Texas A&M University Elephant Walk Returns April 22

Texas A&M University announces the 95^th Annual Elephant Walk, scheduled for April 22 at 6:21 p.m. Organizers said this year the walk has been divided into three routes so as to reach more students campus wide.

The decades-old tradition features thousands of senior students walking through campus to remember their days in Aggieland as they prepare to graduate. The students walk in single file, each with their hand on the shoulder of the student in front of them (resembling elephants) stopping to hear speakers at signature campus landmarks.

Elephant Walk usually occurs during the fall semester prior to the last regularly scheduled home football game, which is sponsored by Class Councils, but due to COVID-19, the event was rescheduled to the spring.

“After being selected to lead Elephant Walk, I brainstormed over the summer to determine options of how we would still hold this tradition,” said Ellie Tilton, head director of Elephant Walk. “Upon returning to campus in the fall, my team of directors and I started the planning process with the goal of hosting this tradition for the class of 2021, especially since we are the 95th class to participate in the walk,” she said.

All routes will start with step-off, and will make stops at campus buildings and landmarks, ending together at E. King Gill Statue where the class agents will announce the Class Gift bestowed upon the university. A Yell Practice in Kyle Field will follow. Students who are not able to attend the event in person will have the opportunity to participate in the walks virtually.

Tilton said when the Elephant Walk directors and Class Councils made the decision to host three routes, they looked at the planning from an academic standpoint.

“This year we enhanced the walk by focusing on landmark buildings that are home to so many students,” Tilton said. “We wanted to include stops the class would identify with because it was where they spent many semesters attending lectures, studying and building friendships.”

Speakers will be featured for each of the three routes:

• Main Campus: President Emeritus R. Bowen Loftin ’71
• North Campus: Shayla Rivera ’83
• West Campus: Sam Torn ’70

Attendees will be required to follow university COVID-19 protocols including wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distancing.

Students are asked to pre-register at tx.ag/elephantwalk2021, and select a preferred route. Routes chosen may not be granted due to occupancy to avoid crowding.

The virtual option will be live streamed on Facebook at @AggieElephantWalk. In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be made at 12 p.m. on event day to host the event inside The Rec on the main campus. The announcement will be shared on several digital platforms including Elephant Walk (@tamu.elephantwalk), Class Councils (@tamucouncils), Class of 2021 (@tamu2021) and Student Activities (@tamustuact).