Women's College students pose in a historic photo

History & Traditions

History at a Glance

Brenau University was founded in 1878 as the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary by Dr. W.C. Wilkes. In 1900, H.J. Pearce, who was the institution’s president at the time, named it Brenau, which is a linguistic blend of the German word “brennen,” meaning “to burn,” and the Latin “aurum,” which translates to “gold.” This combination embodies our motto, “As gold refined by fire.”

Today, Brenau University consists of The Women’s College, the coed Undergraduate School, and the Sidney O. Smith, Jr. Graduate School.

Traditions

First Steps and Opening Convocation

First Steps is a tradition celebrating the beginning of each new student’s journey at Brenau. Following Opening Convocation, new students process through the arches of Daniel Pavilion lead by the University Mace, carried in honor by the longest serving faculty member. As they exit the pavilion, each student receives a daisy and takes their First Steps across the front lawn while being celebrated by faculty, staff, and upper class students.

Gold Refined by Fire Ceremony

During the Gold Refined by Fire Ceremony, new students gather at the Brenau Amphitheatre in the evening before the first day of classes. In this tradition of reflection and renewal, members of the Senior Leadership Society guide students through the lines of the Brenau Ideal and their meaning. Students are then encouraged to reflect on what brought them here, including their dreams and aspirations as well as their fears and doubts as they begin their college journey. They then write their dreams onto a copy of the Brenau Ideal to keep and look back on throughout their time here, and write their doubts on a separate piece of paper to burn in the firepit. Through this, their doubts are consumed and transformed so that students may become As Gold Refined by Fire.

The Brenau Honor Code

I promise to uphold the Brenau University honor code and expectations of civility in the student handbook by refraining from every form of dishonesty, cheating, and impropriety in university life. I will strive to create a spirit of honesty and honor. Failure to do so is considered a breach of trust toward the faculty, staff, and student body. I accept this commitment as a personal responsibility to refrain from and to report all forms of dishonesty, cheating, and misconduct.

International Week

As one of Brenau’s more recent traditions, International Week — which takes place in mid-November — serves as a time to celebrate other cultures and strengthen our understanding of the world. Each year Brenau highlights specific cultures, giving students the opportunity to get international experiences without ever stepping off campus.

Late Night Breakfast

Every semester, students have the opportunity for a late night breakfast the week prior to finals. Late night breakfast (formerly midnight breakfast) is one of Brenau’s most beloved traditions.

Members of the administration and staff including the president and the vice presidents, serve breakfast in the Hopkins Dining Hall from 8-10 p.m. During the event, students show up to eat breakfast, dance and compete for raffle prizes, which may vary from printers for their dorm rooms to food vouchers, fuzzy blankets, fashionable hats and more.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation

Each year, Brenau honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrates with a convocation that involves a keynote speaker and several performances from students.

Panamanian Cultural Day

At the end of November each year, in honor of Brenau’s international partnership with IFARHU, the university holds a Panamanian Cultural Day. The event celebrates our Panamanian students’ backgrounds  and gives them the opportunity to share their culture with the rest of the Brenau community.

The Brenau Ideal

Originally written by President H.J. Pearce, the Brenau Ideal is introduced to students during the first days of the semester and is frequently referenced in convocations.

Testimonials
Brenau Ideal
To find satisfaction in being rather than in seeming; To find joy in doing rather than in dreaming; To be prepared for service thereby earning the right to be served; To be pure in heart, vigorous in mind, discreet in action; To love deeply, fear nothing, hate never; To enjoy that freedom which comes from knowledge of the “Truth;” To be modestly conscious of the limitations of human knowledge and serenely confident of the limitless reaches of human endeavor — this is the ideal of Brenau.
H.J. Pearce The Brenau Ideal

Winter Weekend

During this premier recruiting event, the admissions office invites prospective students to stay overnight in student housing to experience college life. Winter Weekend gives these students the opportunity to stay overnight in a residence hall or sorority house, attend a reception hosted by the Office of the President, watch the Brenau’s Got Talent competition, learn about Greek Life, attend academic showcases, gain information on financial aid and scholarships, and get to know current Brenau students.

Brenau’s Got Talent

As part of Winter Weekend, this annual competition is an opportunity for current undergraduate students on the historic Gainesville campus to showcase their amazing talent before an audience of prospective and current students, staff, family and friends, with cash prizes presented to the winners.

Cotillion

Cotillion is the spring semiformal dance held to celebrate the end of a successful year. Brenau’s president customarily attends to offer a champagne toast to the graduating seniors.

Spade Hunt

In this tradition dating to the college’s early days, the senior class, led by its president, hides three objects somewhere on the Brenau campus. The seniors provide periodic clues as to the location of the objects and juniors are responsible for interpreting the clues and finding the hidden objects. The Spade Hunt takes three full days. On day one, the juniors receive clues which will lead them to a bag of candy. Assuming that the juniors find the candy, they then receive clues to the location of the “baby spade.” Upon finding the baby spade on day two, the seniors will then provide clues for finding “The Spade.” Only three clues are given in a 24-hour period.

Spring Honors Convocation

Honors Convocation is a formal ceremony that recognizes outstanding students and faculty with presentations of scholarships and departmental awards. Previously held in connection with May Day, it now occurs in late spring.

Testimonials
The vocal chamber ensemble performs
Brenau, how nobly we see thee, With honors richly crowned; In all this fair, fair Southland Thy equal is not found. Oh happy the day that we sought thee by Chattahoochee’s side Where spring gives its first kiss to nature, and summer long doth ‘bide ...
The Brenau Alma Mater performed by the Brenau Vocal Chamber Ensemble
Transcript

Women’s College Traditions

Greek Week

The Greek Council sponsors this annual week-long celebration of sorority membership that involves the seven national sororities on campus. The week promotes the Panhellenic systems and includes activities that promote inter-sorority relationships. During this week, the Greeks compete in Greek games and select a Greek Goddess. The week closes with a semiformal dance, the Greek Gala.

Power Hour

Power Hour is an informal convocation in the month of October focusing on Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness. The event features a motivational guest speaker, student performances and is available to all undergraduates.

Women’s Leadership Colloquium

The Women’s College of Brenau University hosts the annual Women’s Leadership Colloquium that invites all students, alumni, faculty, staff and community to gather for conversations about women’s leadership. Successful women share their stories, advice and suggestions for current and aspiring leaders. The event also features student performances, giveaways and a tea party.

Class Day

Class Day, held in Pearce Auditorium and the Crow’s Nest on the morning of May Day, is a sentimental time for all Women’s College students. Each class pays tribute to the seniors by performing original songs in their honor. The seniors present their Class Day song and multimedia presentation documenting their four years at Brenau. Individual and organizational awards are presented. At the conclusion of the program, the seniors, robed in black, and the rest of the students, dressed in white, form a procession to the fountain on front campus to pick up their appropriate chains and proceed to the Crow’s Nest. The seniors ascend the Crow’s Nest one last time as Brenau students. A ceremony in which each class rises in rank is then performed. The first-year students receive an ivy chain from the sophomores, the sophomores receive a daisy chain from the juniors, and the juniors are ceremonially “robed” and ascend to the top of the Crow’s Nest for the first time as seniors. The entire student body then sings “Seniors, We Honor Thee” to the new senior class.

May Day

May Day, formerly known as Spring Festival, is one of the oldest and most beautiful of The Women’s College traditions at Brenau. The celebration takes place on front campus lawn, highlighted by the presentation of the May Court, crowning of the May Queen and wrapping of the May Pole. The Queen is joined by the Princess, Prince and four members from each class. All are elected by the student body. May Day now occurs in conjunction with the Brenau’s Alumni Reunion Weekend, which brings hundreds of Brenau alumni back to campus.