Junior Tie, Freshman Run Traditions Mark Start of New Year
September 10, 2024
It is just in the first few days of school that students and faculty alike remember why Christian Brothers Academy is a special place.
In the blink of an eye, the brotherhood between classmates is on display – whether it is freshmen developing new friendships on the bus ride to school or seniors high-fiving a buddy they haven’t seen in a few months. The faculty jump right in to lend a helping hand to the newest Colts as they walk around campus.
The 2024-2025 school year kicked off with two traditions that are central to the Academy’s spirit: the Signum Fidei Junior Tie Ceremony and the Heath Freshman Run & Welcome Day.
On September 5, the Class of 2026 gathered in the Varsity Gym for the annual Signum Fidei Ceremony, which marked the start of a true leadership role at CBA.
As they prepare to start their third year at CBA, the Class of 2026 participated in the Signum Fidei Ceremony on September 5, where they were presented with a customized CBA necktie.
Mr. Brendan Kiernan ’12, a member of the English department, served as the keynote speaker, challenging the junior class to be inquisitive and passionate during their remaining time at CBA. He noted that lifelong interests were piqued during his time as an Academy man and hoped the same for this group of students.
These 200 students, who entered as freshmen boys in the fall of 2022, have demonstrated the desire to graduate as Academy men in the spring of 2026.
There may not be a high school tradition in the nation better than the Heath Freshman Run, which kicked off the Freshman Welcome Day activities on September 6.
Now named after CBA’s longtime cross country coach, Tom Heath ’65, the Freshman Run is a 1.3-mile race around the 157-acre campus that every freshman has run dating back to the school’s opening in 1959. The run was originally intended as a recruiting tool for the cross country team, but has become a staple of the Academy tradition.
Freshman John Clark became the 2024 champion and added his name into the history books.
A tradition that binds current students and alumni, the Freshman Run demonstrates many of the characteristics that will describe the Class of 2028’s four years at CBA: hard work, challenges, achievement, and most importantly, brotherhood.
