Hey Day

An iconic tradition at Penn, third-year students were promoted to senior status.

Lauren Hertzler ・May 2, 2024

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

Lauren Hertzler ・April 27, 2023

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

Lauren Hertzler ・April 28, 2022

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 ・October 13, 2021

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 ・April 30, 2020

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.

Tina Rodia ・May 2, 2019

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 April 26, 2018

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 April 27, 2017

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

Jacquie Posey April 28, 2016