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������'s Undergraduate Alumni Association's (UAA) Annual Traditions Challenge consists of 18 beloved campus and community traditions that can be completed every year. These traditions are meant to be enjoyed over and over. Every student is eligible to participate and earn monthly and grand prizes in the fall and spring. 

📷= photo required | 🔵= photo optional | ✍🏼 = no photo requirement
Optional photos count as double entries in the month submitted.

1. Get your class pride pin at or Student Org Expo and display it 🔵

• ✍🏼Tell us where you keep or display your class pride pin?

• 🔵Extra credit - submit a selfie wearing your pin or take a picture of your pin on display on your backpack, bulletin board, etc. during the current academic year.

  

Lost your pin or missed First Knight? Pick-up your class pride pin at the UAA table during the Student Org Expo, at our meetings, or other events. Email uaa@geneseo.edu or uaageneseo@gmail.com for more information.

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Learn more about UAA's Class Pride Project

2. Join a student organization, team, and/or club; then attend regular meetings ✍🏼

• List club(s), team(s), or organization(s) you've joined or participated in during the current academic year. Feel free to share your thoughts about your club, team, or organization involvement while at ������.
  • At ������, your involvement in student clubs, teams, and organizations is called affinity involvement!

3. Paint the tree 📷

• Submit a selfie, a picture of you painting, or your "contribution" at the tree during the current academic year.
  • *UAA will host a Paint the Tree & Capture a Sunset Traditions Challenge event on 8/28/25 (time TBD) - we'll post a taken at this event (and pics of the painted tree) for you to download/tag and submit as proof of Tradition Challenge completion.

    • This is a great opportunity to sign the tree and participate in this long-standing campus tradition.

      

4. Capture a sunset at the Gazebo 📷

• Submit a selfie or picture of you watching a sunset at the Gazebo during the current academic year.
  • *UAA will host a Paint the Tree & Capture a Sunset Traditions Challenge event on 8/28/25 (time TBD) - we'll post a taken at this event (and pics of the painted tree) for you to download/tag and submit as proof of Tradition Challenge completion.

    • This is a great opportunity to participate in this long-standing campus tradition

      

5. Participate in a UAA event or program ✍🏼

• List the date and type of event you attended or participated.
  • Participating in THIS Traditions Challenge is a UAA program!

Visit UAA's homepage and/or follow our for information about our meetings, events, and programs. 

6. Lounge on the College Green or Sturges Quad 📷

• Submit a selfie or picture of you lounging on the College Green or Sturges Quad during the current academic year.

  

7. Visit Letchworth State Park or Roemer Arboretum 🔵

• ✍🏼 On which date (MM/DD/YY) did you visit and where did you go?

• 🔵 Extra credit - submit a selfie or picture of you during your visit (with the location obvious in the background) during the current academic year.

  

, also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern United States -- and the Mt. Morris entrance to park is located just 6.2 miles from campus. The park consists of over 14,000 acres, is roughly 17 miles long, and follows the course of the Genesee River. Letchworth State Park features a deep gorge and includes several large waterfalls. 

8. Snap a picture in front of the Emmeline fountain 📷

• Submit a selfie or picture of you in front of the fountain (preferably from the safety of the sidewalk) during the current academic year.

  

9. Cheer on the Knights 🔵

• ✍🏼 On what date did you attend a game (MM/DD/YY) and what sport?
• 🔵 Extra credit - submit a selfie or picture of you at an athletic event during the current academic year.

  • UAA will host several "photo stations" during the 2025-2026 Ice Hockey Season -- we'll post taken at this event for you to download/tag and submit as proof of Tradition Challenge completion.

    

10. Dress up for Holiday Fun Photos 📷

• Submit a selfie or picture of you (and your friends) dressed up for the holidays.
  • UAA hosts a 2-day photo event every fall (in late November or early December). A professional photographer is provided, and your . Be sure to follow so you don't miss your chance to sign up for a time slot and participate in this festive tradition.

  • Photos taken at this event will be available for you to download, print, and submit as proof of Tradition Challenge completion.

    

11. Play broomball or other intramurals (credit for players and fans) ✍🏼

• Players: list the intramural sport(s) in which you participated and your team's name(s) during the current academic year.
• Fans: list the date and intramural sport you attended during the current academic year and which team you were cheering for.

12. Submit photo(s) to the E-Yearbook 📷

• Link to E-Yearbook: www.geneseo.edu/uaa/e-yearbook
  • Photos submitted via these links are used to populate a gallery of candid photos, submitted by students, documenting the student experience.
  • Photos submitted to E-Yearbook will be saved for generations to come and may be used in the promotion of future class reunions.
• Submit candid photos of yourself and/or your friend group to the E-Yearbook from the current academic year. Be sure to upload to the correct class year gallery. You'll be asked to briefly describe the photos you submitted and on which date you uploaded your pictures.
  • Sample response: Submitted three photos of my suitemates and me (Wyoming A2D) in the Class of 2029 gallery on 11/17/25. We were celebrating our first "Friends-giving" before leaving for Thanksgiving Break.

13. Attend Diversity Summit or GREAT Day ✍🏼 

• Which program did you attend and the name of at least one session in which you participated (presented or simply attended)?

14. Meet an alum ✍🏼

• List the name of the alum and the date you met (in-person or virtually) during the current academic year.
• At ������ there are lots of opportunities to meet alumni in-person and on-campus.
  • Alumni often visit classes and speak at various programs on-campus (i.e. GOLD, Diversity Summit, etc.)
  • Alumni (usually recent grads) who come back for special affinity events.
  • True Blue Knights - alumni working on campus
• Virtually connect with an alumni mentor via the . This program provides an online platform for current students and young alums to connect with experienced alums. Access hundreds of Geneseo alumni offering expert guidance on a variety of industries, professions, and companies. With an alumni mentor you can explore career options, prepare for an upcoming job search, and/or discuss life after Geneseo.

15. Enjoy a sub from Aunt Cookies 🔵

• ✍🏼 On what date did you visit (MM/DD/YY) and share your order?
• 🔵 Extra credit - submit a selfie or picture of you at Aunt Cookies during the current academic year.

• Any order at Aunt Cookies completes the challenge for those with food allergies and/or aversions.

  

Did you know that Aunt Cookie's has been in business since 1971?

16. Eat at U-Hots after midnight 📷

• Submit a selfie or picture of you at U-Hots after midnight during the current academic year.
• Try to find a creative way to display the time in your photo (Snapchat filter, watch, cell phone, clock, etc.).
• New/updated challenge in 2025-2026.

17. Shop on Main Street or the Farmer's Market ✍🏼

• ✍🏼 On what date did you visit/shop (MM/DD/YY) and what did you buy?
  • Any purchase, at any store, of any item, at any amount qualifies.

The runs from late-June through mid-October every Thursday from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. on Center Street.

18. Dine with friends or family in the village 🔵

• ✍🏼 On what date did you dine (MM/DD/YY), where did you go, and with who?
• 🔵 Extra credit - submit a selfie or picture from your village dining experience during the current academic year.
  • You can "dine" at ANY restaurant, food truck, pub, tavern, diner, pizzeria, lounge, cafe, bakery, etc. located within the village of Geneseo.

  • We encourage you to participate in this challenge with friends and/or family.

    

Your progress in UAA's Traditions Challenge will be posted publicly once each month to allow you to keep track of how many challenges you've completed and how many you have left to complete.

Annual Traditions Challenge - additional information

Annual Traditions Challenge Prizes

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How to earn Annual Traditions Challenge Prizes

Participants can win monthly prizes by completing at least one new challenge each month (see featured months below). Grand prizes can be earned in December and May by completing at least five challenges per semester. Monthly challenges are accrued to meet the semester requirement.

• September - complete at least 1 challenge
• October - complete at least 2 challenges total
• November - complete at least 3 challenges total
• December - complete at least 5 challenges total by fall-semester study day
  • The submission deadline for the fall grand prize is 11:59 p.m. on 12/9/25.
• January - no prize/semester break
• February - complete at least 6 challenges total
• March - complete at least 7 challenges total
• April - complete at least 8 challenges total
• May - complete at least 10 challenges total by spring-semester study day
  • The submission deadline for the spring grand prize is 11:59 p.m. on 5/7/26.

The deadline submission for monthly prizes is 11:59 p.m. on the last day of each month.

FAQ for completing your Annual Traditions Challenge

• Each challenge needs to be submitted online: -- by date(s) listed above.
• You can submit each challenge you complete in real time or save and submit multiple challenges at one time.
• If you complete the form multiple times, UAA will compile your submissions and track your progress toward earning monthly and grand prizes.
  • Your progress in UAA's Annual Traditions Challenge will be posted publicly once each month to allow you to keep track of how many challenges you've completed and how many you have left to complete.
• You can complete challenges in any order and at any time. As long as you have the minimum number of challenges completed by the deadline each month or at the end of each semester, you will be eligible to win prizes.
• Photos submitted online will be featured in the annual e-yearbook and may be posted on social media.
• Be sure to participate using your ������ student email address.

Encouraging students to participate in a wide variety of campus and community traditions connects our students to the alumni who have come before. They share meaningful experiences and memories that uniquely tie them to each other and our alma mater.

The Senior Traditions Challenge features seven traditions for seniors to complete in the spring semester. These traditions are considered unique and celebrate seniors and their transition from students to alumni. Only graduating seniors are eligible to win the senior prizes during the spring semester. 

Every student is an alum from day 1; the Undergraduate Alumni Association (UAA) encourages all students to:  Learn about and participate in Geneseo’s traditions — today and for years to come. Celebrate school spirit and treasure all that our college and community has to offer, as a student and as an alum. Geneseo is not just 4 years — it’s 4 life!

Photos submitted online may be featured in the annual e-yearbook and on social media.