Traditions

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Academics

  • People standing in a line at a ceremony, with a woman signing at a podium and a man in a graduation gown in the background.

    Signing the Register

    Every school year begins with Convocation service, set in the midst of a Vesper prayer service. After the school opens by singing Psalm 1 and processing in together, the incoming students recite the student pledge & sign the college register while the assembly sings St Patrick’s Breastplate.

  • Orchestra performing on stage with a choir in the background, audience seated in front.

    NCF Concerts

    The New College Franklin Ensembles — Chorale, Cantus, and Orchestra — present two concerts each year at Christmas and in the Spring, inviting the community to join them in enjoyment of beautiful pieces of music from across the centuries.

  • A man with a beard, wearing a suit and striped tie, speaking at a podium branded with the New College Franklin logo. The podium has a red cloth with the college's seal, and there are candles and glass vases in the background inside a church or chapel setting.

    Collegia

    About once a month, NCF hosts a lecture and Q&A from a visiting speaker or faculty member, followed by a Q&A panel and a reception. Speakers have included Michael Card, Alastair Roberts, Carolyn Weber, Roy Atwood, Joseph Pearce, and Andrew Kern.
    Find upcoming collegium lectures here.

  • A chess and checkers game setup on an open foldable board. The left side has checkers pieces, and the right side has chess pieces.

    Rithmomachia

    The freshman Quadrivium course includes a Rithmomachia tournament — a variation on a board game from the Middle Ages which teaches Boethian mathematical philosophy and reminds players of the mathematical harmony of creation.

  • Close-up of small metallic geometric wireframe models placed on a dark surface, with blurred colorful geometric structures in the background.

    Platonic Solids

    A semester in Euclidian Geometry culminates in a project where each student makes their own versions of the five Platonic solids, using anything from wire to wood to glow sticks.

  • Group of students in black graduation gowns and caps during a graduation ceremony inside a church with stained glass windows.

    Commencement

    The year concludes with our Commencement Service, as the seniors receive their diplomas and sign out of the register, the new student Guild is installed, and our founder gives a charge to the graduating class.

  • A woman with long brown hair, wearing a patterned black and white dress, is standing at a podium with a red cloth featuring a gold emblem. She appears to be speaking or reading into a microphone inside a building, possibly a church or hall, with framed pictures and artwork on display nearby.

    Capstone Presentations

    At the end of April, graduating seniors spend an evening presenting on their finished Capstone projects, a community event attended by the college and friends and family. Read more about Capstone here.

  • A man standing at the front of a room, reading from a paper, with a group of people standing in rows, listening.

    Testimonies

    During Rhetoric in second year, each student writes and gives their testimony to the other members of the class, an opportunity to share with their classmates how the Lord has worked and is working in their lives.

  • Wooden mannequin heads and busts on display, some with detailed facial features, arranged on shelves and stands, in an artist's studio or workshop.

    Sculpture

    In sophomore art, each student sculpts a busts out of clay from a live model, often upperclassmen or faculty.

Outside the Classroom

  • People sitting on wooden pews in a church, with a stained glass window in the background.

    Daily Prayer

    Each morning in between classes, the entire college community, including professors, gathers together in the historic chapel to pray, sing and chant Psalms, and read Scripture.

  • People laughing and enjoying a festive gathering around a decorated table with candles and drinks in a dimly lit room.

    Yuletide Feast

    After fall finals, the faculty & students gather for a festive formal dinner to celebrate the close of the semester, complete with a Christmas feast, toasts from faculty & students, and carols.

  • Four women in a kitchen smiling and engaging in conversation.

    College Tea

    Each Thursday after prayer, there is a short break between classes for students & faculty to enjoy tea and coffee, fellowship, and leftover pastries donated by Panera.

  • Four young men playing cornhole outdoors on a grassy lawn near trees, with one sitting on the grass and the other three standing or leaning, during a sunny day.

    Viking Chess

    While it has nothing to do with Vikings or chess, playing Viking Chess has been an NCF tradition since the beginning. It is now played throughout the year in tournament as houses compete for the Viking Chess Cup.

  • People dancing at a celebration with string lights and wall decorations in the background.

    Winter Ball

    The Student Guild hosts a ball each year in the winter, where students dress in their finest, enjoy hors’ devours, and dance under candlelight. Dances that range from English country to swing to waltz are taught and enjoyed by all.

  • Group of young women gathered outdoors in a park-like setting, sitting and standing, engaging in conversation and smiling. In the background are trees, a white house, and a green roof structure, with a warm evening light.

    The Farm

    During spring break, students are invited to a professor’s family farm is East Tennessee, enjoying hiking, caving, cooking meals together, and campfires.

  • Photo of a large group of diverse people seated in an auditorium, attending an event or conference, with some smiling at the camera.

    Opera, Ballet, Symphony, Shakespeare, and Broadway

    Nashville is home to an opera company, ballet company, Shakespeare troupe, and the world-class Nashville Symphony. Students often take advantage of student pricing to see a show and the school often organizes trips to see traveling Broadway productions in Nashville.

  • Table setting with gold utensils, a white plate with black rim, a maroon napkin, a glass of water, and a program card for New College Franklin Year-End Feast dated May 16, 2025, featuring a red and gold college emblem.

    End of Year Feast

    The night before graduation, the college gathers with the families’ of the seniors as we feast, hear farewell toasts from the graduates, thank the professors, and award the House Cup.

  • A runner crossing the finish line at the Franklin Classic race, with a crowd of spectators and buildings in the background on a cloudy day.

    Franklin Classic 5K

    Each Labor Day, NCF students & faculty run the Franklin Class in support of a local health ministry, competing at the same time for house points.

Fun Tidbits

  • White line drawing of a hippopotamus on a black background.

    Auggie the Hippo

    Our college mascot, Auggie the Hippo is named for Augustine of Hippo and makes an appearance in college materials, a concrete hippo, and at Yuletide Feast.

  • A woman in a white dress with wavy hair holding a program book, standing in a church during a religious ceremony with people behind her.

    Singing the Tallis

    Singing the Doxlogy to the Tallis Canon has become a college tradition, including during prayer service, before Convocation & Graduation, after Yuletide Feast, and throughout the year.

  • A small outdoor seating area with tables and umbrellas in front of a white wooden building labeled 'The Coffee House'. There are trees, greenery, and a street with a traffic light showing a red hand signal.

    Biscuit Love & Coffee House

    Biscuit Love is the coffee shop just next door to NCF and Coffee House is a couple of blocks away. Both are located in historic homes and function as unofficial study spaces for many NCF students throughout the week.