University of Richmond seniors mark final night with Candlelight Ceremony
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Under a dark, starlit sky, seniors cupped their hands around flickering candles as they walked around a stretch of Westhampton Lake, their path glowing with luminaria.
The Candlelight Ceremony, held the night before Commencement, is a beloved University of Richmond tradition, a moment to pause, reflect, and mark the transition from student to alum.
As the Class of 2026 was announced, cheers and applause broke out from family and friends gathered along Boatwright Beach and Tyler Haynes Commons, darkened for the occasion.
“Four years ago, graduation felt like a distant dream, yet here we are, living it,” said class speaker Gareth Woo.
Woo reflected on the shared pressures that defined the time on campus — final exam weeks, 11:59 p.m. deadlines, and nervously refreshing LinkedIn for jobs — “the dreaded j-word.”
Along the way, students filled their schedules with internships, clubs, and more clubs. As he sat down to write his speech, Woo thought about how the class had already been a part of each other’s dreams: cooking meals with friends, celebrating birthdays, watching movies till 2 a.m., helping friends through tough times.
@urichmond On the night before they graduate, our seniors gather around Westhampton Lake for our time-honored Candlelight tradition. 🕯️ It's sentimental and celebratory, and it ends with a bang... literally. 🎆 Tomorrow, the class of 2026 graduates! #urichmond #universityofrichmond #classof2026 #collegetradition
♬ original sound - University of Richmond - University of Richmond
“And slowly, it started becoming more clear: Dreams don’t always have to be these huge destinations we’re chasing,” he said. “Sometimes, dreams are the small moments that remind us we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.”
The evening ended with the singing of the alma mater.
Alma Mater, gracious mother
Evergreen thy pine-clad hills
Evergreen thy sweetest mem'ry
For a thousand hearts, it fills…
Afterwards, fireworks exploded in colorful sparks, bringing surprised gasps.
As the evening closed, many lingered around the lake with their friends, holding onto the moment.
Lizzie Camp and her friends gathered in a circle, raising their candles before gently tapping them together. They pulled into a group hug.
“I really enjoyed the quiet walk over and being surrounded by my friends and reflecting on what Gareth said,” Camp said. “I was thinking about my dreams before coming here and thinking about what I’ve accomplished.”
Tara Sheehan had strong feelings about how she felt about graduation. “I think my freshman year I didn’t know how much my life was going to change,” she said. “People have come into my life and significantly changed it. I didn’t know how good it could get, to be honest.”
Gillian Morano described the evening as bittersweet. “I came to Richmond as a transfer student, and I was really worried that I wouldn’t find my place.”
“But now I know that it was the best decision that I ever could have made.”