Appendix 3: Traditions

Formal Traditions

The College sponsors several events annually that build camaraderie, recognize excellence and service, and celebrate achievement. Learn more.

Capping

The evening before Commencement, sophomore graduates clad in white gowns and senior graduates clad in royal blue gowns are “capped.” This tradition dates to the early days of the College when each graduate selected one younger student to place the traditional mortarboard upon the head. Today, each graduate selects two or three other students or other individuals of any gender who are special to the student. This ceremony is held on the front steps of Main Hall, weather permitting, with cappers traditionally dressed in white dresses or slacks or white shirts and khaki pants.

Commencement

On Saturday morning following spring final exams, Cottey celebrates Commencement, a festive ceremony that recognizes and honors Cottey graduates and Cottey as a learning community. Graduating sophomores in white caps and gowns and graduating seniors in royal blue caps and gowns assemble in the Rogers Fine Arts Building and carry daisies (associate degree graduates carry a single daisy; baccalaureate degree graduates carry a cluster of daisies). First- and third-year students, wearing white attire, form two lines beginning at the Sculpture Garden. Graduates march from the Rogers Fine Arts Building to the Sculpture Garden, where they pass through the column formed by the first- and third-year students. They then proceed toward the Center for the Arts, where they process through a tunnel of faculty members. The graduates then enter the Auditorium and place their daisy/daisies into a basket at the entrance. Following the Commencement ceremony recessional, first-year students pick up a single daisy placed in the basket by second-year graduates and form the traditional Daisy Chain through which the new graduates pass. Third-year students present second-year students pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Cottey a cluster of daisies symbolizing their entrance into the B.A. program. 

Founder's Day Weekend

Founder’s Day is celebrated each year in late March or early April. The observance began while the College’s founder, Virginia Alice Cottey, was alive. It was originally a celebration of her birthday, which was March 27, 1848. Today, alumnae return to visit their alma mater, attend special events, and renew friendships.

Signing of the Cottey Book

During Opening Convocation each fall, all new students participate in this ceremony of honor. Signing of the Cottey Book signifies personal and academic honesty, commitment to the values of the College, and dedication to cooperation for the good of all. New students have signed the Cottey Book since 1935.

Cottey Daisies

The daisy holds a special place in Cottey’s history. It was the flower the first young women who attended Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard’s college voted to represent them both in the college’s colors yellow and white and as its official flower. That flower and those colors are still part of Cottey’s tradition today. Students will encounter the daisy as a recurring theme throughout the Cottey experience. Coincidentally, the marguerite, which is similar to a daisy, is the flower chosen by the founders of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Learn more about Cottey Daisies on our website.

The most notable of these appearances is the Daisy Chain. As part of the Commencement procession. See Commencement notes above.

Ducks and Owls

Legend has it that years ago when the College was first founded, some senior girls came upon a duck stuck in a frozen pond near the campus. The seniors rescued the duck, and the duck became the official mascot of the Cottey senior (second year) class. Fast forward a few decades to now and you’ll see ducks – mostly the yellow kind you find in a bathtub - have proliferated on Cottey’s campus. You’ll see them in faculty and staff offices and around all the student living areas.

Olive the Owl is the mascot of the Baccalaureate classes. The owl represents Older Wiser Learners. The owl was named during Founder’s Weekend 2015 by a vote of the alumnae in honor of Olive Gatewood, the first alumna of Cottey.

The Duck Game

The Duck Game is an informal tradition carried out by students, which is based on a rivalry between classes. Participation in this activity is optional, and the rules and details are clearly presented. The rivalry has its origins in the early years of the College when some “seniors” rescued a duck from the icy pond. The Duck Game, as with most Cottey traditions, has evolved through the years.

Duck Jackets (DJs)

Jackets with a duck painted on the back are worn by members of the second-year or sophomore class. Again, we’re not going to give too much away about how these jackets are created or what happens with them as that’s part of their mystique and a special ritual for students. What we can say is that these jackets get to be pretty elaborate (see the photo gallery), and they’re worn by sophomores during certain traditions.

Class Traditions

Each class at Cottey has several special traditions. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, you’ll have the chance to get involved and represent your class proudly.

Campus Work Day

A day set aside in the spring to revitalize the campus.

CSƆ

CSƆ is the logo for the second-year or sophomore class at Cottey College. It is imprinted on sweatshirts and other passdown items. Prior to Cottey becoming a four-year institution, the second-year students were called “seniors” because, in the early years, the College had grade-school and high-school programs. The students in the junior college were called juniors and seniors. In 1967, many years after the grade school and high school were closed, the juniors came to be called freshmen. With the addition of baccalaureate programs, students and their respective classes are now referred to as both first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year students/classes and/or freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior students/classes. The logo is always capitalized with the second C backwards, if capabilities allow.

fcc

This logo represents the first-year or freshman class at Cottey College, and it is imprinted on sweatshirts and other items.The logo is always printed in all lowercase letters

Passdowns

A passdown is any object that is passed down from year to year to be worn, displayed, or used in any fashion. Passdowns are not only pieces of living history but serve to give encouragement and faith in living the Cottey experience.

Dottey Cottey

One of Cottey’s most humorous traditions is when the sophomores dress up in their version of the old-fashioned Cottey ideal. Dottey Cottey goes back to 1940 when Doris Kingsbury Gayzagian, Class of 1942, created the character to illustrate a typical Cottey student in the student newspaper. From that time onward, Dottey took on a life of her own, appearing in publications, calendars, and notecards. She was incarnated into a doll, and her likeness even appeared on lapel pins. Today, seniors dress up as Dottey to emulate their version of the old-fashioned Cottey ideal.

Serenades

Serenades occasionally occur in the evening when one class sings to the other class. The songs are both humorous and serious. Serenades can be a touching and sentimental experience and strengthen the bonds among students. During the evening, don’t be surprised to hear a group of sophomores break out into song in front of a group of freshmen, or to see freshmen singing to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Serenades are a loved tradition at Cottey and can either bring you to tears or make you burst out laughing; either way, you’ll love the experience.

Step Sing

Step Sing is an event hosted at the start of the academic year to introduce new students and the campus community to Cottey songs, stories, and the duck legend. Faculty, staff, and students come together to enjoy food, fun, and connection to Cottey and to one another.

Food Traditions

We’ve said before, food is an important part of Cottey's life and part of the way we celebrate, too. There are several traditions tied to food. Learn more at this link, Food Traditions.

Blue and Yellow Dinner

While once celebrated separately as the Yellow and White Dinner for associate graduates and Blue and White Luncheon for baccalaureate graduates, the two meals were combined into one celebratory event in 2022. On Friday night before Commencement, graduates are honored by their returning student counterparts. Parents and guests of the graduates are invited to attend this special dinner.

Centennial Room Dinner

Most suites on campus have the opportunity once every other year to dine in the Centennial Room. A special menu is planned, and students dress in semi-formal attire. Centennial Room is the name given to the room in 1984 when it was redecorated in honor of Cottey’s centennial. Prior to 1984, the room had red carpet and dishes and was called Red Room. It is the goal of the College that every residential Cottey student shares in this dining experience.

Hanging of the Greens

In early December, students mark the coming holidays with a weekend of activities. On Friday evening, everyone heads to the President’s House for snacks and warm drinks. On Saturday of the Hanging of the Greens weekend, the party gets into full swing with an awesome buffet dinner.

Community Resources

For more information about Nevada, Missouri, visit the following link: Welcome to Nevada, Missouri!