Alumni invited to participate in True Aggie Night in celebration of 100th anniversary of the A
In 1916, in the northern corner of the Beehive State, several students built a headstone on the quad at Utah State University. The headstone is now known to students as “the A” and is central to one of Utah State’s most timeless traditions — True Aggie Night. In order to become a “true aggie”, a student must kiss someone who has previously been kissed by a true aggie on the A during True Aggie Night.
Barbara Thomas remembers walking past the blue and white A everyday on the way home from class in the late 60s. Now, Thomas has children who have graduated from the university and grandchildren currently studying at USU.
“We’ve got three generations of True Aggies in this family,” said Thomas. “We owe a lot to that school. It's where we started our careers, started our family, started our lives. Lots of Aggie tradition — and we’re not the only family that can say that. Lots of memories and friendships have been made on that A”
The Alumni Association at Utah State University invites all alumni, like Thomas, to renew their status as true aggie tonight in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the A Block on campus. The celebration will last from 7-9 p.m. for alumni, with the traditional True Aggie Night for students beginning at midnight.
True Aggie Night has occurred at midnight on every full moon through rain, snow or starry nights for the past 100 years. It has served as a vehicle for tradition and unity within the community as generations have reconciled the past and present.
“We want to get our alumni back on campus as much as possible,” said Jacoba Poppleton, who planned the event with the Alumni Association. “We’ve got generations of True Aggies here. Tonight they can renew their status and participate in the tradition once again.”
The alumni who participate in the event will receive a souvenir coin, celebrating their participation in the 100th anniversary of the A. A live jazz band of USU students will perform and various prizes will be given to those in attendance.
All alumni are encouraged to register for the event through the Alumni Association’s website. Photos and memories may be emailed to Poppleton at jacoba.poppleton@usu.edu and will be included at the celebration.