Celebrating 100 years with MSU Texas: Senior Walk

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – News Channel 6 is celebrating a century with Midwestern State University, and we’re persevering with our tribute to the college’s previous, current and future with the senior stroll.

It’s a convention that Dr. James Johnston, interim president of MSU Texas, began in 2017, and it has since expanded to incorporate the Spirit of the Mustangs. The 4 horses are strategically positioned to signify a scholar’s journey by way of faculty.

“Essentially, that plaza is to represent the four class ranks, the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior horses,” Johnston stated. “The water feature itself is your educational journey, that fluid and changing path.”

The custom begins throughout freshmen 12 months.

“It kind of takes you back to time and place,” Johnston stated. “I remember when I was a freshman, that nervousness, can I do this and do I belong here.”

Freshmen college students will contact the tail, signifying their dedication to incomes their faculty diploma. The sophomore horse is a bit more snug.

“The junior horse, and really that eye on the prize and really focused on I can make this,” Johnston stated.

It then comes full circle senior 12 months with the senior stroll.

“The senior horse, that leap into the future and that achievement,” Johnston stated. “There’s a celebration by college and then the dean brings their graduating seniors to the Spirit of the Mustangs plaza. They lead them across, they touch the nose of the senior horse just celebrating the completion of that university degree.”

The seniors get to have fun the tip of their faculty careers with the individuals who’ve been there with them the entire approach.

“I also like it because the deans get to walk with us,” Corby Chaney, Mass Communication senior, stated. “We’ve been with them for the last four years and so it’s also saying like a farewell to us and them.”

“The senior walk has always been a last walk with the seniors,” Johnston stated. “The last celebration with the seniors. Typically, graduation weekend is with family and friends and all the celebrations so it’s one last time for us to celebrate together.”

The custom helps join college students and alumni to the college.

“Traditions are what connect, ultimately, our alumni to time and place,” Johnston stated. “The students will reflect back on visiting that place and some transitional period in their education. Those are the things and that’s what we want is a connection point from somewhere down the road in their life remembering fondly their time at Midwestern State University.”

The Spirit of the Mustangs sculptor Vic Payne stated out of the 4 horses, the senior was the toughest to make because it was a foot greater than the remaining.

All MSU Texas centennial celebration tales may be discovered by clicking right here.

Copyright 2022 KAUZ. All rights reserved.