Traditions
Some things never change. Rollins has been around for more than 135 years, but that doesn’t mean our first class of students and our most recent don’t have anything in common. And hey, that’s pretty cool, considering we count athletes, world leaders, and everyone’s favorite neighbor among our alumni. At Rollins, we’re always keeping an eye on the future, but our traditions help anchor us to the past. That’s what it means to be part of the Rollins legacy. Here are a few of our favorite Rollins traditions.
SPARC Day
Every year during orientation, new Tars are introduced to the power of service through the Rollins tradition of SPARC Day. During this community-wide day of service, first-year students perform an array of volunteer activities for dozens of local organizations and then reflect on the impact each of them can have in their backyard and around the world.
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Candlewish
One of the first traditions Rollins students partake in is Candlewish. At the start of each fall semester, first-years gather to set their intentions for the next four years. Each student is given a candle, which is raised to symbolize the power of community, the pursuit of knowledge, and the Rollins motto “Fiat Lux,” meaning “Let there be light.”
Fox Day
Started in 1956 by Rollins’ 10th president, Hugh McKean, Fox Day is our most popular and beloved tradition. Each spring, the Rollins fox statue is placed on Tars Plaza, signaling the cancellation of classes. The day of fun kicks off with donuts and culminates with a family-style picnic. No one knows exactly what day the fox will appear, and guessing is half the fun.
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Lip Sync
What began as a fun way for Student Government Association (SGA) candidates to connect with the student body has turned into one of the College’s most highly anticipated (and competitive) social events. Every year, dozens of student groups participate in this lip-sync and dance challenge in front of a huge audience of their peers. Not to mention, the production value is second to none!
Late Night Breakfast
Don’t you love having breakfast for dinner? On the eve of finals every semester, students flock to Skillman Dining Hall for Late Night Breakfast—a free event where faculty, staff, and even the President serve up breakfast favorites like pancakes, omelets, and biscuits and gravy. It’s a great opportunity for students to fill up on food and fun as they finish their papers and cram for exams.
Thaddeus & Polly Seymour Acts of Kindness Day
During his 1983 convocation speech, Rollins’ 12th president, Thaddeus Seymour ’82HAL ’90H, presented the student body with a challenge: Engage in acts of kindness and service toward one another, the campus, and the community. He didn’t know it then, but that simple provocation was the beginning of a lasting legacy that would evolve into an annual tradition.
Well respected for their commitment to community service, Thad and his wife, Polly, spent decades serving the Winter Park community. Since 2020, Rollins has honored the beloved pair with a day every February for Tars to come together and show their commitment to both service and Rollins, which would have undoubtedly made Thad very proud.
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