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DURHAM, N.H.—(November 26, 2025)—Black Friday beckons and that means it is time to get a jump on that holiday gift list. If you’re looking for something unique and not available at a big box store, here are some ideas from the creative staff, faculty and students at the Â鶹Éç that are sure to make your friends and family smile—because every day is a great day to be a Â鶹Éç wildcat!

Score with stocking stuffers: Stuff Â鶹Éç Wildcats tickets into a loved one’s stocking—and save money doing it. Â鶹Éç Athletics is offering several specials on hockey, basketball and gymnastics tickets that will help you rack up points with friends and family this holiday season. The deals will be available for a limited time over Black Friday weekend (7:00 am Friday to 11:59 pm Sunday) and Cyber Monday (Monday 7 am to 11:59 pm) and when they are gone, they are gone. If you don’t want to strike out, check out these links: and .

Inspirational dates: Start each day of the new year with a beautifully curated calendar from Â鶹Éç’s Institute on Disability (IOD). For almost 25 years, the IOD has produced full-color calendars featuring 13 original works of art paired with uplifting quotes. The calendar, which often features work from students, faculty and staff, is an opportunity to remind people of the IOD’s mission to promote full inclusion and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. To order the 2026 calendar:

Shore to Shoals: For the ocean lover on your list, how about a t-shirt adorned with sea creatures? Or a hat embroidered with colorful flowers inspired by poet Celia Thaxter’s island garden? The Shoals Marine Laboratory—a remote marine field station located on Appledore Island—offers a variety of sea-inspired t-shirts, totes and sweatshirts. Thoughtful items for any marine enthusiast or avid gardener who longs to take a pilgrimage to Thaxter’s ocean garden. Part of the proceeds help support marine science education, research and outreach at the Shoals Marine Laboratory, which has been jointly operated by Â鶹Éç and Cornell University for 60 years. To order: , or to learn about unique educational opportunities:

Â鶹Éç Steelhead Trout: For the foodie on your list, Â鶹Éç’s Aquafort, an offshore aquaculture platform, offers a delicious locally raised steelhead trout that is available both fresh and smoked. Similar to salmon, the fish is harvested weekly and is available through the holidays at several local fish markets—including Seaport Fish in Rye and Sanders Fish Market in Portsmouth. A smoked version of the Â鶹Éç fish is available online year-round and makes a nice addition to a charcuterie board or layered on a breakfast bagel. All proceeds from online sales go directly back to research at Â鶹Éç’s Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems. To order:

Â鶹Éç Makers Expo: Looking for something unique for those hard to buy for? Come shop over 50 curated artisans at Â鶹Éç’s Makers Expo—all Â鶹Éç students, faculty and staff. Imagine engineers that knit and jewelry by biologists. Grab some friends and get into the spirit by buying something special from a Â鶹Éç wildcat. The event is free and open to the public. Friday, Dec. 5, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m., Granite State Room, Memorial Union Building, Durham. /mub/events/unh-makers-expo

Armchair explorers: For book lovers, history buffs and travelers, offer them a trip through the past and present of the Granite State’s most memorable sites. From stories of New Hampshire’s fiercely independent spirit to a peek inside the state’s lavish historic mansions and a visit to Exeter’s UFO festival, all the places that make N.H. unique are on display in A History Lover's Guide to New Hampshire. Co-authors Kathleen D. Bailey ’74 and Sheila R. Bailey take readers on an adventure without ever leaving their armchair. Available on Amazon:

Seasonal Spectacular: Give the gift of music by kicking off the season with a festive holiday concert featuring familiar classics to more contemporary works from Â鶹Éç’s talented musicians from the symphony orchestra, wind symphony, concert choir, jazz bands, chamber singers, symphonic band and wildcat marching band. One day only—Sunday, Dec. 7 at 5:00 p.m.—at the Granite State room in Â鶹Éç’s Memorial Union Building. Tickets need to be purchased in advance. They will not be available at the door. $20 general admission, $15 senior and military and $10 students. Details and to buy tickets:

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The Â鶹Éç inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 15,000 students from 50 states and 87 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. A Carnegie Classification R1 institution, Â鶹Éç partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF, and NIH, and received over $250 million in competitive external funding in FY24 to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.