Pitt’s annual Lantern Night lights up campus

Estrogen and lanterns illuminated Heinz Memorial Chapel Sunday night.

More than 500 freshman… Estrogen and lanterns illuminated Heinz Memorial Chapel Sunday night.

More than 500 freshman women walked from the Cathedral of Learning to Heinz Chapel, lantern in hand, to attend Pitt’s 91st annual Lantern Night.

The students filed in the wooden benches inside the chapel at 7:30 p.m., and many had to line the sides of the chapel after seating filled up.

Lantern Night began in 1920 to celebrate the legacy of women at Pitt. Since then, it has grown increasingly popular, becoming a longstanding tradition attended by administrators, freshmen and alumni parents and mentors.

Administrators such as Vice Provost and Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey, women’s basketball coach Agnus Berenato and executive associate athletic director Donna Sanft, joined 33 alumnae in Heinz Chapel.

Alumnae Council member Julie Shepard welcomed the students to the ceremony.

“By being here, you are demonstrating your wish to be an integral part of this University,” she said, describing the light of the lantern as the light of learning.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Susan Dunmire, graduated from Pitt’s School of Medicine in 1985. She currently works in the UPMC Presbyterian Emergency Department and is an associate professor of emergency medicine.

Dunmire described her tortuous academic path in her address to some of the women of the class of 2015.

“Each of us have a path in life that can be unpredictable, exciting and fun,” she said. “When you enter college, this may be the first time you feel alone on your path.”

Dunmire described the bumps she experienced along her metaphorical path. They included receiving her first “C” in biology and assisting with a seven-person car accident that had only one survivor. She cited the seemingly overwhelming experiences to encourage the freshman women to always persevere.

“Unexpected encounters in your path have profound effects,” she said.

After the speakers, the alumnae stood up and students filed toward the front to have the alumnae’s flames transferred to their lanterns’ candles.

Many freshmen in attendance said they chose to come to the event because they wished to be part of a Pitt tradition.

Freshman Ariel Cohen said that a sense of sisterhood pervaded Lantern Night.

“It’s a Pitt tradition. They’ve been doing it for so long,” she said.

Mariah Wolk, sitting next to Cohen, added that the free lantern was a good bonus.

“The lantern is a nice keepsake,” she said.

The Alumnae Council and Student Affairs co-sponsored Lantern Night.

Laraine Hlatky, of the Alumni Relations and Development Office, helped coordinate the event. She has helped organize Lantern Night for 15 years and said preparation starts in June, when the lanterns are ordered.

Kathy Fitch attended to watch her freshman daughter participate in the event. She said she thought it was nice to have an event just for Pitt women.

“I think it’s a neat thing,” she said. “I came from Penn State, and we never did anything like this.”

Another mother and alumna, Eileen Barney, stood to watch the lantern lighting. Barney graduated from Pitt in 1981 and now has a junior and freshman daughter attending the University.

“I encouraged her to come to Lantern Night,” Barney said. “It’s a great honor for all the girls.”