On Nov. 19, onlookers walking past the Melton Student Center were greeted not just by the Aubie statue but also by a festive display of volunteer-run tables, treats and a balloon arch, all organized by Auburn’s Student Government Association (SGA) to celebrate Creed Day. Every year, Auburn University SGA hosts Creed Day, a celebration that highlights the origins of the Auburn Creed and exemplifies its representative values.
The Auburn Creed, penned in 1943 by historian, professor and Auburn's first football coach George Petrie, captures the values that Petrie believed defined the Auburn Family. Decades later, it still remains a cornerstone of the Auburn University’s identity.
Auburn Sophmore Lucy Donovan and Auburn Junior Johnna Hawkins, the director of Creed Day, pose in front of the Creed Day sign at Auburn University on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.
The Creed extends as a set of 14 written “beliefs” that concisely outline its core principles. Each statement begins with “I believe,” followed by a core value that embodies the principles of Auburn students and alumni alike.
This year, Auburn University SGA chose Nov. 19, the date of the Auburn Creed’s initial publication 82 years ago, to celebrate Creed Day. Students and partakers enjoyed fresh Toomer’s lemonade and sugar cookies, and they even could earn an Auburn-plated notebook if they could recite the Auburn Creed by heart.
The organizer of Creed Day was Amelia Shannon, junior in building science, who serves as SGA's assistant vice president of outreach events. Shannon expounded on the event’s purpose.
“It’s intended to raise awareness about the Creed and to honor the Creed, because it does such a good job of being our mission statement,” Shannon said.
Shannon elaborated that SGA promotes Creed Day with the display of incentives.
“We try to make incentives where people can be able to get a treat or a gimmick," Shannon said. "Also, we have an incentive where if somebody could recite the creed to us, [they] could get a free promotional item.”
According to Shannon, the Creed presents itself as a stronghold of Auburn principles and pride. Each statement is relevant in both agreement and application.
“The Creed is almost the way of Auburn living. Again, it’s like our mission statement, but the words in it are so powerful and impactful, and it really is a way that we can orient our lives around it,” Shannon said.
Spread across one of the tables was a large brown construction-paper banner, where students and faculty wrote down their name and their favorite line of the Creed. A line of students formed, each of them discussing, comparing and reflecting on which statement held the deepest meaning before finally writing it onto the banner. Shannon reflected that her favorite line is “I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men."
“There’s so many golden lines in the Creed that we can hold onto,” Shannon said.
This year brings a fresh take on tradition. What was once a week-long celebration of the Auburn Creed, formerly deemed Creed Week, has been condensed into a single, vibrant day. Shannon noted that the change has made honoring the Creed much more impactful, inviting students to participate fully and immediately in the festivities. The result is a lively, communal event that truly exemplifies the spirit of the Auburn Creed to life on campus.
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