More Than 400 Women to Receive "Light of Learning" During Pitt's Traditional Lantern Night Ceremony Aug. 30

PITTSBURGH-More than 400 incoming freshmen and first-year transfer women will receive the "light of learning" from University of Pittsburgh alumni "flame-bearers" during the 89th annual Lantern Night Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in Heinz Memorial Chapel, Fifth and Bellefield avenues, Oakland.

The student participants will gather at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room to receive a lantern and prepare for the 7:25 p.m. procession to the chapel.

With unlit lanterns, the women will process on the parallel sidewalks located between the cathedral's Bellefield Avenue entrance and the chapel to the 7:30 p.m. ceremony. During the event, Pitt alumni "flame-bearers," including several mothers and grandmothers-who are also alumnae of the University-of incoming students, will light the lanterns, which will remain lit for the remainder of the program. Carrying the burning lanterns, the new students will process back to the Commons Room for a reception.

Agnus Berenato, head coach of Pitt women's basketball team, will give the Lantern Night Address. Other program participants include Kristi Riccio Festa (GSPH '02), Pitt Alumni Association Alumnae Council president who will offer a greeting and history of Lantern Night, and Pitt students Molly Humphreys, president of Pitt's Panhellenic Association, and Jada Ginyard, president of the National Panhellenic Association, who will provide the student welcome. Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg will deliver the University welcome and Riccio Festa will provide the closing. Following the remarks, "flame-bearers" will light the lanterns.

Lantern Night is one of the University's oldest traditions. The Alumnae Council of the Pitt Alumni Association and Pitt's Division of Student Affairs cosponsor the ceremony.

For more information, call 412-624-8215.

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8/25/09/tmw