Every year, the grad pole stands as a cherished symbol of accomplishment, community, and transformation. It is a vibrant canvas that reflects the spirit of a graduating class, honoring its members’ achievements, memories, and aspirations. This year, the pole has received a series of remarkable new additions that have sparked enthusiasm and pride across campus. These creative and heartfelt contributions not only mark the culmination of academic journeys but also serve as lasting emblems of individual and collective identity.
The new additions to the grad pole are rich in symbolism, color, and meaning. They range from personalized artwork and sculptural elements to messages etched in wood and metal, each carefully designed to reflect the unique personalities and stories of this year’s graduates. Unlike previous years, the 2025 graduating class has taken a distinctly collaborative approach to the pole, inviting students from different faculties, cultures, and creative backgrounds to contribute. This openness has led to a diverse, multilayered expression of student life, making the pole more dynamic and representative than ever before.
One of the most striking new features is a circular band wrapped around the midsection of the pole, painted in vibrant hues of blue, green, and gold. This band, created by a group of environmental science graduates, symbolizes the interconnectedness of human and ecological systems. It’s a tribute to the countless hours spent in labs, on fieldwork, and in lectures learning about the planet’s delicate balance. Embedded within this band are small recycled glass tiles, each inscribed with a different Latin name of an endangered species, reminding passersby of both the fragility and resilience of life on Earth.
Above this band is a series of hand-carved wooden figures, representing students in traditional regalia from cultures around the world. A group of international students led the effort to include this feature, and the result is both visually stunning and deeply meaningful. Each figure was carved by a volunteer team over several weeks and painted with traditional colors and patterns from their respective homelands. From West African kente cloth motifs to intricate South Asian henna designs and Indigenous feathered headdresses, the wooden figures pay homage to cultural roots while celebrating a shared academic milestone.
Perhaps the most talked-about addition is a rotating prism installed at the top of the pole, made of mirror-finished stainless steel panels. The prism catches sunlight during the day and reflects it across the quad, casting rainbow flashes in every direction. At night, solar-powered LEDs illuminate the structure, transforming the pole into a beacon of light. The engineering students who designed and built the prism wanted to symbolize how knowledge, when reflected and refracted through different perspectives, creates beauty and understanding. The prism has quickly become a favorite photo spot and a metaphor for the diversity of thought within the graduating class.
In keeping with tradition, students were invited to submit personal messages, quotes, or memories to be engraved onto metal plaques that circle the base of the pole. This year’s messages are particularly heartfelt and creative. Some commemorate friendships forged over late-night study sessions or on group projects that tested everyone’s limits. Others reflect quiet moments of growth, words of encouragement from professors, or family members who supported them from afar. One plaque reads, “To the sleepless nights, the endless coffee, and the friends who made it all worth it—thank you.” Another simply says, “I came, I studied, I made it.” These inscriptions are small, but they collectively speak volumes about the individual and shared experiences of the Class of 2025.
Adding to the sense of inclusivity and innovation, for the first time, the grad pole features a QR code etched onto a stainless-steel plate. Scanning the code takes you to an interactive digital gallery where graduates have uploaded photos, video messages, and digital art. This virtual extension of the pole means that families and friends who couldn’t attend in person can still experience the celebration. It also preserves memories in a format that future generations can revisit, expanding the tradition into the digital age.
In a nod to artistic creativity, several fine arts students collaborated to paint a mural along the base platform surrounding the pole. The mural depicts a tree with roots that twist and turn into the likenesses of books, gears, musical instruments, and DNA strands—symbols of various fields of study. The tree’s branches stretch upwards, merging into constellations and abstract patterns that suggest limitless potential. This mural is not just a decorative element; it’s a visual narrative that expresses the journey of learning and the infinite possibilities that await beyond graduation.
The process of designing and installing these additions was itself a testament to the unity and determination of the student body. Planning began in the fall semester, with open calls for submissions and brainstorming sessions held in student lounges and online forums. The Graduate Affairs Committee worked closely with student volunteers, artists, engineers, and campus facilities to ensure that every addition was safe, respectful of tradition, and true to the students’ vision. Despite tight deadlines and occasional setbacks—such as weather delays and supply chain hiccups—the entire project was completed just in time for convocation week.
Faculty members, staff, and alumni have expressed admiration for this year’s grad pole and its new features. Many have remarked that it’s the most vibrant and inclusive version in recent memory. Alumni who return for convocation have said that the pole evokes powerful memories of their own time on campus, while also highlighting how each graduating class leaves its own unique mark.
Beyond its artistic and emotional significance, the grad pole serves as a focal point for campus gatherings during the graduation season. Students and their families gather here to take photos, reflect on their journey, and connect with their peers. The additions have sparked countless conversations and have become central to this year’s commencement celebrations. Several graduating students have remarked how seeing their work become a permanent part of the pole made them feel recognized, validated, and part of something larger than themselves.
The Class of 2025 has reimagined what the grad pole can be. Through their passion, creativity, and commitment to inclusivity, they have transformed it from a simple tradition into a living, evolving monument. It stands as a testament to academic excellence, cultural richness, and collective resilience. It honors not just what the students have accomplished, but also who they have become and the communities that shaped them.
As the sun sets on another academic year, the grad pole stands tall—its colors glowing, its lights shining, its new additions sparking curiosity and admiration. It is a silent but eloquent storyteller, whispering tales of struggle and triumph, of individuality and unity. In the years to come, future graduates will add their own voices to this evolving landmark. But for now, the grad pole belongs to the Class of 2025, and it tells their story beautifully.
