Some of your favorite college memories can happen outside the classroom. They might come from cheering alongside your classmates at Homecoming, grabbing a late-night breakfast, or spending time giving back to your community.
At St. Ambrose University, campus traditions bring Fighting Bees together and give you plenty of opportunities to make memories and feel at home in the Hive. From your first week on campus to your final semester, here are some traditions you can look forward to.
Find your place during Welcome Week
Your St. Ambrose experience starts with a week full of opportunities to meet your classmates and discover what it means to be an Ambrosian. One of your first traditions is the Clap-In. Following Welcome Convocation, faculty and staff line the sidewalks to cheer on new students and officially welcome them to the Hive.
You'll also get an early introduction to the St. Ambrose commitment to service through BeeComing Ambrosian. First-year students head into the Quad Cities to volunteer with local organizations and community partners while getting to know their new classmates.
The celebrations continue with the Block Party, where students come together for outdoor activities and time with friends. Then, once classes are underway, Club Fest helps you discover ways to get involved and connect with student organizations across campus.
By the end of your first few weeks, you'll know your way around campus and begin discovering where you belong at St. Ambrose.
Celebrate Homecoming
Each fall, Homecoming brings students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends together to celebrate their connection to St. Ambrose.
Throughout the weekend, students can take part in traditions like the Bumble Rumble and Fighting Bee Half Mile Run, BeeUnion, tailgates, live music, and Homecoming Mass. And, of course, there's the chance to show your blue-and-white pride while cheering on the Fighting Bees at the Homecoming football game.
As a student, Homecoming is a chance to make memories with your friends while experiencing a community that reaches far beyond campus. Years later, you might be one of the alumni returning to celebrate all over again.
Show your Ambrose pride with “Stingers Up”
There’s more than one way to show your Fighting Bee pride. At St. Ambrose, all it takes is a pinkie finger.
“Stingers Up” is a signature gesture among Ambrosians. Make a fist, raise your pinkie finger, and you’re ready to join in. You’ll see students throwing their Stingers Up at athletic events, around campus, in photos, and whenever there’s a reason to celebrate SAU. It’s a simple way to show that you’re part of the Hive and connected to the Ambrosian community wherever you go.
Take time to reflect on a Campus Ministry retreat
Some St. Ambrose traditions give you a reason to celebrate. Campus Ministry retreats give you a reason to slow down.
Retreat opportunities are offered throughout your college experience, beginning with the New Student Retreat for first-year and transfer students. Other experiences include the weekend-long Antioch Retreat, Busy Student Retreat, and Social Justice Leadership Retreat.
Then, as graduation approaches, the Senior Retreat gives you an opportunity to reflect on your time at St. Ambrose and think about what's ahead.
Whether you're looking to deepen your faith, meet other students, or simply make time for reflection, retreats offer another way to find community at St. Ambrose.
Come together for the Feast of St. Ambrose
Each year in December, the St. Ambrose community gathers to celebrate the Feast of Saint Ambrose, honoring the university’s namesake. As part of the celebration, the university hosts a soup and bread lunch for the campus community. St. Ambrose’s president, along with faculty and staff, serves the meal to students and other guests.
It’s a tradition that brings Ambrosians together while celebrating the university’s history and commitment to service.
Grab a plate at Midnight Breakfast
When finals arrive, so does one of St. Ambrose's favorite end-of-semester traditions: Midnight Breakfast.
Students take a break from studying and come together for a themed late-night meal before closing out the semester. It's a chance to grab some breakfast food and recharge with friends before getting back to those final projects and exams.
Sometimes, a plate of breakfast food is exactly the motivation you need to make it through finals week.
Start your own St. Ambrose traditions
Campus traditions are about more than having something to do. They're opportunities to find your community and create the moments you'll remember long after college.
Ready to start making your own St. Ambrose memories? Schedule a campus visit and discover what life in the Hive could look like for you.
