University of Pittsburgh
August 22, 2016

96th Annual Lantern Night Ceremony

Approximately 1,000 incoming Pitt women will join alumni, faculty, and staff for the University’s oldest tradition Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
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PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh’s 96th Annual Lantern Night Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 in Heinz Memorial Chapel, Fifth and Bellefield avenues, Oakland.

Approximately 1,000 incoming freshman and transfer women are expected to take part in the University’s oldest tradition, which Passing the "light of learning"symbolizes the passing of knowledge from one generation of Pitt women to the next. Considered a rite of passage for the University’s first-year women, participants will don formal attire while carrying decorative blue and gold lanterns.

Participants will gather at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Learning’s Commons Room, where they will receive unlit lanterns. The incoming women will process, on parallel sidewalks, to Heinz Chapel for the ceremony. Each student will have her lantern lit by an alumna, or “flame bearer,” to signify the “light of learning.” The flame bearers will include the mothers and grandmothers of some incoming women. Following the ceremony, students and flame bearers will return to the Commons Room for a reception.
Pitt's oldest tradition
Patricia E. Beeson, provost and a senior vice chancellor at Pitt, will offer the ceremony’s welcome address. University Registrar Patti Mathay will welcome incoming women and flame bearers on behalf of the Pitt Alumnae Council. Alka A. Patel, a private-practice patent attorney and the secretary for the Pitt Alumni Association Board of Directors, will deliver the Lantern Night keynote address.

The 2016 Lantern Night Ceremony is sponsored by Pitt’s Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Alumnae Council and the Division of Student Affairs. For more information about Pitt’s Lantern Night Ceremony, call 412-624-5589.

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