Full Story of Junior Class Traditions

Over the decades the Junior Class of Texas A&M University has hosted several Class Traditions.

In 1900, the first chapter of the Junior Class Tradition was started when a Junior Banquet was held in celebration of the Juniors’ transition into Senior year. Consisting of a feast and a multitude of speeches from current Juniors and guests alike, the banquet served as a show of the Junior Class’ camaraderie and growth. 

Over the course of the 1910s, it became custom for the Sophomore Class to attempt to “kidnap” the toastmaster and other speakers of the event as a symbol of the rivalry between the upperclassmen and underclassmen. This rivalry actually caused the Junior Banquet to not be held in 1924; although, it was fortunately able to resume the following year.

In 1925, the Junior Banquet returned with a new tradition at its side and the second chapter of the Junior Class Tradition: Junior Prom. Initially starting as a dance for both Juniors and Seniors, the Junior Prom served as a fun night of dancing and entertainment, as well as being the last event for Juniors before they became Seniors. 

Throughout the years, the Junior Prom and Junior Banquet were held one after the other, with the Junior Banquet preceding the prom by several hours.

In 1942, Junior Ball became an alternate name for the Junior Prom, with both being used interchangeably for decades. This was likely due to the Senior Class Tradition Final Ball transitioning permanently into Ring Dance.

In 1955, the third chapter of the Junior Class Tradition, Boot Dance, was started. The dance honored Junior cadets who were getting to wear their Senior boots for the first time following Final Review. Although it was open to all members of the Junior Class, Boot Dance had a long history of an absence of civilian attendees.

Junior Prom became permanently rebranded to Junior Ball in 1964.

After 67 years, the Junior Banquet was officially canceled in the spring of 1968 due to lack of funds. Junior Ball continued without difficulties.

Spring of 1979 marked a special milestone with the 26th Boot Dance, as the Corps’ first Class of women donned their Senior boots.

In 1988, Junior Ball was once again rebranded as the Class of ‘89 Ball, making it a joint ball with the Sophomore Class of ‘90. The Junior Ball would continue to be hosted with the Sophomore Ball until both were canceled before occurring in 1997.

In the fall of 1992, the fourth chapter of the Junior Class Tradition, Junior E-Walk, was started. After years of sabotaging the Senior Elephant Walk, the Junior Class was given their own version of the tradition to keep them distracted. Featuring a Senior Wildcat Pullout Yell Practice, Class pictures, and live elephants, Junior E-Walk had a route parallel to Senior Elephant Walk route so that the two coinciding traditions would never meet along their respective routes. 

For 17 years from 1955 to 1967 and from 1992 to 1996, the Junior Class had three Class Traditions, marking the only time period that any one Class was able to participate in three Class Traditions in a single academic year.

In 2004, the last Boot Dance open to the entire Class was held. Boot Dance is still held to this day exclusively for Juniors in the Corps of Cadets.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Junior E-Walk grew as the only remaining Junior Class Tradition. With speeches, food, music, and games, the Junior E-Walk was both a symbol of the Junior Class stepping up into the leadership roles left by the graduating Seniors and a celebration of this transition.

The final Junior E-Walk was held in Fall 2018, due to it no longer being needed to keep Juniors occupied during Senior Elephant Walk.

In 2022, Legacy Night, the fifth chapter of the Junior Class Tradition, was started. Putting together items from defining moments of the Junior Class’ time at Texas A&M, Legacy Night saw these items buried in a time capsule and covered with a monument dedicated to their Class denoting the Aggie core value their Class held dear. The time capsule is to be uncovered during the Class’ 50-year Class Reunion and Muster Camaraderie Barbeque. 

Legacy Night, like all of its predecessors, serves as a celebration and remembrance of the Junior Class’ time at Texas A&M University on the eve of their transition into Seniors.