’Twas final exams week, and all through the campus, not a creature was stirring, neither Santa nor Krampus, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a life-sized young man, donning life-sized elf gear … 

The elf stood directly outside UW-Eau Claire’s Centennial Hall, bouncing in his pointed shoes as the frigid wind cut through his yellow tights and green tunic.  

“Dalton, is that you?” I called from across the quad.

“Buddy,” he corrected, shooting me a grin. “Buddy the Elf!”

Which confirmed that it was Dalton Hessel.

This was in December 2016, shortly after Dalton enrolled in my Introduction to Creative Writing course. 

“What are you doing?” I called.

“Bringing Christmas cheer!” he shouted before returning his attention to the stream of college students. “Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Hope your final goes well!”

The origin story of Dalton’s holiday cheer began on Halloween 2014.

“It started my first year of college when I dressed as Buddy the Elf for Halloween,” Dalton recently shared. “I tried handing out candy in the dorms, but nobody really came, so I went to Water Street because I figured there’s definitely going to be college students there.”

Late into the evening, Dalton – I mean Buddy the Elf – stood outside the bars distributing candy and wildly premature holiday tidings. Then, mid-way through his bowl of candy, the miracle occurred: Santa Claus strolled out of one of the local watering holes.  

“He was a complete stranger,” Dalton laughed, “But I ran across the street, and we hugged and shared some lines from the movie together.”  

”

Some years his signs are the usual fare (“Wishing you a Merry Christmas”), though other years, he puts those creative writing skills to good use (“Can I hitch a ride to the North Pole?”). He’s always met with friendly honks from passing cars and plenty of free hot chocolate.

B.J. HOLLARS

Just like that, Dalton’s Buddy the Elf persona was born. Between 2014-2017, Buddy made regular finals week appearances – sometimes pulling two shifts daily to keep the students smiling. Following graduation, Dalton took his cheer to his hometown of Hayward, Wisconsin, where, for the past four Christmas Eves, he’s claimed the corner across from the Hayward Kwik Trip, brandishing an array of poster board signage.

Some years his signs are the usual fare (“Wishing you a Merry Christmas”), though other years, he puts those creative writing skills to good use (“Can I hitch a ride to the North Pole?”). He’s always met with friendly honks from passing cars and plenty of free hot chocolate.

Over the years, Dalton’s elf work has taught him many lessons, from the philosophical (reaffirming the goodness of humankind) to the practical (the importance of wearing layers).

On summer nights during the COVID-19 years, Dalton occasionally returned to his Hayward corner. Only this time, he left his elf costume at home. In blue jeans and a flannel, Dalton Hessel held up a variety of handmade signs that read: “I believe in you,” “You’re capable of amazing things,” and “You’re enough.”

When he’s not bringing good tidings to college students and perfect strangers, Dalton can be found in his second-grade classroom in Hayward. Mr. Hessel (as he’s known to his students) tries to instill within his students some of the lessons he’s learned himself.

“I try to stress that no act of kindness is too small,” Dalton says, “whether you’re holding open the door for someone or helping someone pick up their books. You’re building a foundation with your little acts, so eventually, they might turn into bigger acts.”

Dalton knew the risks when he put on the uniform: ridicule, derision, or worse. Instead, his kindness has only reflected kindness.      

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.