Traditions
It's the taste of purple ice cream in the summer. It's watching autumn leaves swirl through the quad against a limestone background. It's taking a picture in front of Higinbotham Gate in your cap and gown. It's service and sacrifice, and a passion for purple.
K-Staters take pride in paying homage to traditions of past generations, as well as creating their own. Take a look at a few examples of time-honored K-State traditions that you can adopt or use to find inspiration.
Long may thy color(s) fly
It's pretty easy to recognize that the university's official color is royal purple — after all, K-State purple is everywhere on our campuses. Visitors often share with us their surprise that faculty, staff and students alike are all regularly donned in purple attire. For us, it's simply a daily symbol of our Wildcat Pride. And while K-State purple is often traditionally paired with white, sometimes even silver or black, purple alone remains the only official university color since 1896.
Wabash with the best of them
Forget being on the edge of your seat — K-State fans prefer to leave out the seat all together. During athletic events, fans jump to their feet at the first notes of "The Wabash Cannonball," clapping, bending and twisting in synchronized motions just like the generations of K-Staters before them. This rousing anthem has an inspiring history, and was recently voted the No. 1 pregame tradition in the Big 12 by ESPN.
Sing along
Alma Mater
K-State's Alma Mater was written by H. W. Jones in 1888 and was later selected to represent the university during a campus contest held in 1903. Students, alumni and Wildcat fans alike can be seen swaying back and forth as the melody progresses, connected by the powerful loyalty expressed through the lyrics.
I know a spot that I love full well,
'Tis not in forest nor yet in dell;
Ever it holds me with magic spell,
I think of thee, Alma Mater.
K-S-U, we'll carry thy banner high.
K-S-U, long, long may thy colors fly.
Loyal to thee, thy children will swell the cry.
Hail, hail, hail. Alma Mater.
University Fight Song
Written in 1927 by Harry E. Erickson, Wildcat Victory is the official fight song of Kansas State, and it is a rousing anthem of Wildcat Pride and pure fandom fun. Clap along to the playful melody and don't forget to pump your fists along to the final line!
Fight, you K-State Wildcats
For alma mater fight-fight-fight!
Glory in the combat
For the purple and the white.
Faithful to our colors.
We will ever be,
Fighting ever fighting for a
Wildcat Victory!
Go State!
Community support
Purple Power Play is a citywide rally that takes place the Thursday and Friday nights before the first home football game. The K-State and Manhattan communities come together to cheer on the team, watch fireworks, sample local cuisine and enjoy Wildcat pride. Later in the fall, K-State excitement abounds during Homecoming Week, with activities including painting windows in Aggieville and building parade floats to encourage school spirit.
Living generously
The K-State family loves to give back. Students show their purple pride by donating to K-State Proud, a student-led philanthropy that has raised more than $1 million to help fellow students in need through financial awards.
Taking in local attractions
We know how to work hard, but K-Staters also know the importance of a balanced life. There are many ways to enjoy life at K-State, like a scoop of Purple Pride ice cream from Call Hall, the student-run dairy bar, hiking up to the letters on Manhattan Hill or visiting the beautiful Harry Potter-esque Great Room in Hale Library to relax.
Welcoming the world
Inclusion and diversity are key components in the K-State foundation. We keep this tradition strong through events like the annual All-University Open House, welcoming 20,000 visitors all campuses simultaneous so attendees can check out majors, programs, campus life and more through fun, food and entertainment.
