Every year, PHC students participate in traditions that are unique to the school. Whether it be crazy sports events or throwing people in Lake Bob, students like to have fun. Get a taste of what it's like to live on campus through some of our favorite PHC traditions!
1.) Bobtism
Watch out, men of PHC! If you decide to put a ring on your girlfriend, you run the risk of getting dunked in Lake Bob.
After the young couple announces their engagement, a group of men will ambush the bachelor, swoop him up, and march to the flag pole to pray over the couple. After a time of thoughtful prayer, they carry their victim to the middle of Lake Bob and drop him in.
2.) Chicken Tender Friday
Every Friday, students and faculty wait in a long line to get chicken tenders and mac 'n’ cheese. Fridays are always a cheerful day to begin the weekend, but the delicious crispy tenders brighten it even more! Shoutout to PHC's dining hall staff and partner Bon Appétite! Students also look forward to Friday lunch to read the latest issue of PHC's student paper The Herald.
3.) Dorm Game
Once a semester, PHC’s male dorms compete in an epic game of flag football between Red Hill and Oak Hill with Montpelier! The rest of campus watches the game with great anticipation, wearing their favorite team’s colors—black for Red Hill and white for Oak Hill and Montpelier. Check out PHC athletics for more on organized sports!
4.) D4 Block Party
The male dorm Oak Hill, also known as "D4," is well-known for its exuberant culture. Every year, the guys host a block party for campus with games, snacks, grilled food, and even a dunk tank one time! The students compete in gaga ball, dodgeball tournaments, and pickleball.
5.) Faith and Reason Wing Photos
Faith and Reason happens once a semester, and it consists of an academic lecture and discussion that all students and faculty attend. For the occasion, brother and sister wings coordinate a theme, usually a color, for their outfits. After the lecture, the wings gather around the front of the BHC to take photos. Read more about here last semester's Faith & Reason lecture!
6.) D1 Fall Party
Every fall, PHC gets its fall festivities on with cozy decor, a costume contest, music, games, and plenty of treats! Students are encouraged to get creative with their costumes, and they vote for the best costume in multiple categories. This party is hosted by girl's dorm Mount Vernon, referred to as "D1" by the students.
7.) Pizza during finals
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The night before the first day of finals, Student Life always provides pizza at 9 p.m. in the BHC! It's a great opportunity to take a break from studying and to commiserate or encourage fellow classmates. The RAs also have a contest to see whose pizza goes the fastest.
8.) McDitarod
The night of the first snow, it's a tradition for any number of PHC freshman guys to drag an upperclassman guy on a sled to McDonald's. The term "McDitarod" comes from a play on the "Iditarod," a 1,000-mile dog sled race across Alaska.
10.) Harmonicomedy
Typically once a semester, during finals week, a few upperclassmen host a comedy show involving acts from many different students. Previous Harmonicomedy shows have included stand-up comedy, Veggie Tales parodies, and skits related to campus life. Students have also performed creative pieces of music or poetry.
10.) Valentine's Day "YouWho's"
One of the funniest PHC traditions is the “YouWhos” fundraiser every Valentine’s Day. Last semester, it was hosted as a fundraiser for Chorale. YouWhos are little notes that students write and pay to have delivered or read dramatically by Cupid (aka an upperclassman wearing a bedsheet toga over the rest of his clothes) in front of everyone in the dinning hall. For a special price, Cupid will propose with a ring-pop to your faculty member of choice. This tradition leads to many hilarious escapades!
11.) Coffee Shop Concert
In addition to drinking lattes, PHC students like to take a break from studying by hosting a coffeeshop concert. Students audition and sing originals or perform covers of popular music in the campus coffee shop (or in the gym, during Covid). The accompaniment is always live and is a great way for PHC musicians to showcase their talent while providing nice music for others to enjoy.
12.) Walk and Talks
Even though PHC is a close-knit community, it can be hard to get to know some other students. Walk and Talks are a PHC tradition to help remedy this problem by randomly pairing two students. The pairs walk around Patrick Henry Circle to break the ice, and they can talk as long as they want. The hilarious part is that pairs are selected by drawing names out of an old microwave, and the event starts at precisely 9:24 p.m.
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