Buena Vista University - Events and Traditions

Events and Traditions

Founders’ Day: This day marks the official beginning of the academic year at BVU. A memorial service during the morning is an opportunity for the University community to pay tribute to BVU's founders and to honor members of the BVU family who have died during the preceding year. A convocation in the afternoon welcomes new students and their families to BVU.

The processional through the Victory Arch: Students pass through the Victory Arch twice during their University career: on Founder's Day as new students, and again as part of their Commencement ceremony. As freshmen, they proceed through the Arch, toward Schaller Memorial Chapel, indicating their entrance into the BVU community. As seniors, students proceed from Schaller Memorial Chapel through the Victory Arch, signifying the end of one chapter of their lives and the beginning of another.

Chapel Services: Every Thursday at 11 a.m. during the academic year, the BVU community comes together for worship. Although attendance at chapel is no longer required of students, many still enjoy and participate in this celebration of faith and community.

The William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture Series: This prestigious event features internationally-recognized leaders of business, academics, law, press, government, religion and other areas of American life. Each speaker focuses on an area of life where the matters of major rights and responsibilities are a concern. Selected students have the opportunity to interview the speakers during an afternoon session that is attended by the campus community.

Homecoming Week: Homecoming week is one of the major social events of the year for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Throughout the week, students prepare for Homecoming with residence hall/suite competitions and nightly events. The week culminates with the crowning of the King and Queen, a parade and the football game and alumni reunions.

All-campus Christmas Dinner: BVU's Office of the President and Spiritual Life host a traditional holiday dinner for all students. The evening also includes the singing of Christmas carols and Buena Vista Fight Song, the presentation of an art gift, and photos with the school mascot. Faculty and staff serve the dinner to students.

Buenafication Day: Each spring, faculty, staff and students join forces to paint, plant flowers and "buenafy" the BVU campus. This tradition has also evolved into a day of service during which students do volunteer projects in the community. A morning of work and service is followed by a picnic lunch and an afternoon of games.

Academic Awards Banquet: In the spring, the University recognizes those students who have excelled in their academic pursuits. Parents, faculty and staff are also included in this ceremony. Major awards, such as Senior of the Year, are announced at the event.

Moonlight Breakfast: Each semester during finals week, Student Services and Sodexho Food Service host a late-night breakfast for students. Served by the Student Services staff, this is an excellent study break as students prepare for their final exams.

Scholars Day: In one of the newest traditions held in the spring, students representing a cross-section of academic disciplines have the opportunity to showcase their original scholarly work in an interactive format that is open the public.

Career Symposium: On the day before Homecoming, BVU alumni return to campus to participate in panel sessions to answer students’ questions about careers. In addition to the panel sessions, time is also scheduled for students to meet “one on one” with alumni. The event is sponsored by the BVU National Alumni Association.

Dinner at the President’s Home: Each fall, President and Mrs. Moore invite freshmen (via their Freshman Seminar classes) to their residence, the McCorkle House, for dinner. It’s an opportunity for the students to get to know the president and a time when the president shares some of the historical background on the impact that Life Trustee Dr. Paul McCorkle and his late wife, Vivian, who was also a Trustee, have had on the University.

Senior Send-off: This event started in 1999 as a brunch prior to Commencement to celebrate the time the seniors spent on campus and to wish them well in their future endeavors. The format was changed in 2007 to a picnic in Scout Park on the Friday before Commencement day. The offices of Student Services and Alumni Relations are the sponsors.

Ringing of the Victory Bell: In years gone by, the Victory Bell was occasionally rung by students to celebrate football victories and to commemorate special occasions. The tradition has recently been renewed by the Alumni Association Student Board. Now, freshmen ring the bell on Founders’ Day, sophomores as a call to the Christmas Dinner, juniors as a call to students to gather on Buenafication Day morning, and seniors on their Commencement Day. Originally, the bell was located across from Edson Hall and was later moved to a site between Lage Communications Center and Social Sciences and Art Hall.