Office of Alumni Relations, Traditions Commission to recognize graduating seniors and rising juniors in April 18 candle-lighting ceremony

Office of Alumni Relations, Traditions Commission to recognize graduating seniors and rising juniors in April 18 candle-lighting ceremonyApril 14, 2008SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s Office of Alumni Relations and the Traditions Commission in the Division of Student Affairs will begin a new tradition this year to honor graduating seniors and rising juniors. A candle-lighting ceremony will be held immediately following the annual Ring Ceremony, planned for Friday, April 18, at 6 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

At about 7 p.m., immediately following the conclusion of the Ring Ceremony, graduating seniors will stand at the top of the steps outside Hendricks Chapel with lit candles. Juniors, holding unlit candles, will stand at the bottom of the steps. One by one, seniors will walk down the steps and light the candle of a soon-to-be senior. Each senior, after lighting a junior’s candle, will extinguish their own candle, symbolizing the completion of their undergraduate career at SU.

“The candle-lighting ceremony is a great way to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors, and to have them `pass the torch’ down to the next group of students,” says Elaine Cardone, associate director of alumni relations.

Students are encouraged to participate in the candle-lighting ceremony as individuals and in groups. Those interested in participating should contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 443-3258 or sualumni@syr.edu.