At the end of every academic year, the Senior Week Committee partners with the Office for Student Involvement (OSI) to host events for graduating seniors before commencement.
Maribelle Gordon, FCRH ’25, and Jayden Curtis, FCRH ’25, are the co-chairs of the Senior Week Committee. Underclassmen volunteers support their planning efforts and help during events.
“The Committee is chaired by Jayden Curtis and Maribelle Gordon, who have done an exemplary job leading their committee this year,” said A.J. Coppotelli, senior associate director for Student Formation. “They work extremely hard behind the scenes to organize, plan, and execute all of the events for the week. They have dedicated a good part of their senior year to ensure this final week is special for the Class of 2025.”
Unlike past senior weeks, the committee decided to introduce a Senior Day of Service, which will take place on May 9. Coppotelli said this event will “bring this group of seniors together in a different way than past years.”
Senior week officially kicks off with the Senior Leadership Awards on May 12. Each year, Fordham acknowledges seniors who have contributed to the community throughout their time as undergraduates. In March, members of the Fordham community nominated graduating seniors for these awards, and the winners were then selected by the Senior Leadership Awards Committee. This ceremony will take place in the McShane Great Hall at 6 p.m.
While the award ceremony might be the official start to Senior Week, the event that really starts it is the Kickoff Event under the bleachers on May 13. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., seniors gather decked out in their best Fordham gear to celebrate the end of finals and the start of Senior Week. There will be dancing, food and drinks for students of age.
The festivities continue with the Senior Ball on May 14. For the seventh year, the event will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street. It will again be a night of dancing, socializing and delicious food. Tickets for the event are currently sold out.
Next up in the week is the “Always a Ram” Celebration and class photo on Keating Steps. This celebration will take place on May 15. President Tania Tetlow will be present to support these seniors in celebrating their transition from students to alumni. Seniors can also pick up their Class of 2025 memento.
On May 16, seniors and their loved ones will gather for the Parent Appreciation Dinner Dance on Martyrs’ Lawn from 7:15 p.m. to midnight. There will be a buffet, open bar and a live band. Each senior receives four tickets to invite the people in their life who have supported them during their time at Fordham. This celebration will be the last night seniors are together before graduating.
Senior Week concludes with the Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony on May 17. The day begins at 10 a.m. on Edwards Parade. Fordham College Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the Gabelli School of Business and each of Fordham’s graduate schools have separate diploma ceremonies.
During the commencement ceremony, two leaders in Catholic higher education, Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president emeritus of Fordham, and Donna M. Carroll, Ph.D., president emerita of Dominican University and president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, will both receive honorary doctorates of humane letters. The commencement speaker, award-winning actress and Fordham alumna Regina Hall, will receive a Doctorate of Fine Arts.
“The main vision behind this year’s senior week was to give the opportunity to this year’s class to celebrate one last week together as a Ramily,” said Coppotelli. “For many Fordham students, this may be the last time they see their close Fordham friends for a bit, and we want to give them the opportunity to spend as much time as possible together for an entire final week.”
