The annual Lawrenceville weekend brings with it many traditions, the banners hanging in the Dining Hall being one of them. The student-made banners serve to display The Hill School’s strong rivalry with the Lawrenceville School, also referred to as “L-Ville.” Each dorm is responsible for creating its own banner and all are entered into a school-wide competition. The content of these banners has changed drastically since the creation of this tradition yet the common theme throughout them all is a shared hatred of the Lawrenceville School.

The rivalry between Hill and Lawrenceville has existed for more than 125 years, but the banners themselves started around 70 years ago. Headmaster Zachary Lehman said the tradition began in the 1940’s when residents of Upper School hung banners outside their windows during Lawrenceville Week. These banners were as simple as saying, “Go Hill!” or “Wash that Shirt!” but were important because the students themselves initiated this tradition.

Since then, the banners have greatly developed. Jennifer Lagor, assistant headmaster of student life,  said that the banners during her first years at Hill were not too different from the current ones. She said students have always strayed from the themes of, “kill, hate, mutilate,” and have been encouraged to pursue, “clever slogans.”

Lagor also noted that she thinks the amount of banners entered into the competition has increased.

“It has definitely grown in popularity,” Lagor said.

Brandon Jacobs ’07 has a different perspective from his time as a Hill student. Jacobs says the biggest difference between the banners from his time and the current banners is that, “there was a lot more effort and passion put into the banners.”

Yet Jacobs believes the general theme of the banners has stayed consistent throughout time.

Current students believe there are strong similarities between their banners and those from past years. The main similarity being creativity.

“The banners are always so creative,” Megan Mikuen ’19 said. “It’s always neat to see the older ones and see similar collective ideas have been popular no matter the era.”

The Lawrenceville Weekend banners have changed much since their original creation but many agree they showcase Hill’s  strong school spirit.