Lantern Walk

The Lantern Walk ceremony began in 1935 on Georgia Southern’s campus when the university was known as South Georgia Teachers College. Graduating seniors would don their caps and gowns and traverse the campus at sunset, carrying a lantern before them. As the graduates moved from building to building, members would address the group with memories from their time at Georgia Southern. The Lantern Walk tradition lasted until the 1960s and the University Programming Board brought this tradition back in 2009. Originally, those participating would dress in cap and gown and light buckets of lard to guide their way through campus and reminisce about their years at Georgia Southern University. Now, graduates don cap and gown and light lanterns, provided by Traditions Council, to take their final stroll through campus. All families and friends of graduates are invited to attend the event.