Published on May 2, 2025 by Zac Fuller  
students at senior walk

Samford University kicked off commencement weekend with one of its most beloved traditions, the senior walk and baccalaureate service.  The May 1 event gathered candidates for bachelor’s degrees at Brewer Plaza for a processional down the Centennial Walk steps to the Wright Center, mirroring the freshman walk many made years before, where students start at the bottom of the stairs and walk up as they are welcomed to the university.

The group of seniors was led by President Beck A. Taylor and chief of staff Michael Morgan.

“I’m just so excited!” said Brizza Triana, an exercise science major.

Triana, a student benefiting from the work of Samford’s Legacy League, is grateful for the support she received throughout her time at Samford. She participated in the student activities council, SGA, the SamFit program, a Spanish minor, and the Samford Recruitment Team.

“I am so thankful for the love of God that is here,” said Triana. “That’s what drew me to Samford, and it was so encouraging.”

Once inside the Wright Center, a brief service featured hymns, scripture reading and remarks from Taylor.

“Remember the Lord’s faithfulness as you cross the stage at commencement. Remember the Lord’s goodness as you journey to a new city, job or graduate program. Remember the Lord’s love for you as you share your love with a spouse, housemate or new set of friends. And remember this place,” Taylor told students. “You are ready.”

The Class of 2025 presented President Taylor with their official class gift to the university, a park bench that will be named “Beck’s Bench” after President Taylor’s monthly video series of the same name. The service concluded with seniors ringing their class bell, just as they did at the end of their freshman gathering when they began their time at Samford.

Kyle O’Dowd, a human development and family science major, walked up the steps of Centennial Walk with President Emeritus Andrew Westmoreland last year for the postponed freshman walk for students who began their time at Samford during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, walking down the steps with his fellow graduates, O’Dowd said the feeling was incredible.

“I’m so thankful for the relationships I’ve built here,” O’Dowd said. “I’ve watched myself and my peers grow—and that’s because of Samford.”

Watch the recap of the 2025 Samford Senior Walk:

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.