Senior Week is a century-old Georgetown tradition celebrating seniors prior to graduation. Originating with a modest event schedule in 1923, Senior Week now features a range of events throughout the week and is highlighted by the Senior Ball at Union Station.
Senior Week's origins
In 1923, Georgetown College began the now time-honored tradition of Senior Week. Although the first Senior Week consisted of little more than fraternity-hosted open houses, baseball games, and a faculty dinner, The Washington Post reported a “great throng was expected” with alumni from all over the country planning to attend. Two years later the faculty dinner had evolved into a tea dance followed by a prom, both hosted at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown DC.
Changes and additions
By 1962, Senior Week included amusement parks, boat cruises, a parent-faculty cocktail party, and a Luau on the sports field.1 Originally, Senior Week was limited only to College seniors, but in 1963, the senior class council voted 10-3 to integrate the College Senior Week with the other undergraduate schools at Georgetown. The program of events included a moonlight cruise, a formal dance, and a cocktail party.2 By 1975, activities had shifted to include a hayride, scavenger hunt, block party, and a “Georgetown Crawl,” where participants were required to drink two beers at each of fifteen stations assembled around campus.3
Modern Senior Weeks include the “President’s Picnic” at the Smoky Glen Farm in Maryland, a “Last Chance Dance,” a series of happy hours, and other events rounded out by Senior Ball at Union Station on the eve of graduation.
