At Front Range Community College, our students, faculty and staff come from all backgrounds, programs and traditions.
And the holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate that diversity. We asked members of our campus community to share their favorite holiday movies and the stories behind why those films mean so much to them.
The answers were heartfelt, nostalgic, funny and unique—just like our community.
Laughs, Lessons and Family Traditions
Student Gabe Batmanglidj didn’t hesitate when asked for a favorite:
“My favorite holiday movie is A Christmas Story, specifically because of one scene when he’s blind and he says, ‘It was soap poisoning,’ because me and my brothers always laugh our butts off, and it really brings us together.”
Home Alone for the Holidays
Graphic design student Angelica Salazar shared a classic pick:
“My favorite holiday movie right now is Home Alone. It’s just a staple in my family, and it always brings the family together to watch it.”
Learning English With Barbie
For Brooklynn Santos, paralegal studies and political science student, the season comes with childhood memories of learning English:
“My favorite holiday movie is Barbie and the Nutcracker… It was one of the first movies I grew up on in the holidays learning English. It was one of my go-tos to watch with my siblings for learning English, but it was also a good movie!”
A Two-Holiday Favorite
Music performance student Alex Genovese offered a fun twist:
“My favorite holiday movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas, because it’s a fun movie, and has two holidays: Halloween and Christmas!”
Lessons From the Grinch
Student Andres Barrera loves a story with heart:
“My favorite Christmas movie is The Grinch, because it really teaches you a good lesson to not be greedy, and I think it’s just a beautiful movie overall.”
Guardians of Every Holiday
Kalcee Souders has a soft spot for an underrated gem:
“My favorite holiday movie is Rise of the Guardians. I haven’t seen it in a while, but I really like it because each character is so different, and it’s a blend of all the holidays. You can kind of watch it at any time of the year.”
A Rom-Com Classic
Student and social media assistant Emma Cory shared her pick:
“My favorite holiday movie is probably The Holiday because I am a huge rom-com fan and it’s just a classic, so I don’t think I could pick a better one!”
Elementary School Nostalgia
Fode Diawara, admissions ambassador remembers a beloved school tradition:
“My favorite holiday movie is Polar Express, because it’s something I watched every year in elementary school. It was really fun to go to the parties and watch it.”
Irreverent, Funny and Relatable
And staff member Blake Welch, professor and program director for the multimedia graphic design department kept it simple:
“I like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation because it’s irreverant and funny! I identify with Chevy Chase.”
A Classic That Still Resonates
Stewart Erlich, department chair for the school of writing and literature shared a timeless favorite:
“My favorite holiday movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s an old movie. It’s a classic. It’s a little problematic, but at the same time, the characters are adorable, and it always makes me cry at the end.”
Finding Spirit in The Polar Express
Finally, nursing student Isabella Nathanson connected deeply with a character many of us grew up with:
“My favorite holiday movie is Polar Express, because I felt a lot like the main character when I was a little girl, and I could relate a lot. I like that the moral of the story is to always have your Christmas spirit.”
Celebrating Our FRCC Family
Whether it’s laughter, nostalgia, life lessons or a love of rom-coms, holiday movies shape our memories in big and small ways. We’re grateful to everyone who shared their favorites and the stories that go with them.
