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Hey Day

A ‘sensational’ Hey Day for the Class of 2024
college hall during hey day 2023

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A ‘sensational’ Hey Day for the Class of 2024

Students celebrated the longtime tradition of rising to senior status with Penn’s new president and a whole lot of selfies.

Lauren Hertzler

Class of 2023 celebrates Hey Day
penn band on locust walk during hey day

Class of 2023 celebrates Hey Day

Marking their official senior status, it’s the first time the students have gathered as a whole since Convocation in 2019.

Lauren Hertzler

Hey Day 2021: ‘Senior year is ours to seize’
college hall steps during hey day

Homepage image: Penn President Amy Gutmann met students on College Green, officially declaring them seniors.

Hey Day 2021: ‘Senior year is ours to seize’

An in-person celebration well worth the wait, students wore their custom red T-shirts and plastic foam skimmer hats while waving their canes, as Penn President Amy Gutmann declared them officially seniors on College Green.

Lauren Hertzler

Commemorating a milestone moment
aerial shot of Franklin Field and people standing in formation on the field to spell out 2021

Commemorating a milestone moment

Although unable to meet at College Green this semester, President Amy Gutmann celebrated Hey Day—the official “moving up” day for Penn juniors to seniors—in a video with Class Board 2021 members.

Lauren Hertzler

The 104th Hey Day for a future iconic class
hey day on the college hall steps

The 104th Hey Day for a future iconic class

The Class of 2020 officially entered their senior year on Thursday, May 2, with a blend of old and new traditions and styles, from boater hats and canes to jean shorts and selfies.
Hey Day 2018
Hey Day 2018

Hey Day 2018

When they graduate next year, students in the Class of 2019 will remember April 26 as the heyday of their college lives. Hey Day is the annual rite of passage for juniors, when they move up the class ranks to become seniors.

Jacquie Posey

Hey Day 2017
Hey Day 2017

Hey Day, a beloved tradition that is unique to Penn, was first held in 1916.

Hey Day 2017

At the annual tradition that marks the official passage of the junior class to senior status, participants joyfully marched down Locust Walk to College Green, holding bamboo canes and donning Styrofoam hats.

Christina Cook

Hey Day 2016

Hey Day 2016

“By the power vested in me by the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, I now proclaim you seniors!”