Life at GW
GW TRADITIONS
FALL FEST AND SPRING FLING
These student-run weekend events in September and April are sponsored by Program Board. Outdoor games and fun abound. Past performers include Kanye West, Jimmy Eat World, RedMan, and Gym Class Heroes.
OCTOBERFEST
Held on the Mount Vernon campus during Colonials Weekend, this annual family event features music, pumpkin carving, arts & crafts, games, tasty fall desserts, family competitions, photo-ops, contests and more.
SPIRIT WEEK AND COLONIALS INVASION
Join us for lots of special events during Spirit Week in mid October–all of which lead up to Colonials Invasion, which kicks off basketball season for GW.
COLONIALS WEEKEND
Colonials Weekend, a celebration for students, alumni, family, and friends, is a weekend full of events and incredible performers. Past performers include the Beach Boys, the Boston Pops, Dana Carvey, Patti LaBelle, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, and Billy Crystal. This year Colonials Weekend will be held October 17-19, 2008.
MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST
When finals arrive, it’s time for Midnight Breakfast! A GW tradition during the final exam period in the fall, this is a night where faculty and administrators serve YOU breakfast at midnight as a reward for all of your hard work. It is a great stress reliever during your studying.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SERVICE DAY, AWARD AND CELEBRATION
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a nationally recognized community service event on the King Holiday. A “day on” rather than a “day off”, some 250 students serve the DC community in various projects. The MLK Award is the highest honor a student can achieve in recognition of humanitarian service. Given in January, the celebration of both Martin Luther King’s life as well as a ceremony in his honor take place in late January, around the King Holiday.
ARTS FEST AND CHALK-IN
This annual event, sponsored by The University Counseling Center, is held in April and is a celebration of student talent in the arts. Students dance, sing and perform while other students participate in activities such as mask and frame making, fun with Play-Doh and create your own tribal art. H Street is closed to traffic during the event so students can draw on the street and sidewalks with chalk–a great stress-reliever as exams approach!
FOUNTAIN DAY
The Mount Vernon campus sponsors this end of the academic year celebration with lots of great food, fun amusements, tie-dye and live music by a nationally recognized act.
JUMPSTART FOR A DAY
At this annual community event, join the Jumpstart Program and many student organizations, fraternities, sororities, and more to play with preschool children and encourage their love of learning.
MASCOTS
Three of GW’s most loyal fans are our mascots: “George,” “Big George” and the Hippo. These famous faces are seen quite frequently around campus at numerous athletic events and student activities. George, The Hippo, and Big George rally the Colonial fans to cheer our teams to victory!
SENIOR PROM
Hosted by students in the Neighbors Project, the University student community comes together to host a night of dinner and dancing for local DC senior citizens.
HIPPO
The bronze hippo, which stands proud outside of GW’s Lisner Auditorium, was a gift presented to the Class of 2000 by President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. Legend has it that this unofficial University mascot brings luck to all who rub its nose–so don’t forget to stop by before an exam!
MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY DAY
This is a day when students and the community come together to celebrate fall by trick-or-treating in the residence halls, cheering on the Colonials Soccer team and enjoying a film in Eckles Auditorium.
FILMS ON THE VERN
Films on The Vern is the annual outdoor summer series of films shown on the big screen on The Quad at the Mount Vernon campus, bringing together members of the GW community and neighbors of the GW campuses for a weekly opportunity to enjoy classic film hits.
GRAD WEEK
When you are a senior, join us for a weeklong series of special events leading up to graduation. Past events include excursions to Atlantic City, trips to a Baltimore Orioles game, the Senior Toast, and Monumental Celebration.
