Converse Welcomes Family & Friends to Campus For 2026 Celebration Weekend
Written by Allison Reini
Converse University hosted its annual Celebration Weekend 2026 from April 30 through May 2, 2026. Each year, Converse is proud to invite family and friends to campus to celebrate our students, honoring their academic and athletic accomplishments and recognizing their exciting transitions into the next chapter of their college journey.
Celebration Weekend kicked off with the annual RISE Symposium Awards Ceremony, where students displayed their research, creative work, and more. This year, twenty-two students received awards.
Thursday night, the Petrie School of Music hosted a wonderful performance, their debut as part of Celebration Weekend, joined by the Converse Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.
Friday night, the Converse community joined local businesses and non-profits for the Spartanburg Criterium. This world-class, multi-lap cycling race draws elite cyclists and thousands of fans to Spartanburg for a night of speed and celebration.
On campus, the Department of Athletics hosted the annual Valkyries Choice Awards. This red-carpet style event is a favorite every year for the student-athletes. This year, 21 awards were presented to student-athletes and staff members. Some of the most notable awards included Team of the Year, awarded to the Men’s Track and Field team and the Female Athletes of the Year and Female Freshmen of the Year, which went to Grace Davis ‘29. The Baye Williamson Male Athlete of the Year Award was a tie between track & field athletes Dorian Bomar ‘27 and Devron Davis ‘26. Read the full list of award winners on the GoValkyries site.
Saturday was filled with exciting events and some of Converse’s most memorable traditions, making it a truly great day for the entire Converse community. Beginning with the Freshmen Pinning Ceremony, students and their guests gathered in Twichell Auditorium to celebrate the Class of 2029’s completion of their first year at Converse. Each student received a special pin and had the opportunity to ask a mentor or friend to “pin” them.
During this special ceremony, Converse also recognized community leaders at the Spirit of Converse Community Awards Ceremony, celebrating Converse’s faculty, staff, and students with distinctive honors and awards.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Spirit of Converse: Sabrina Hartness
- Spirit of the Valkyrie: D’Asia Thomas ‘26
- Cato Award: Dr. Mary E. Carlisle
- Dukes Family Staff Award: Ed Struble
- Dukes Family Faculty Award: Dr. Jeffrey Howard
Core Values Awards
- Service: Angela Tucker ‘27
- Scholarship: Sloane Kinley ‘26 (Nisbet Honors)
- Community: Sofia Giraldo Jimenez ‘26 (Nisbet Honors)
- Leadership: Isabella Moreno ‘26
Immediately following the Freshmen Pinning Ceremony, the Converse Leadership Awards were presented, the new Student Government Association (SGA) students were officially installed into office, and the Academic Awards and Scholarships were presented. Converse wants to congratulate each and every student who received an award and/or a new leadership title on campus.
The Converse College for Women celebrated one of its most cherished traditions, the Sophomore Bracelet Ceremony. Each student in the Converse College for Women (CCW) received a special Core Value bracelet to wear with pride. The bracelet displays engraved values on each charm and is part of a long-standing tradition of Converse College for Women students and alumni.
A standout moment from Celebration Weekend was the Junior Ring Ceremony, where members of the junior class received their class rings. At the ceremony, there was a welcome from President Boone Hopkins, a meaningful keynote address from Robyn H. Sanderson ‘03, and powerful speeches from fellow students in the junior class. Once each student received their class ring from President Boone Hopkins on stage, the entire class ceremoniously put on their rings together, and then posed outside of Twichell Auditorium for photos.
To wrap up the meaningful and fun-filled weekend, family members, students, alumni, staff, and faculty gathered in the Wilson Hall Lobby for the Snacks & Sips Happy Hour. Afterwards, many went to experience the Hub City Big Band Concert hosted by the Petrie School of Music’s student-led jazz ensemble.
Celebration Weekend gives guests the opportunity to see Converse from a student’s perspective. We were delighted to welcome families and friends as we celebrated our outstanding students and shared our beautiful campus and surrounding community. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!