Traditions

The Crest Ceremony is the culmination of the new girls’ orientation to Culver and a meaningful occasion when they receive their Crest patch, an honor pin to be worn on their blazers, and are formally inducted as full members of CGA. The ceremony is normally held in February.

CWC is an annual event in March and the programming and theme is determined through the leadership of the senior advisor's board. The goal of CWC is to educate on topics relevant to the girls as well as to honor accomplishments of women.

The Dean England Day ceremony is held in September or October of each school year in commemoration of the founding Dean of CGA, Mary Francis England. The CGA Council coordinates the ceremony. New girls are welcomed into CGA through this ceremony and presented the Mary Francis England pin, worn by all girls on their dress blazer.

This is the tradition dance at Final Ball for graduating senior girls and their fathers or other significant adult male.

The registry is a book that senior girls sign during the graduation ceremony and provides a historical record of the order in which girls graduated from CGA.

The Junior/Senior Tea is held on the Friday afternoon of graduation weekend at which time the juniors of CGA honor the graduating seniors of CGA. Certificates are awarded to the outstanding senior leaders and the Tiffany Powell Award is given. Following the ceremony, participants view the senior video, which is created by the communications prefects.

Created in 2021 by Elizabeth Strogilos ’21, the CGA Charge attempts to honor femininity and independence simultaneously while being visible and structured, demonstrating the importance and tradition of female leadership within Culver Academies. It is intentionally structured to build a sense of community, promote leadership and achievement, and foster hopes and dreams by showing what ‘is’ and foreshadowing what ‘can be.

The CGA Leader Charge has five movements:

Movement 1: CGA Seniors who served on CGA Council will begin the ceremony by processing through the arch before the stage where they will be presented with a flower, sash and medal designating her position by Junior Leaders as a sign of gratitude and respect for their leadership example.

Movement 2: Chairs will separate into four blocks (horizontal lines) consisting of leaders who served on the Common Council, as Dorm Chairs, Leadership Training Chairs, and Committee Chairs. CGA students who severed as multiple chair positions choose the block they walk with for the ceremony. 

Movement 3: After separating into four blocks, CGA Council members will be sashed, with white and gold sashes adorned with respective medal for her position on CGA Council. The blocks will move around the floor twice in a full circle representing their growth and development as leaders.

Movement 4: CGA leaders will conclude the walk and form parallel lines facing their peers and families in the audience. Top CMA leaders invited by CGA Council will form a tunnel of swords through which the CGA Charge will process. The CMA leaders’ participation signifies the collaboration, partnership and mutual respect between CMA and CGA Leaders.

Movement 5: After the CGA Council progresses through the tunnel of swords, they will be joined by their fathers and classmates who will all enjoy a ceremonial waltz with their father, father figure or mentor. The Senior Waltz has been a tradition within the girls’ school since the inception of CGA in 1971.

The Ringing Ceremony is the official time when 11th-graders are “ringed” by a 12th grader or a Culver graduate of their choice. The ceremony occurs at the conclusion of Final Ball.

Initiated at the 1975 Commencement exercises, the Graduation Arch is the portal through which each graduating CGA senior walks signifying passage from Culver to her future. They are greeted by the Legion president, who welcomes them to the alumni association.

Two of Culver’s time-honored traditions are tied to its roots in the military. The Veterans Day ceremony and Gold Star Ceremony on Memorial Day both recognize the sacrifices made by Culver alumni during times of war. Since 1924, Culver has recognized the sacrifices of American and Allied soldiers during World War I at 11 a.m. on November 11. The ceremony has not changed since that original Armistice Day ceremony was conducted at the Legion Memorial Building dedication over 80 years ago.

The Gold Star Ceremony on Memorial Day recognizes all the Culver alumni who have made the ultimate sacrifice. During the ceremony, the names of alumni killed during times of conflict, from World War I to Iraq, are read aloud in the Memorial Chapel. Following the service, a solemn procession moves out to the Oval and the Corps of Cadets honor those fallen Culver veterans with a 21-gun salute and military review.

No class gift is more revered and used than that designated as “The Class Ring.” Presented by the Class of 1939 to future first-classmen and seniors, the “ring” has become cherished in the traditions of cadets and coeds as their special lakeshore refuge.

The Keeper of the Book is elected annually and is responsible for the graduation registry during the graduation ceremony. The graduating seniors girls elect a freshman to serve in the honorary role.

Conceived by and for the students of Culver Military Academy and later revised by the students of both Culver Military Academy and Culver Girls Academy, this Honor System is designed to help each Culver student understand what honor means and to help each Culver student learn to lead a life of honor. The CMA and CGA honor councils administer the Honor System.

The Gold Seal is located in the Narthex of the Chapel and is dedicated to Culver graduates who died serving their country in time of war. Since 1951, students have honored this symbol by not stepping on it, though no regulation forbids it.