Utah State University will welcome its incoming new students at the Connections Luminary on Friday, Aug. 25.

At this annual tradition, students enrolled in USU’s first-year experience course, USU 1010, will each light a lantern shaped like the tower of Old Main and engage in a symbolic procession to commence their USU experience.

At the Logan campus, students process from the Spectrum to the Quad, the opposite route they will take during their future commencement ceremonies. Luminary processions also occur at the Eastern and Blanding campuses, each celebrating and highlighting the unique characteristics of USU’s residential campuses.

he processions culminate in an address from President Elizabeth Cantwell, speaking to students live in Logan and via video feed with the Eastern and Blanding campuses. Cantwell will welcome the students to USU and celebrate them with another unique Aggie tradition, lighting the A blue on Old Main tower. Eastern and Blanding will also light their versions of the A blue at that time.

Faculty, staff and the community are invited to attend one of the Luminary processions to welcome the incoming class. Below are details for the Connections Luminary events on the three campuses.

Logan Campus

Arrive on the east side of the Quad at 8 p.m. The events in the Spectrum will be broadcast to a large screen on the Quad. Lanterns will be distributed for attendees to hold as they cheer the new students along the processional route before listening to Cantwell’s speech and lighting the A on Old Main tower blue.

Blanding Campus

Arrive at the Friendship Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Lanterns will be distributed, and students and attendees will process to the BAEC for speakers and cultural performances before listening to Cantwell’s speech and lighting the block A blue around 10 p.m.

Eastern Campus

Arrive at 8:30 p.m. in the Geary Events Center. After a short program, lanterns will be distributed, and students and attendees will process to the Fountain Field. The event will conclude in “the pit” with Cantwell’s speech and the Eastern campus version of the lighting of the A blue around 10 p.m.