Wellesley Traditions

Opening Convocation is the first College-wide ceremony of the fall semester. For first-year students, this is an opportunity to celebrate the start of the semester with the Wellesley community. Returning sophomores and juniors will have a chance to reconnect with their classmates, and for seniors, this will be the first time they will wear their Commencement regalia.

Flower Sunday is the oldest Wellesley tradition. Dating back to 1875, this special ceremony is designed to welcome entering students into the community. Each entering first-year student is given flowers by her Wellesley big sister. Together they come to the flower-filled chapel for a wonderful nondenominational, interfaith program of singing, welcoming remarks from the president and other College administrators, and performances by various student groups.

Hoop Rolling is one of the fun rites of spring that usually occurs on the first Saturday in May. Little sisters, having camped out overnight to reserve that “special place” in front of the line, watch as their senior sisters race while actually rolling hoops from Tupelo Point to the front of the Schneider Building. The winner of the race is tossed into Lake Waban to celebrate her victory.

The Class Tree is, along with Flower Sunday, one of the oldest traditions at Wellesley. Each sophomore class plants its own tree in the fall, as an event of Family/Friend Weekend, at a predetermined location on campus. The entire College community is invited to attend a brief planting ceremony. The year is added to the ceremonial shovel that has been present at every tree planting ceremony as far back as 1879.

Step Singing began in 1899 as a way to bring students together and encourage class spirit. There are several step singings each year, usually occurring on or around the first day of classes, Family/Friend Weekend in the fall, and near the last day of classes before finals in the spring semester. During Reunion Weekend in June, alumnae of all classes come together once again to enjoy and participate in this popular Wellesley tradition.

Lake Day is one of Wellesley’s most closely guarded student secrets. Planned by student government leaders, Lake Day grew out of the desire for students to take a break from the rigors of their academic pursuits and have fun. From a historical perspective, the word would be spread among students that on a certain date they would take off from their classes to enjoy a day filled with music, dancing, food, fun, and games. Lake Day today is still kept as a secret and is a day filled with fun and festivities.

In addition to Lake Day, student leaders plan several other special events that are a part of the Wellesley tradition. Students plan a Fall Concert, a Winter Gala that occurs before the winter recess, and a Spring Week which is filled with bands, picnics, and other special activities.

The Tanner Conference provides an avenue for students and alumnae to reflect critically upon, analyze, and share their off-campus experiences with others in the College community. Encompassing the diversity of off-campus experiences of students, the conference explores the learning that occurs through internships, service learning experiences, student teaching, study abroad, international Wintersession programs, courses in experiential learning, and independent study and research undertaken away from Wellesley. The conference also presents an opportunity for alumnae to return to campus to discuss how their participation in these experiences as Wellesley students has enriched their lives. This year’s conference will be on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

The Ruhlman Conference fosters collaboration among students and faculty across the disciplines and enhances the intellectual life of Wellesley College. The daylong event provides an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, friends, family, and alumnae to come together in celebration of student achievement. Attentive to the diversity of student interest and accomplishment, the conference includes a variety of formats for the presentation of student work: papers, panels, posters, exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances, and readings of original work. Last year more than 250 Wellesley students participated in the event. This year’s conference will be on Wednesday, April 30, 2008.