As a Roadrunner, students get the opportunity to take part in dozens of traditions — from attending UTSA Football games to learning the university’s fight song. While these experiences bring students together in the spirit of Roadrunner pride, Commencement traditions mark the profound milestone of earning a college degree and joining the thousands of accomplished graduates who call themselves UT San Antonio alumni.
These traditions represent many of the successes and experiences that define a student’s time at UT San Antonio.
Threads of tradition
Some students wear stoles and cords draped over their shoulders, all of which have special meanings behind them. Stoles represent the different activities in which each student was involved at UT San Antonio. Student-athletes, Honors College students and first-generation students all get to proudly wear different stoles as well.
Students who are graduating cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude receive gold honor cords. Those who have served in the military or are active-duty are eligible to wear red, white and blue Veterans Honors Cords.
Commencement guests might also spot another, more subtle tradition while looking at each graduate’s gown. While all gowns are navy blue, the style varies depending on the degree the student receives. The sleeves of the gowns worn by master’s degree recipients are square at the end. The gowns of doctoral degree recipients have flowing sleeves with three bars of velvet and the university’s seal. The color of the gown’s velvet border varies based on the doctoral degree of the recipient.
Hats off to success
Another way students try to stand out in the crowd is through personalizing their mortarboards. From references to Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and odes to their future career fields to heartfelt messages to family members, the mortarboards seem to become more intricately creative every semester.
Construction Science and Management students forgo the mortarboards altogether and wear special orange hard hats on the big day.
During the ceremony, undergraduates are instructed to move their tassels from the right to the left as an official graduate. Master’s and doctoral students always keep their tassels to the left.
Where’s Rowdy?
One of the most unique sights one can see at Commencement are the iconic orange bird feet peeking out from under a blue gown. Graduates who had the opportunity to serve as Rowdy the Roadrunner, the university’s mascot, proudly wear the plush, distinctive orange feet during the ceremony.
It’s not just a ring
Much like at other institutions, UT San Antonio’s class ring recognizes that graduates are joining a growing group of the university’s alumni. However, UT San Antonio’s class rings are the only graduation keepsake in the entire world that get to spend a night in The Alamo. Since 2012, more than 10,000 rings have made the hallowed overnight stay in one of America’s most notable historical destinations.
The ring not only symbolizes a graduate’s academic accomplishments but also the lasting bond between students, the university and the city of San Antonio — fostering a sense of pride and belonging within the Roadrunner community for the long run.
The tunes of a Roadrunner
After the last student crosses the stage and the final remarks have been said, UT San Antonio’s Mariachi Los Paisanos close out the ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the new graduates. This tradition has been a part of Commencement since May 1976. The event’s finale pays homage to San Antonio’s cultural roots.
