The Under the Oaks ceremony on Friday (May 18) will blend Newcomb College traditions with the recognition of outstanding seniors as Newcomb Scholars, says Jennifer Daniel, program coordinator at the Newcomb College Institute. (Photo by Rick Olivier)

As Newcomb Student Programs staff member Jennifer Daniel began working on plans for this week's Under the Oaks ceremony, she had a specific goal in mind.

"It's important to keep the traditions going," says Daniel, a 2006 Newcomb alumna.

Female undergraduates and Newcomb College alumnae attending the 2 p.m. event on Friday (May 18) at Dixon Hall will see many familiar traditions at work and will be introduced to some new ones. Graduating students will receive their diplomas through academic diploma ceremonies on Saturday (May 19).

The procession into Dixon will be led by the traditional Newcomb Daisy Chain, Daniel says. The Daisy Chain is made up of a select group of juniors that has traditionally led the processional at the Newcomb diploma ceremony, holding a large garland of fresh daisies to honor the graduating seniors. This year, they will welcome the graduating senior women who have chosen to have the Newcomb College name on their diplomas -- approximately 400 graduates from December 2006, May 2007 and summer 2007, Daniel says.

The women also will be presented with Newcomb decals to wear on their mortar boards during University Commencement on Saturday (May 19), Daniel says, as well as senior pins.

Graduating senior and class speaker Emerald Montgomery will give the keynote address during the Under the Oaks ceremony, which also will recognize and honor members of the Newcomb College Class of 1957.

Thirty-four alumnae from the Class of 1957 are expected to attend, said Allison Raynor, director of Newcomb alumnae. "They're all excited about coming back and seeing their friends," she says.

Also being honored at the ceremony will be this year's Newcomb award winners, who will not be announced until the event, and this year's Newcomb Scholars, Daniel says.

Formed as part of the H. Sophie Newcomb College Institute, the Newcomb Scholars program this year honors 38 seniors who have "done work above and beyond normal academic expectations," Daniel says.

Daniel notes that the Under the Oaks ceremony will not only have the feel of a traditional Newcomb event, but also the sound. The historic bell that pealed to begin Newcomb diploma ceremonies is being brought into Dixon Hall and will ring in the new traditions along with the old.

"It is important that we keep the sense of community, spirit and tradition that always has marked Newcomb College," Daniel says.