Students gathered on a dark South Lawn Wednesday morning to watch the sunrise, eat doughnuts and drink coffee.
The Student Government Association hosted Big Red Rise, an early morning event celebrating seniors before the start of fall break. Attendees enjoyed the view, had a complimentary breakfast, spent some time with friends and celebrated upcoming fall graduates.
SGA President Rush Robinson said freshmen are celebrated with annual events like Topper Walk and M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan at the beginning of the year, so Big Red Rise was created as a send-off to celebrate graduating seniors each semester.
“Something the seniors at the university focus a lot on is career readiness, internships and making sure there is a career and job waiting for you at the end of college, which is a huge thing,” Robinson said. “But it’s also super important to recognize that they’re still here and to still celebrate those seniors on their way out the door.”
Robinson said that SGA hopes to do another senior sunrise or sunset in the spring. Robinson said anyone can reach out to SGA with any suggestions or ways they can make the event better in the future.
“This one is more of a trial run, also more of a moment for us to celebrate those fall graduates,” Robinson said.
Malachi Humble, senior marketing and Spanish double-major, was one of the main authors on the legislation for this event.
Humble said he helped push this legislation because SGA is focusing this year on furthering senior appreciation. Similar to a high school senior sunrise, Big Red Rise gives seniors the chance to have fun and feel like kids again, Humble said.
“I feel like we’re kind of at the point where we’re grown now, so nobody gets to treat us like kids,” Humble said. “So, we’re kind of making an opportunity where we get to be like kids again.”
Humble also expressed his appreciation for the workers at Krispy Kreme, who donated four dozen doughnuts for the event.
Olivia Collier, junior health science major, arrived early to the event with her dog Miley.
“I love the people, and I love the doughnuts and the music,” Collier said. “It’s all great. I think they should do this every single year.”
Ana Walker, junior exercise science major, attended the event with Collier. Walker said they heard of the event from Humble and came to support him.
Walker said the sunrise was worth waking up for because it was something different. She said she prefers to keep the event in the morning because the evenings are typically busy for students on the Hill.
“All the work on classes is in the afternoon, and there’s tailgates and stuff like that,” Walker said. “So, this is different, where you can do something in the morning.”
