Thousands of kisses: Students and alumni celebrate True Aggie Night centennial
As the day melted to evening on Friday, twinkling lights illuminated the A.
A jazz band set a romantic vibe as Bill and Sharon Larkin, along with other Utah State University alumni, stepped up to become True Aggies during the centennial anniversary of the tradition. They shared a dainty peck before they posed in front of photographers who snapped their picture.
But this wasn’t the first time they kissed on the A and took pictures. Bill proposed to Sharon on the A 41 years ago, back when the A block used to be on Old Main Hill.
“Then we took the opportunity to set up our tripod to take some pictures to commemorate the event,” he said. “We just had to use the self timer on the computer. This was before selfie sticks.”
But here’s the catch: Bill wasn’t actually an Aggie. He was a Brigham Young University student and Sharon was the Utah State University student. They met in the first grade and their first date was graduation from high school. Then they had a long distance relationship for three years while they both went to college at rival schools until he proposed on the A in 1974.
“Six kids, seven grandkids and 41 years later, here we are,” she said. “We’re hoping someday our grandchildren will come to USU.”
Bill was adopted as an honorary Aggie by President Stan Albrecht 35 years later.
“He’s just a little guy, but I picked him off the ground and I gave him a hug,” he said. “I’m an adopted Aggie and proud of it.”
Hours later, the environment changed as an estimated 2,000 students Aggies, known for selfie sticks, waited in a hour-and-a-half line to become True Aggies. The line started at the A block, wrapped through Old Main and reached the opposite side of the Quad to be a part of the kissing legacy.
Hayden Jardine and Jamie Porter were first in line. They are a freshman couple who have been dating since November. They said they didn’t have the chance to become True Aggies until the centennial celebration.
“We’ve never done it and we wanted to make it special,” Jardine said.
They said their relationship is getting pretty serious, even though they are not engaged.
“We’re probably gonna get married in the near future, so we figured we should do this too and become a part of legacy,” Porter said.
Blake Muir, a freshman majoring in social work, waited in line to become a True Aggie for the first time.
“Becoming a True Aggie is a really powerful tradition,” he said. “I want my experience to be really powerful and awesome.”
Blake laughed nervously while shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he thanked his True Aggie kissing-companion repeatedly. He said that between the glow of the full moon, the acoustics of the John Allred band and the significance of the 100 year anniversary, the night was bound to be special.
“This is one of those moments where I will look back and say, ‘Wow, that was really cool,’” he said after he became a True Aggie. “I’m glad I did that.”
Maegan Kasteler, vice president of the Traditions Committee and organizer of the event, said her first True Aggie Night was during her freshman year of college. It was her first kiss.
“Now, as the organizer, it has brought my college experience full circle,” she said. “I’m sentimental about it.”
She said True Aggie Night is her favorite tradition at USU, especially because of what it stands for. The centennial celebration was a collaboration from nearly 100 people in the Traditions Committee, the band, volunteers, the guard services, the Student Alumni Association and Dining Services. There are many universities that have attempted to replicate it.
“True Aggie Night epitomizes everything that is the Aggie family and the Aggie experience,” she said. “This is literally the best True Aggie Night.”
Katelin Allen, with the Student Alumni Association, said she braved her first True Aggie night as a freshman. Because of a foot injury, she said she accessorized her look with a medical boot and a scooter to match, so she was hesitant to go. Regardless, her friends encouraged her to go to True Aggie Night.
Not long after arriving, a boy had walked up to her and asked her if she wanted to be his True Aggie. She said she declined at first, but he was persistent.
“He basically pulled my scooter and made me. I was little scared for a second but it was just funny,” she said.
Even though she was embarrassed having to climb onto the A with apparent injuries, now she said it is a part of the nostalgia.
“Everybody has been to True Aggie Night. It’s something that brings Aggies together,” she said. “Everybody has been brought together through this tradition.”
—morgan.pratt.robinson@gmail.com
—isabel.forinash@aggiemail.usu.edu