The Ohio State University's Thanksgiving Dinner began 27 years ago as a gathering of 25 students in the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center. It was initiated by two graduate students (Bill Batson and Lori Waite) who did not have a place to go for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. They invited six of their friends and were prepared to have a potluck Thanksgiving meal. A few days prior to the meal, the director of the Center (Larry Williamson, Jr.) felt that other students were in the same predicament and had Bill Batson make fliers to place in the south campus dorms. As a result of the students' efforts — and years later, with the support of International Affairs and specifically, Kevin Harty, associate director of International Education — the dinner blossomed into one of the largest free Thanksgiving events on Thanksgiving Day at a college or university.
2024 Thanksgiving information
Join this year's celebration on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 12 p.m. in the Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom in the Ohio Union.
All guests must have a ticket to attend the free event. Tickets will be available for pickup at 140 Enarson Classroom Building, Hale Hall, and the information desk at the Ohio Union starting on November 18. Tickets are free, and you must present a BuckID to pick up a ticket.
Contact Megan Lawther or Kal Jordan-DeBruin with questions.
An Ohio State Signature Event, Thanksgiving Dinner is supported by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Culture Center, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Student Life’s Dining Services.