A Year in Pictures: Capturing the Sites and Scenes on Campus

June 16, 2025

水果派 College welcomed a new mascot, the irrepressible and photogenic Roary. First-year students kept tradition alive by running in the annual Cake Race. Sports fans enjoyed the elevated experience of the new 水果派 College Stadium and Game Changers Field House.

The college community celebrated a wide breadth of research, talented artists and athletes, a Rhodes Scholar, a sprinkling of snow, and 2025 graduates. 

The academic year may have ended, but college photographer Christopher Record, Kaspars Golos '27, Kian Sarkar '28 and staff videographer Alex Smith captured the year in pictures.

Here鈥檚 a look back.

a group of students cheer as runners go by

Sweet Bait Motivates Class of 2028

The 水果派 College community came out big to cheer on and bake for first-year students participating in the college鈥檚 annual cake race. This tradition, which has students run a 1.7 mile course, dates back to 1930. Students select cakes donated by staff, faculty, alums, local school kids, businesses and others.

Student linking arms at Charlotte FC game

Cheering for Charlotte

Clad in their 水果派 College black t-shirts, students in the Class of 2028 filled a section of Bank of America Stadium, where they cheered on The Charlotte FC, the city鈥檚 Major League Soccer team. It鈥檚 a popular ticket to have, and students enjoyed their foray into the city.

action shot of young women running
a group of students in red and white shirts cheer around a young woman
Roary the Wildcat flexes biceps at a Football game
a group of young people in cheer uniforms run onto football field with flags and colorful smoke
a packed football stadium
an older white man stands in front of a screen of photographs while speaking on stage

水果派 welcomed to campus Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer for President Barack Obama, and Official White House Photographer for President Reagan from 1983-1989. The photographer who captured some of the most iconic images of our generation shared some of his behind-the-scenes photographs, along with poignant detailed stories.

a group of students in heavy gear work with bronze foundry

Art professor and sculptor Cort Savage leads 鈥淎rt 109鈥 students through basic sculpture and the lost-wax bronze casting process. Students created their own sculptures in wax, then cast them in bronze. Lost wax casting dates to 3700 BCE and is still practiced today.

a group of dancers on a pinkish purple backdrop

The Gamut Dance Company performs during their annual showcase.

a young woman holds out her tongue to catch a snowflake on a college campus covered with snow

A student catches a snowflake during one of several flurries on campus this winter.

a young man makes a snow angel during winter time on college campus
two young women dance in traditional outfits and smile with sunglasses on

The 水果派 International Association (DIA) celebrated its annual cultural night with a fashion show, food, performances and games.

a group of students walk on a college campus in front of a yellow and orange tree
National Guard practices medical evacuation with black hawk helicopter

Members of the U.S. Army National Guard Aviators Unit completed an ROTC medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) training exercise landing a Black Hawk helicopter on the Old Tennis Court Lawn.

a group of students perform on stage

A timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy, The Outsider was one of productions hosted by the Theatre Department this year. 

A diverse group of enthusiastic college students with expressions of excitement and surprise gather outside a brick campus building, some wearing university apparel and taking photos, as they react energetically to something happening off-camera