Traditions and Clubs

May Day, Bennett College, Millbrook, Dutchess, New York,. Bennett College Collection.

School Traditions

Testudo
The school’s mascot Testudo the turtle was adopted after a live tortoise was gifted to May Friend Bennett.

Freshman Serenade

Thanksgiving
Students shared a Thanksgiving meal together followed by sports and games with teams from each grade competing against one another. The end of the Thanksgiving holiday was spent making gifts for local children at the Greer School and other charitable organizations.

Candlelight Service
One of the school’s earliest traditions, this annual December event featured members of the senior class dressed all in white and leading students in a candle lighting ceremony in the school’s chapel.

Spring Prom
Started in 1938, the Spring prom was an annual dance organized by the school’s entertainment committee. The biggest party of the school year, prom was attended by 400 students and their dates.

May Day
Photos from the 1910 and 1920s show students in festive Spring garb celebrating May Day with a traditional May Pole and elected May Queen.

Alumnae Days
Started in 1906, the campus hosted alumnae at a Fall tea and a Spring get together.

Bennett College Graduates, Bennett College, Millbrook, New York, 1959. Bennett College Collection.

Parents Reception/Dads Day
Parents were invited to visit the campus at a February parents reception and later at the Spring Dad’s Day weekend.

Senior Tea
Parties honoring graduating seniors were held each Spring and often included ceremonial award presentations.

Spring Conference
A semi-annual three day conference that ran on and off for over 20 years, the Spring Conference brought together speakers and performers around a central theme. In the years following World War II, the emphasis was often on international relations and current affairs and featured keynote speakers including Eleanor Roosevelt and various representatives from the United Nations.

Commencement/Graduation

Archery Class, Bennett College, Millbrook, Dutchess, New York, 1911. Bennett College Collection.

Clubs

While sororities were not a part of campus life, various clubs formed over the years to connect students around shared interests and affiliations, including:

Athletics Associations 

“Now for a line about that sterling game—Volley-ball! The Firsts and Seconds were victorious in this. The enthusiasm for Volley-ball mounts every year, and perhaps in time it may even take the place of hockey or basketball as the Great Bennett Sport!!

Baseball is the next on the list. It is very much out of favor at present with the Drama, Music, Art, and even Secretarial Departments of the School!—It came nigh unto ruining Miss Gage’s highly trained Greek Chorus by causing knees to be “put out,” instead of players! An ultimatum was finally declared forbidding any member of the Greek Chorus to participate…And the Heads of the other mentioned departments complained that so many “baseball fingers” were brought to classes that less than no work could be accomplished. Woe unto baseball! Determining the champions was also a problem. However, finally with the help of mathematics, and even algebra, the outcome was announced as a three-cornered tie between the Thirds, the Fifths, and the Seniors…” - Halcyon Days, 1930

Bennett sports teams ranged from archery to skiing and many sports in between. As early as 1905, the school employed a dedicated basketball coach and physical education instructors were members of the school’s faculty throughout the school’s history.

Prom, Yearbook, Bennett College, Millbrook, New York, 1941. Bennett College Collection.

Entertainment Committee

A student-led entertainment committee was responsible for organizing dances and parties,  inviting guest lecturers and performers, as well as planning off-campus trips to visit other schools for sports games and dances.

Horsemanship

Riding lessons, clubs, and competitions were supported by dedicated Bennett staff, stables, and extensive riding grounds on the Millbrook campus. The sport was such a prevalent part of the school’s culture that in 1974, horsemanship was adopted as a three year major for which students could earn an associates degree.

International Relations Club, Bennett College, Millbrook, Dutchess, New York, 1941. Bennett College Collection.

International Relations 

Following World War I, an active International Relations Club (1937-1942) was started for students with support from the Carnegie Foundation. An increasingly international student body led to the founding of an International Student Council which continued to meet at the school through the 1960s. Link to International Exchange program (minutes)

Music group, Novelettes, Bennett College, Millbrook, Dutchess, New York, Mid 20th century. Bennett College Collection.

Music Groups

Inspired by May Friend Bennett’s lifelong love of music, student-led choirs and campus concerts were part of the campus tradition throughout the history of the school, from chapel gatherings to performances by touring bands.

Listen to the Bennett Black Swans and Bennett Swans recordings: ​​

“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”

“Sunny Day”

“Lullaby of Broadway”

"Hey Daddy"

Publications

Students showcased their creative talents and gained important writing, design, and editing experience in the production of various student publications including the school’s annual yearbook. Titles documenting student writing, poetry, artwork, athletics, humor, calendars, and school traditions included Halcyon Days, The Halcyon, The Hexagon, Mosaic, School Daze, Senior Prophesy, and more. For a full list of student publications in the Bennett College archive: link to finding aid.

View publications here.

Student Council, Bennett College, Millbrook, Dutchess, New York, c. 1958. Bennett College Collection.

Student Council

A nine member Student Council was elected annually by the student body. In collaboration with faculty advisors, the Council determined legislation for the school and published the annual Student Association Handbook, including the Council’s Constitution, By-Laws, and the school’s regulations and rules.

View student traditions, clubs and extracurricular records and images here.