Every year, Brenau students, faculty and alumnae gather to participate in Class Day and May Day, one of our college’s most vibrant traditions to date. For all of those students out there who are unlucky enough to go to a school without a May Day, or who have never been to one, I’ll break it down for you.
Class Day:
Class Day starts off early in the morning. All of the undergraduates gather in Pearce Auditorium and sit by class, with the seniors on stage in their robes and ivy crowns.
The underclassmen proceed into the auditorium in descending class order, juniors to freshmen. The freshman class is the first to make their presentation to the seniors, singing them popular songs that have been altered to honor the seniors.
Afterwards, student services recognizes the much deserving Peer Assistants, Resident Assistants, and Honor Court justices. Then it’s time for the sophomore class presentation when they present the seniors with flowers and sing their songs.
After that, Greek life awards are presented and May Court is recognized. The junior presentation is the best part because the juniors perform a skit for the seniors, typically recapping the life of a Brenau student from freshman year to now, throwing in tributes to well-known seniors and staff members who are staples of campus (I’m talking about you, Ms. Debbie).
Then members of SAB are recognized, we finally find out who H.J. was (let’s be real, we usually have a pretty good idea) and every student organization recognizes the member that best exemplifies the values of their organization through Pillars of Excellence.
Then, the senior class president gives a speech, and all the seniors turn around their chairs to watch the nostalgic slideshow that shows their Brenau journey (and they’re almost always crying when it ends and they turn their chairs back around).
Watch the senior video for C/O 2016 here.
Then we sing one more time before the recessional. We proceed out to the Crow’s Nest in descending class order, seniors with ivy crowns, juniors with the daisy chain, sophomores with the ivy chain, freshmen empty-handed.
We get to the Crow’s Nest. Seniors are on top, juniors on the platform, sophomores on the step, and freshmen around it. We sing the senior song to the graduating seniors one last time, and then the juniors pass their chain and ascend the Crow’s Nest to be robed and crowned, sophomores pass their chain and ascend to the platform, and freshmen ascend to the steps.
This is symbolic of us each moving up at Brenau. Finally, the senior song is sung again, this time to the new seniors.
May Day:
You may be thinking: May Day? But isn't it April? Well, yes. But our semesters are short; we typically aren't even on campus in May for anything other than graduation, so it just makes more sense to have May Day in April.
May Day, while about as long as Class Day, is a little less complicated. Four representatives are chosen from each class to be their May Court representatives, in addition to Prince, Princess, and May Queen (who is the HBIC).
Everyone gathers on the front lawn to watch the processional of the May Court. Court members walk to their seats in ascending class order with an escort (often either a significant other or family member) as a bio of their Brenau accomplishments and favorite Brenau memory are read to the crowd.
The May Queen is last to proceed, and then the alumnae awards are presented. Afterwards, the Court wraps the May Pole while everyone looks on.
Sorority members then go back to their houses and welcome alums. Though May Day is technically over after the alums leave, there are other activities, like the fashion show.
Congratulations to the graduating seniors! You've worked hard for this, and we all love you. As I'm sure you're sick of hearing by now, Brenau will always welcome you back home. You are as gold refined by fire.
