A take off of the freshman New Lancer Days, “the first four days of the best four years,” the Office of Alumni Relations, the Office of Annual Giving and the senior class are teaming up to present a new concept for outgoing seniors in May. In addition to the traditional Senior Week, Forever Lancer Days will be scheduled from Wednesday, May 8 to Friday, May 10.
The idea of Forever Lancer Days came to Nancy Shelton, director of Alumni Relations, during a presentation for Longwood’s New Lancer Days for freshmen.
“It hit me at the right time and the right place, and I started to brainstorm,” said Shelton.
Events have been planned each day for faculty, students and their families to come together and celebrate the end of their final college year.
In May 2012, Shelton began planning the events with Assistant Director of Annual Giving Kelly Rhoades, Director of Annual Giving Cocheyse Gilliam and senior class president Gina DeMarco. “We were originally thinking of having just the four Lancer Days, but what we found was that seniors were staying at Longwood after finals anyway,” said DeMarco. “I think there’s a lot of hype about Senior Week, so we decided to have these little events that will play up the theme of Forever Lancers,”
To kick off the festivities of Senior Week, the senior class will be hosting the first two nights’ events. On Monday, a “5 o’clock somewhere” themed event will be held at El Patron. The senior class will provide food as long as it lasts, and bar specials will be available as well.
In addition, buses will take seniors to and from the event for free. Tuesday will follow with a bowling night at Main Street Lanes with similar specials and transportation options as Monday.
Wednesday will mark the beginning of Forever Lancer Days with “The Last Senior Series.” Graduating seniors are welcome to enjoy drinks and appetizers on the outdoor deck of Macado’s Restaurant & Bar, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Thursday will include a banquet for seniors who will be inducted into the Longwood alumni community. At this dinner, the Office of Alumni Relations will introduce a new Longwood tradition.
An interactive website for newly graduated students, though still in its beginning stages, will provide helpful tips and inside information on real world topics like buying an apartment or how to dress for success. Alumni will be able to contribute by posting advice in the “I Wish I’d Known ...” section, as well as post contact information and job opportunities.
“It’s meant to give graduating seniors helpful hints and links for the things that they’re going to need to know as they start their careers,” explained Shelton. “Being online, we’ll save a tremendous amount of money, and it will be more useful and accessible for seniors.”
Friday evening there will be a reception and program held for students and their families to join Interim President Marge Connelly, deans and others in conversation and celebration. The details for this event are still pending. Forever Lancer Days will conclude with the main event Saturday morning. Commencement will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Wheeler Mall.
Both Shelton and DeMarco are excited to implement these new traditions at Longwood in May. As the dates approach, they anticipate a great deal of hype and intrigue to help increase attendance at the various events.
“Senior Week has never attracted a large number of students, maybe 200 or so at an event,” said Shelton. “But I think that we’ll do well and that it’ll grow as the years go on.”
“We’re trying to create a union between the senior class, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving,” said DeMarco. “It’s a brand new tradition, and we’re hoping that it’ll be a big success.”
