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KANSAN.COM
GRADUATION GUIDE
Seniors, alumni value graduation traditions
► HAILEY DIXON
@_hailey_dixon
Surrounded by Honors freshman students just like her, Maggie Kaemmerer walked up the Hill in 2013. Now, in less than two weeks, Kaemmerer is preparing to walk down the Hill for the 145th Commencement Ceremony on May 14, 2017.
Photo Illustration by Miranda Anaya/KANSAN
"Walking down that Hill is kind of going to close that book for good," Kaemmerer, a finance major from St. Louis, said. "Since I started, one of my very first days, it was literally like that Saturday after I arrived, I walked up the Hill. And now, my very last day in Lawrence, I'm going to walk down it."
Walking down the Hill has been a campus tradition celebrated by students since 1924. Previously, starting in 1907, the procession went from old Fraser Hall to Robinson Gym, where Wescoe Hall is located now.
"I've never walked through the Campanile, and I won't until [Graduation Day]. So I'm superstitious about all that stuff."
Maggie Kaemmerer Senior
On Commencement Day, students walk through the Campanile Bell Tower, down the Hill to Memorial Stadium, where the graduation ceremony begins.
According to a University legend, if a student walks through the Campanile prior to graduating, they will not graduate on time, or even graduate at all.
"I've never walked through the Campanile," Kaemmerer said. "And I won't until [Graduation Day]. So I'm superstitious about all that stuff."
For Ahmed Alasmar, who will be graduating on
May 14 with a degree in biology and neurobiology, the traditions are entirely new.
"I've never been to graduation before," Alasmar said. "I don't have any older brothers or sisters or anything. So I'm excited to walk just because I know everyone talks about that ... I've never seen it before; it'll all be new to me."
Alumna Carmien Hocking, a wedding consultant travel planner, gown preservation dealer and owner of A Beautiful Wedding in Lawrence, said walking through the Campanile and down the Hill is an honor and a thrill for Jayhawks.
"I was so excited to have the privilege of walking down the Hill," Hocking said.
Hocking walked down the Hill not once, but twice. Hocking was in the 100th graduating class of Lawrence High School and
walked down the Hill for graduation then. Four years later, Hocking walked down the Hill for a second time.
Overall, Kaemmerer said, this is a bittersweet moment to graduate, as she loves the University, and the traditions that go hand-in-hand on graduation day.
"My oldest brother went to KU, so I've kind of known them my whole life in some way," she said. "I'm definitely one of those people
that's really into the whole KU tradition thing. It's something that's really special to KU."
She said that these traditions unite Jayhawks together, whether they want to be or not.
"Since KU is such a large public school, it's nice to have something that just really brings everyone together," she said.
- Edited by Erin Brock
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