Knox College is an institution guided by tradition. 

Some traditions are no joke and we take them pretty seriously like academic excellence, social justice, and our commitment to diversity and equity.

Other traditions give us a reason to kick back and have fun being part of the Prairie Fire community. 

Read on for the first of two Blaze the Trail Tuesday emails about Knox Traditions.

Pumphandle

On the day before the first day of the school year, everyone at Knox stands in a long, twisty line on the south lawn of Old Main. And one by one, you go down the line and shake everyone's hand. 

Yes, every. single. person. In the end, you come to know everyone at Knox, face to face, hand to hand. 

Check out this video highlighting the event!

Bronze Turkey

For those who love the thrill of sports rivalries, it doesn’t get much better than the annual Knox-Monmouth football game. It’s one of the oldest college rivalries in the country (the first game took place in 1888!). 

The winner of each year’s contest receives a trophy that is, yes, bronze and turkey-shaped. The trophy is the object of many high jinks (at one point it was buried under our running track). We hope you’ll find your way to a game and cheer on the purple and gold!

Prairie Burn

An annual controlled burn at our Green Oaks field station. Conducted by a professor and students together, this is our communal approach to joining the local ecosystem. And, it serves as the namesake of our athletic team, The Prairie Fire

Coming Up Next 

Next week, we’ll explain a few more Knox traditions!

See you down the trail!