Dear Sewanee Family,

I hope you’re reading this issue of From the Quad while lounging in a beach chair or listening to a relaxing audiobook. We’re enjoying the unhurried feel of summer on the Mountain.

While campus is relatively quiet this month, Sewanee is still on the move. Recently, we held receptions for University alumni, families, and friends in the Jacksonville, Florida, area and on the Georgia coast. Music, art, and refreshments made for cozy gatherings! 

If you live near Boston, consider yourself invited to our Sewanee Club of New England social on June 10, which Vice-Chancellor Pearigen will attend. You can find details on other regional Sewanee events, including our summer send-offs, on this site.

Sewanee’s summer camps and conferences kicked off in mid-May, and we expect larger crowds on the Domain in the weeks to come—particularly as the Sewanee Summer Music Festival begins on June 14. Our popular Fourth of July celebration is also right around the corner! The theme of this year’s festivities is G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) Show, and while it’s unlikely the University Farm’s goats will make an appearance, the Almost World Famous Mutt Show is always a crowd-pleaser.

Though there’s plenty of recreation on our campus in June, Sewanee is also preparing to close out our fiscal year. We’re so grateful for your generosity over the past 12 months! If you’re able to push us to the finish line by making a gift before July 1, we’d very much appreciate it.

Wishing you lots of long, lazy days ahead! 

Bess Turner, P’25, P’28, P’30
Director of Family & Donor Engagement

P.S.: We're still reminiscing about Commencement Weekend! If you'd like to watch the Baccalaureate address by Jon Meacham, C'91, H'10, you can find it here.

Seeking a new spot for your company’s summertime retreat? Got an idea for a June or July workshop or camp? Keep the Mountain in mind! Sewanee’s residence halls are available for summer program use from the end of May through late July. 

Our Conference Services team can arrange room and board, catering, and other amenities. Sewanee will begin planning for summer 2027 conferences in September. If you’re interested, submit this request form by Feb. 1, 2027—the earlier the better!

Just a reminder: It’s time to start perfecting your swing! Both the Sewanee Golf Classic and the Sewanee Tennis Classic are coming up on June 12–13, and registration is still live. The entry fees for these events include competition fees, refreshments, meals, and prizes. If you need accommodations, check out our Where to Stay site. We’d love to welcome you and cheer you on!

Sunny summer skies are perfect for exploring one (or many!) of Sewanee’s wooded trails. Don’t forget to bookmark this guide to hiking on the Domain. You can download a trail map here, and printed maps are available at the Sewanee Welcome Center on Lake O’Donnell Road. 

The center doubles as the trailhead for the Mountain Goat Trail, and it also currently hosts staff from Head of the Crow, the new Tennessee State Park. You don’t need to be an expert adventurer to find a scenic view on the Mountain—there are plenty of great trails for novice hikers!

With a new academic year on the horizon, you may be looking for ways to deepen your involvement with Sewanee’s departments and programs. The Sewanee Parents’ Council would be glad to have you on board!

Council members strengthen our University community through their philanthropic support and leadership activities. The time commitment is flexible—there are two in-person, on-campus meetings each year, plus opportunities to host regional Sewanee receptions. To learn more, head over to the Parents' Council’s website or email sewaneeparents@sewanee.edu.

June 7–12, June 14–19, June 21–26 — Sewanee Tiger Tennis Camp (Youth)
June 7–12 — Nike Swim Camp at Sewanee (ages 9–17)
June 10 — Sewanee Club of New England Summer Social
June 12 — Fridays at McGriff Happy Hour
June 12–13 — Sewanee Golf Classic
June 12–13 — Sewanee Tennis Classic
June 14–28 — Sewanee Spanish Language Camp (ages 14–17)
June 14–28 — Sewanee Chinese Language Camp (ages 14–17)
June 14–July 12 — Sewanee Summer Music Festival
June 21–27, July 5–11 — Sewanee Summer Seminar
June 24–July 3, July 6–15, July 18–27 — Sewanee Environmental Institute (ages 14–17)
June 28–July 11 — Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference
July 3 — Fridays at McGriff Happy Hour
July 14–22 — SUMMA Theological Debate Summer Camp
Throughout June and July — School of Letters Guest Lectures and Readings
Aug. 19–20 — First-Year Students Move-In
Aug. 23–25 — Returning Students Move-In