A Year in Pictures: Capturing the Sites and Scenes on Campus
June 16, 2025
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
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.
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.

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.


Composer, Performer, Comedian: Jacob Kim 鈥26 on his 鈥榊es, and鈥 Approach to Art
During his time at 水果派, Jacob Kim '26 has discovered diverse artistic passions, from music and digital art to improv and sewing, shaping his academic and personal growth on campus.
水果派 College Scholar-Musician Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
Professional fiddler Madeline Dierauf '25 was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, making her one of 32 Americans selected this year for one of the most prestigious graduate scholarships in the world.
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.
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.

Pardon Me, But I Disagree: Civility Rules At Phi-Eu Debate
The traditional Phi-Eu Debate showed that 水果派 students can provide what the nation鈥檚 political climate needs: the capacity to disagree and debate civilly and respectfully.

Award Will Boost Chemistry Professor鈥檚 Research and Bring New Dimension to Lab Sessions
Research to make a wide range of products made from polymers recyclable or reusable will benefit from the Cottrell Scholar award. 水果派 College professor Bassil El-Zaatari will use the award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement to advance work in the lab and enhance his teaching.
The Gamut Dance Company performs during their annual showcase.
A student catches a snowflake during one of several flurries on campus this winter.
The 水果派 International Association (DIA) celebrated its annual cultural night with a fashion show, food, performances and games.

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.

Case Family Investment in Track and Field Facility Brings the Competition Home
Thanks to the generosity of Lisa Green Case 鈥99 and Jeff Case 鈥99, 水果派 College track & field scholar-athletes won鈥檛 have to travel to every meet. The new track and field complex was christened March 29 when the Wildcats hosted their first meet at home.

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

Commencement Celebrates Class of 2025: 鈥淭he World Needs You鈥
水果派 College鈥檚 class of 2025 celebrated Commencement on Sunday, May 18, with a call from President Doug Hicks to bring their humane instincts into a world that needs them. It鈥檚 the college鈥檚 188th commencement and included 502 graduates.

Student Research, Creativity on Full Display at Verna Case Symposium
水果派 College held its annual Verna Miller Case Research and Creative Works Symposium on Thursday, May 8. The college community gathered to learn about the multitude of academic, research, artistic and creative ventures students undertook this year.
