Traditions
We celebrate Simmons as a campus community all year round!

Celebrating Simmons
Traditions are part of what makes Simmons so special. From Founder's Day to the Simmons Soiree, our campus celebrates its legacy in fun and exciting ways. Check out a few of the ways we celebrate our Simmons pride!
Traditions at Simmons

May Day
This 100-year-old tradition meets the modern age with the senior and sophomore classes working together. Why use a flower crown filter when you can have the real thing

Winter Wonderland
Catch the holiday spirit with res-hall decorating, themed dinners, and an ugly sweater party hosted by first-year students.

Simmons Soiree
Like prom, but fancier! You and your date spend the night dining and dancing at one of Boston’s finest hot spots, like Park Plaza or the State Room

Shark Week
Seven days of swimming in Shark pride through events like casino night, scavenger hunts, laser tag, cake decorating, and more

Founder's Day
Every October 30th, we celebrate the birthday of Simmons’ founder, John Simmons with an essay contest, sparkling apple cider, and cake!

Friends and Family Weekend
Every year friends and families of our students come to experience Simmons for themselves.

Other Fun Events
There are tons of fun events at Simmons including Spring Carnival, Field Day, Colleges of the Fenway Block Party, Senior Week, and Commencement Ball.
Student life

On Wednesday, September 6, the Simmons community gathered on the academic campus for words of welcome from President Lynn Wooten. Watch the video.

This year’s Orientation Captains and Leaders exude a palpable enthusiasm as they help their fellow students transition into on-campus life. Two of the Leaders, Shayla Melanson and Margaret (“Maggie”) Wettergren, spoke with us about their role at orientation and their love for Simmons.

We are delighted to welcome new Sharks to the Simmons community!

On Friday, May 19, 2023, Simmons University celebrated the 118th Commencement Ceremony at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. The many accomplishments of the Class of 2023 were celebrated at the annual undergraduate and graduate ceremonies. Simmons awarded 400 baccalaureate...

On March 14, 2023, the Simmons Leadership Conference , organized by the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership (the Institute), took place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. This year’s conference theme, "Renewal and Innovation," focused on navigating the...

Faculty and students at Simmons have joined to create the Mary Eliza Project , transcribing voter registers to create a searchable database of the more than 50,000 women who registered to vote in Boston in the months following the Nineteenth...

On the afternoon of February 11, the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities hosted its fourth Ifill Forum. This event honors the legacy of pioneering journalist Gwen Ifill '77, '93HD by bringing together "important national voices for a...

We are delighted to welcome the Class of 2026 to the Simmons community! Take a look at these facts about our newest class.