dress was not meant for that kind of movement.
As the night began to wind down, the telescope on the outside patio became the star of the show and there was always a line of students standing in the cold waiting to get a look at the night sky.
This was the last formal I’ll be able to attend, and even though I showed up alone and the attendance was lower than last year, it’ll be a fun memory to look back from my final spring semester at UCCS.
Students flex their vocal cords at the karaoke. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
Mountain Lions tear it up on the dance floor. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
The DJ of this year’s Winter Formal. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
Decor from the Winter Formal covers the Ent Center. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
Students make use of the photobooth. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
A disco ball hangs, dazzling the dance floor. Photo by Joisah Dolan.
Students gather for the Cupid Shuffle. Photo by Josiah Dolan.