April 19, 2024

Tradition Reinvention: Iconic UMW Events Go Virtual

At the first-ever virtual Eagle Gathering, administration, faculty, staff, current students and alumni welcomed new Eagles to UMW through a livestream on Zoom and YouTube. Volunteers lined Campus Walk with 1,129 luminaries, each representing a new student at Mary Washington.

At the first-ever virtual Eagle Gathering, administration, faculty, staff, current students and alumni welcomed new Eagles to UMW through a livestream on Zoom and YouTube. Volunteers lined Campus Walk with 1,129 luminaries, each representing a new student at Mary Washington.

Online trivia, virtual dance parties and outdoor fitness classes are in this fall. High fives, handshakes and hugs are out, at least for now.

Activities and engagement are as much a part of college life as academics. That’s why staff and student volunteers at the University of Mary Washington have worked tirelessly this summer to ensure that campus traditions like Club Carnival and Eagle Gathering draw first-year and transfer students into the UMW experience. Going virtual for the first time, these events will continue to foster community and connection, even when students are apart.

“All students go to college to get a degree, but their experience is often defined by their involvement in activities outside the classroom,” said Sandrine Sutphin, director of Student Activities and Engagement. Read more.