Ivy Day Honor Awards

The Ivy Day Ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania is a tradition that dates to 1873.  Held on the Saturday of Alumni Weekend each year, it is one of the most time-honored traditions at Penn. This annual ceremony recognizes outstanding graduating seniors for their leadership and service to the University community.

In addition to the presentation of senior honor awards, engagement prizes, class leadership, and scholastic awards, the ceremony includes the unveiling of the class ivy stone and planting of the class ivy. In the earlier years, as the ivy vine was planted an invocation was pronounced, “Having been nurtured this far in its development, it is now able to take roots for itself and grow greater and greater through the years”.