The CLSC Class of 2025 make their way to the Hall of Philosophy from Alumni Hall during a candlelight procession Aug. 3, 2025.
NORA SMITH
Staff Writer
Sunday marks the beginning of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Class of 2026’s Recognition Week, during which class members prepare to graduate and officially become members of the CLSC.
At 10:45 a.m. Sunday, the 103 graduating members of “Keepers of the Flame” will trickle into the Amphitheater to find their places front and center for the morning Baccalaureate Service in partnership with the Department of Religion. This will be the graduates’ first time recognized as a CLSC class on Chautauqua Institution grounds.
Buffy Elder and Kriss Young Miller, the Class of 2026’s co-presidents, came from very opposite experiences of Chautauqua; Miller manages the Quaker house and has been here since she was an infant, and Elder first came to Chautauqua last year.
“… It was beyond our expectations, way beyond,” Elder said. “The piece that really stuck out to us was the welcoming of anyone …”
Despite having different Chautauqua experiences, both Elder and Miller assumed their roles of co-presidents. With Week Six celebrating the 250th anniversary of America, the Class’s motto is “Voices for Democracy.” Keeping with the commemorative theme, the class honoree is the League of Women Voters, and the symbol is Lady Liberty’s torch. The Class flowers are forget-me-nots and the color is white.
The evening Sacred Song service takes place at 8 p.m. Sunday, which is planned by the Department of Religion to center on the class’s annual themes. Graduates will once again gather at the back of the Amphitheater and fill the choir loft to immerse themselves in a program built around their class values.
“[The Sacred Song service] will be geared toward that concept and celebration of democratic values, because the class’s motto is ‘Voices for Democracy,’” Interim Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts Stephine Hunt said.
Afterward, the graduates are led down the Brick Walk from Gate Street to the Hall of Philosophy for the 9 p.m. Vigil Ceremony, a moment of celebration during which graduates enjoy selected readings and music, while dressed in all white and lit up by their individual handheld candles.
The night isn’t over yet, though. After their celebratory moment, the Alumni Association presents the Kate Kimball White Gift, the Class of 2026’s being a donation toward the restoration of the Golden Gates.
At 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Alumni Ballroom, the Guild Graduate Ceremony will celebrate the 2026 Guild Graduates recognized for achieving any level of the Guild of the Seven Seals, the CLSC’s advanced reading program. The celebrated levels are The Guild of Seven Seals, Parnassian, Olympian, Centurion, Miller and, lastly, Vincent, which sits at 201 books from the CLSC historic book list.
“They each have a certain number of books that readers have to read to accomplish each level, and they go up by degrees of seven …” Hunt said. “For example, I’m graduating as a Miller this year. That means I’ve read over 152 books off of the CLSC list.”
Wednesday officially brings Recognition Day, where the Class of 2026, dressed in white with accent colors of forget-me-not blue and patina green — celebrating their class flower and class symbol, respectively — walk the stage and officially become members of the CLSC.
“I’m just excited for the kind of pomp and circumstance of it, just because it meant so much to so many people,” Miller said. “The history of it is part of what’s just been really touching me lately.”
Graduates will meet Hunt at 8:15 a.m. in the Hall of Christ for their long-anticipated banner reveal and class photo as the Parade of Alumni commences in Bestor Plaza at 8:45 a.m. The parade features a marching band, banners from previous CLSC classes and groups of alumni lined up to celebrate this year’s class as they march down the Brick Walk and toward the graduates.
As the sounds of the marching band grow closer, graduates will be led by the Messenger and Gatekeeper, this year representing Ida Tarbell and Kate Kimball, to Fletcher Avenue toward the base of the stairs by the Hall of Philosophy, where the Golden Gates await.
Hunt said this is the second year in the history of the CLSC that two women will represent the Gatekeepers, and that she is thrilled about the representation of women.
When graduates reach the threshold of the Golden Gates, they’ll be read a poem that’s been a part of the program since the first CLSC graduation in 1882.
“The Gatekeeper opens the gate up with the giant “READ” key and then the class is walked up through the gates, up the stairs and through four arches that represent the arts and recreation and religion and history,” Hunt said.
If that fanfare alone wasn’t enough, graduates are accompanied up the stairs by the Motet Choir’s “CLSC Ode” as Children’s School students toss — or, on occasion, pelt — graduates with flowers. The 9 a.m. graduation ceremony brings the moment where graduates are presented with their official diplomas.
After officially walking across the stage, all the CLSC banners are lined up chronologically down Cookman Avenue as graduates parade from the Hall of Philosophy to the Amphitheater to attend the morning lecture.
Later in the week, extended celebrations follow during the annual Alumni Gala and the featuring of the class banner during Friday’s CLSC author presentation.
As Miller and Elder look toward graduation, they expressed appreciation of the legacy of the CLSC and its history.
For Miller, the CLSC’s history of work with Sunday School teachers is significant; without this outreach, information distributed to students and congregants might have been significantly more limited.
“Part of it is just being part of this history that made life different for so many women …” Miller said.
Elder said she hopes to continue the lineage of CLSC through her co-presidency with Miller.
“It is humbling to be a part of something so humongous,” Elder said. “There are so many facets to Chautauqua, with the music and the arts, whatever religion you want and the lectures, and it takes so many people to keep it going . . . working with Kriss, I want to do everything possible to support the legacy of CLSC and keep this vibrant community going. It’s just a special place.”
