Celebrating the End of the Semester

Campus comes alive with last day of class festivities

A crowd of students dancing during the Cafuné concert at LDOC.
Students dance during Cafuné at the LDOC concert.

On a perfect spring day - not too hot, not too cold - Duke students enjoyed the campus-wide celebration on their last day of classes, better known as LDOC, complete with fun activities, food, and music.

Students decorated their own bucket hats, played soccer while wearing a giant bubble suit, got custom-made poems, caricatures and pancakes, listened to music, ate Locopops and grilled chicken, shrimp and corn, and enjoyed spending the last days before summer with their friends. For seniors, this is especially bittersweet.

“Our four years are coming to an end, and it’s a little scary and exciting and nostalgic,” said Nancy Beaujeu-Dufour, while lying on the Abele quad lawn with her closest friends, who she met during pre-orientation.

For first-years, the day was more carefree. "The energy of LDOC was absolutely amazing," said first-year Natasha Singh. "Getting to spend the day celebrating with the best people I could’ve asked to be friends with, I think that this was the best way I could’ve ended my freshman year.”

Junior McKenna Raley, left, hugs fellow junior Catherine Byun during LDOC.
Junior McKenna Raley, left, hugs fellow junior Catherine Byun during LDOC.
Students bounce off each other while playing bubble soccer on the Crowell Quad during LDOC.
  • Hands screen printing a tote bag with a design that reads "Last Day of Classes."
    Students receive screen-printed LDOC tote bags.
  • Student Affairs staff, from left, Tai Louder, Joie Foust and Michelle Johnson entertain with their karaoke rendition of 24K Magic by Bruno Mars during LDOC.
    Student Affairs staff, from left, Tai Louder, Joie Foust and Michelle Johnson entertain with their karaoke rendition of 24K Magic by Bruno Mars during LDOC.
  • Firsr-year Kyle MacLellan, left, draws devil horns on fellow first-year Natasha Singh’s bucket hat during LDOC.
    First-year Kyle MacLellan, left, draws devil horns on fellow first-year Natasha Singh’s bucket hat during LDOC.
Students enjoy grilled chicken shrimp and corn during a cookout hosted by the Black Student Alliance and National Pan-Hellenic Council on the Keohane Quad during LDOC.
Students enjoy grilled chicken shrimp and corn during a cookout hosted by the Black Student Alliance and National Pan-Hellenic Council on the Keohane Quad during LDOC.
First-years Camden Reeves and Grace MacLean react as the Poetry Fox reads them the poem he wrote based on Reeves’ invented word “kith,” a kiss with a lisp, during LDOC.
First-years Camden Reeves and Grace MacLean react as the Poetry Fox reads them the poem he wrote based on Reeves’ invented word “kith,” a kiss with a lisp, during LDOC.
  • Cafuné plays at the LDOC concert.
    Cafuné plays at the LDOC concert.
  • Aerial of Cafune concert during 2023 LDOC celebrations on Duke’s West Campus
    The crowd at the Cafuné concert during LDOC.
  • 070 Shake performs in front of a crowd of students during the LDOC concert.
    070 Shake performs during the LDOC concert.
Seniors Nancy Beaujeu-Dufour, Ian Acriche, Chase Pellegrini de Paur and Lana Gesinsky lay on the grass together on the Abele Quad lawn.
Seniors Nancy Beaujeu-Dufour, Ian Acriche, Chase Pellegrini de Paur and Lana Gesinsky enjoy LDOC together on the Abele Quad lawn.