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Student Life at BW

Traditions

Yellow Jackets for Life - YJ4L!

Photo of BW Students in Homecoming Parade

It begins with a spirited Week of Welcome, then moves on to the traditional freshman Convocation ceremony that marks the beginning of your college journey; you'll march in as your BW professors, decked out in academic regalia, applaud and welcome you into the BW community.

In the blink of an eye, you'll find yourself in cap and gown, surrounded by all the pomp and circumstance and tradition of Commencement. In between, BW has many more experiences in store that will tie you to the generations of students who came before you - experiences you will remember for the rest of your life.

That's the power of Yellow Jacket traditions. YJ4L!

April Reign

BW students April Reign tug of war team with arms raised

For almost 90 years, April Reign has brought together the BW campus community to celebrate the spring season and school spirit through various challenges, competitions and social events. Prior to the change to a semester schedule in 1999, this tradition was called May Day, which included the crowning of the May Queen, a maypole, folk dances, fraternity floats and athletic contests.

Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival

Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival

The oldest collegiate Bach Festival in the U.S was founded in 1932 in the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Performing Arts. The festival is building on its storied, classical tradition with playful, new events like "Bach Haus" and a Bach Fest 5K, complete with a prize for the runner "Best dressed like Bach." You can also follow Bach on Twitter @BW_Bach

Bold & Gold Festival

  • Photo of Bold & Gold Grand Marshals Irene and Ted Theodore
  • Photo of BW Homecoming Football Game
  • Photo of BW Bold & Gold Homecoming Court
  • Photo of BW Bold & Gold Homecoming Concert Disco Inferno

Every autumn, the Bold & Gold Festival brings our campus community together with alumni, families of current students, Berea and the surrounding suburbs in the spirit of everything that is Baldwin Wallace. Once two separate events, Bold & Gold Festival combines homecoming and Community Day into one unique, fun and spirit-filled event. The festival includes a parade, musical events, food and the crowning of Jacket Royalty. Put on your brown and gold and come out to cheer the Yellow Jackets to victory!

Dance Marathon

Dance Marathon

Dance Marathon Funds Raised for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

An annual campus tradition since 2002, Dance Marathon is one of the biggest student-led philanthropic event at BW. The 12-hour event raises funds and awareness for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation "one shake and shimmy at a time."

Greek Sing

  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing
  • Group of students performing on stage during Greek Sing
  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing
  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing
  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing
  • Group of students performing on stage during Greek Sing
  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing
  • Students performing as a part of Greek Sing


Fraternities and sororities often practice months in advance to do their best at this annual, often wild and wacky, performance and competition. With costumes, themes and school spirit to spare, Greek Sing has been an entertaining night for all who have attended for generations.

Alma Mater

Commencement Ceremony

Speaking of singing, BW's traditional Alma Mater was written by Laurel Rittenhouse '52. You'll hear it performed at lots of campus events, including your commencement ceremony.

Baldwin Wallace, hail thy name
Praise to thee we bring,
Where'er we go throughout the land,
Our loyalty we'll sing.
Thy wisdom and thy friendships true
Will inspiration be,
Forever Baldwin Wallace
We pledge our hearts to thee.

Ring of Ribbons

Ring of RibbonsAlumni Holding Ring of Ribbons

A 100-year-old tradition that is central to convocation, commencement and golden class reunions, the Ring of Ribbons is a circular collection of ribbons representing the colors of each class since 1915. At convocation, the incoming class adds a distinctively colored ribbon; at commencement, the graduating senior class adds a second ribbon; and during 50th class reunion weekends, both class colors are renewed.