Top Ten Georgetown Traditions
Grubfest
At
the beginning of the fall semester, students representing their residence halls
head for the Quad on South Campus to compete in Grub Fest. The Quad is turned
into a slimy, muddy, ice cream infested arena. Teams compete to assemble Mr.
Potato parts found in tubs of spaghetti & sauce, to make the largest human ice
cream sundae, race up the slime-covered hill, and many other crazy and fun
events involving flour, jell-o, mud, and syrup. Imagine! The activities
culminate with the crowning a Grub Fest King and Queen. The honors are bestowed
upon the most creative and filthy participants.
Watermelon Bust
Watermelon
Bust combines having fun with raising money for charity. Sororities compete in
Watermelon games and one lucky women is named Watermelon Queen and adorned with
a watermelon crown.
Songfest
The week of Homecoming at Georgetown College culminates in a fascinating
display of musical and performing talent by Georgetown College students
who create original, eight-minute skits consisting of singing, dancing,
and acting. The students take their inspiration from the Homecoming
theme, and all their skits are created to reflect some component of the
theme. Students may participate in Songfest with their residence halls,
fraternities, or sororities.
Homecoming Benches
One of the exciting traditions for Homecoming Week is the painting of
the white benches outside each residence hall. Each year, the Homecoming
theme is announced on September 1 and the Student Life office provides
each residence hall with paint. Residents are asked to paint a
bench that creatively expresses the homecoming theme. The winner of the
“Most Creative Bench” award is announced at Songfest, and the winning
residence hall receives a prize!
Hanging of the Green
The first Monday of December is a special time at Georgetown College
when students, faculty, and staff unite in John L. Hill Chapel to
celebrate the upcoming Christmas season. The Hanging of the Green
Christmas service is a CEP worship service for the entire college
community. Afterward, everyone proceeds to
Giddings Circle to sing carols and “light the circle” to signify that
the Christmas season has officially begun at Georgetown College.
Chapel Day
All Greek men and women of Georgetown College anxiously await January, when Chapel Day occurs. Similar to what other colleges call
“bid day,” Chapel Day is when one joins a fraternity or sorority. At
Georgetown College, after students receive an invitation to join a
certain fraternity or sorority, they dress up in their new Greek letters
and run through the Chapel doors to greet their new brothers or sisters.
Nobody knows what sorority or fraternity the new students join until the
new students run out of the Chapel doors. Thus, Chapel Day is exciting
not only for the new students, but the upperclassmen as well.
Belle of the Blue
The Belle of the Blue scholarship pageant is held every February in John
L. Hill Chapel. Freshmen, sophomore, and junior women are eligible to
compete. All residence halls nominate a
woman with outstanding grades and talent to participate and compete for
scholarships. Belle of the Blue is sponsored by the
Association
of Georgetown Students.
GLADD Week
The week preceding Spring Break at Georgetown College is known as Georgetonians Leading Against Drunk Driving, or GLADD, Week. The Association of Georgetown Students sponsors the GLADD Week events, which may include a guest speaker in the Chapel, a band, promotional give-aways, or distribution of educational literature regarding the dangers of drinking and driving.
Greek Week
Every spring semester, the Greek Organizations come together for a week
of community service, programs, and fun. Greeks raise funds through the
Greek God and Goddess competition as well as different methods each year
to benefit Scroggins Park Ministry. Faculty and staff get involved
during the trivia competition while, later in the evening, the Greeks
battle it out in the swimming pool in events such as the wheel barrel
race and the strip & swim relay. Greek Games bring out the competition
in everyone during events like the mattress race and tug of war. The
week culminates with the Greek Life Recognition Banquet where groups and
individuals are rewarded for their outstanding work throughout the year.
Chili Cookoff
Every
year, Georgetown College’s Interfraternity Council holds a chili cook-off, as
friendly competition for students and staff to enter their chili into a variety
of categories with hopes of taking home a prize.