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Test your knowledge on Meredith College's commencement celebrations and Class Day tradition!

Meredith College Commencement Trivia

The Immortal Ten, Meredith's first graduating class, graduated in 1902.

1902

When did Meredith College's first class graduate?

In the early days of Class Day, students would lay the daisy chains in the shape of the graduating class' numerals on the old steps that lead to the second floor of Johnson Hall. In more recent years, the ceremony has been held in the McIver Amphitheater, Jones Auditorium, and in the main courtyard behind Johnson Hall.

Belk Dining Hall

Black gowns were worn during Commencement prior to the recent change to a maroon gown.

Black

What color graduation gowns were worn the longest?

The styles of those early Class Day dresses can be seen on the class dolls of the early 1900s.  
This photo shows the Class of 1925's doll wearing a replica of their Class Day dress.

True

True or False:  
In the early days of the tradition, members of the graduating class wore identical dresses during Class Day?

The even classes give their little sisters bags of sticks and stones "to protect them from the Odd Spirit's bones."  
The featured photo is of the sticks & stones given by the Class of 2002 to the Class of 2004.

Sticks & Stones

What items do the big sisters of even classes give to their little sisters on Class Day?

According to Norma Rose in a 1957 issue of The Alumnae Magazine, Richard Tilman Vann, the second president of Meredith College, wrote the words of the Alma Mater “sometime about 1902,” and it was in 1907, that Vann “wrote the music as we sing it today."

Dr. Richard Tilman Vann

The Alma Mater is sung numerous times during Commencement Weekend. Who wrote it?

Spring of 2012

When did the graduating class begin wearing maroon gowns for Commencement?

In the Spring of 1900, the Commencement Celebration took place from June 3 until June 6.

How many days did the first Commencement Celebration last?

According to Mary Lynch Johnson, the event took place on a Monday morning prior to Commencement in the auditorium.  
This photo shows students in matching Class Day dresses amongst the daisy chains at the old campus in Downtown Raleigh.

Monday

In its early years, on what day of the week did Class Day take place?

The members of the odd year classes wear black gloves on their left hands and give their little sisters wishbone charms for luck.

Wishbones

What items do the big sisters of odd classes give to their little sisters on Class Day?  


Sandra Day O'Connor has never delivered the Commencement address at Meredith College. She has spoken at the College as part of the Lillian Parker Wallace Lecture Series.   

Dr. Jo Allen delivered the address in 2015.
Beverly Perdue, then North Carolina lieutenant governor, delivered the address in 2006.
Elizabeth Dole, prior to her election to the US Senate, delivered the address in 2001.

Sandra Day O'Connor

Which of these people has never served as the Commencement speaker?

In 1980, Katherine Parker Freeman, '10, wrote: "There were 28 graduates that year [1910], I think the largest up to that time. We departed from tradition, and instead of a daisy chain, made our chain out of red rambler roses!"

Roses

What flowers were featured in the chains on Class Day in 1910?  


In June 1900, the Baptist Female University held a 4-day long commencement celebration despite the lack of a graduating class. 
Mary Lynch Johnson wrote in _A History of Meredith College_ about that celebration, "commencement was indeed 'an occasion of great rejoicing,' the importance of which was not at all lessened by the lack of a graduating class."

True or False:  
The first commencement celebration did not have a graduating class.  


Meredith College Commencement has been held in several locations over its history. Most recently, in May 2019, the ceremony was held at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State University because of the size of the graduating class, provision for accessibility, and ability to control the climate.

Jones Chapel

Commencement has never been held at which of these locations?

Put on that cap and gown to get in the spirit and crack open a copy of Mary Lynch Johnson's _A History of Meredith College_ or make a trip to the college archives.  
Congratulations to the Class of 2020, our newest Meredith College graduates!

It's time to brush up on your Meredith College history.

You know your stuff when it comes to Meredith College Commencement Weekend. Maybe you should deliver the College's next Commencement address.  
Congratulations to the Class of 2020, our newest Meredith College graduates!

You need a gold star added to your diploma!

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Meredith College Commencement Trivia

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