School Celebrations and the "D"

The large “D” on the West Black Ridge (also known as Black Hill) has become a well-known local landmark and a center point of school spirit and community pride. This Black Ridge differs from the Black Ridge between St. George and Cedar City which hampered early travelers. St. George Stake Academy students in the 1910s decided to celebrate their school by painting “DIXIE” on the Sugarloaf and adding a monogram “D” to the black ridge west of town.[1] Almost 100 men gathered on February 19, 1915.[2] They hauled rocks into an outline of of the "D" and then began whitewashing. Despite the great volunteer turnout, they had to wait for the wagon to bring more lime and water to finish the whitewash. Female volunteers carried lunches up the hill for everyone, and they had a picnic and took pictures.[3] A second coat of whitewash was later added by the fourth-year boys. This was the school’s first "D-Day”.

The college continued D-Day and later “D-Week” as a time to celebrate school spirit, preserve tradition, and repaint the “D.” In 1920, the D-Day tradition was celebrated by repainting the “D,” working with the community to clean and beautify the city, and an evening dance.[4] Students celebrated the 50th anniversary of the painting of the “D,” in 1965 as the “Golden D Jubilee.” Traditions continued “with both grubbie and formal events,” such as a carnival, sports games, a beard-growing contest, fireworks, the whitewashing of the “D,” and a “D-Day Ball.”[5] The celebration of the “D” is still an important campus and community event. It is now celebrated across multiple days and called “D-Week.” Events for 2024 included a service day, a block party, a Trailblazer Queen Pageant, a carnival, a “Great Race,” an alumni awards celebration, and repainting the “D” on the hill.[6] These events continue traditions both old and new. The “D” is now listed and protected on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Another major college celebration is Founders’ Day. St. George Stake Academy faculty planned Founders’ Day to fall on the third Friday of November each year, with the inaugural celebration on November 20, 1914.[8] Wearing distinct colors by graduation year, students paraded past the homes of prominent citizens with “Cheers, songs, ‘rahs’ and yells.”[9] The parade led to the St. George Tabernacle where Edward H. Snow and Professor Woodward talked about the founding and future of the school. The afternoon featured athletic events, such as tug-of-war over cold water, a three-legged race, and boxing. The day ended with a victorious basketball game against Parowan and a student dance. Founders’ Day continued as a tradition celebrating the founding of the academy, and later college and university. It is currently celebrated as “Founders’ Weekend” and is held in mid-September.[10] In 2023, the events featured a campout at the Encampment Mall, a scavenger hunt, the unveiling of the Heritage Cove monument, and a documentary screening of Preservation and Progress: The Story of Utah’s Dixie.[11]