The Sorting 2025: A Night of Discovery and Tradition
The Sorting 2025 welcomed new students into SSU’s Houses and unveiled the all-new House Hudson. From spirited challenges to the first points of the year, the night celebrated tradition while beginning a new era.
On Monday, September 22, the Morris University Center West Ballroom filled with anticipation and celebration as new and unplaced SSU students were officially sorted into their Houses. The Sorting is a time-honored tradition in the Computing Houses, inspired in part by the historic collegiate houses of Oxford and Cambridge, and it continues to be one of the most exciting milestones of the year.
The Ceremony
The evening began with a social half-hour where students grabbed plenty of pizza and mingled with classmates, faculty, and House Officers. It set a relaxed, welcoming tone before the formal proceedings began.
This year’s ceremony included a change of pace. Prof. Jason Witherell led The Sorting with assistance from Instr. Travis Lynn, as they filled in for Dr. R. Duane Skaggs, who was unable to attend.
Once everyone settled in, the Heads of House presented their banners, mascots, and colors, with cheers rising for every name called. Each student was welcomed into a House where they’ll find not only competition and camaraderie, but also mentorship from professors and peers.
Prof. Witherell also awarded some early points during the presentations to students who brought back House memorabilia from past years. Handkerchiefs, button pins, and even old keychains earned recognition for loyalty and spirit.
The Four Established Houses
- House Lynn - Ice Blue & White, Mascot: Picard J. Polar Bear
- House Skaggs - Maroon, Silver & Black, Mascot: Leonhard E. Lion
- House Witherell - Green & Yellow, Mascot: Slytherell the Snake
- House Yost - Orange & Blue, Mascot: Edsger D. Eagle
Learn more about mottos, crests, and leadership of the SSU Computing Houses.
A New Era: House Hudson
The highlight of the evening was the introduction of House Hudson, led by Head of House Dr. James “Jim” Hudson. The crowd erupted as the new House colors, Nightshade Elixir and Copper, were revealed.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the members of House Hudson tackle the house contests in the months ahead. I know some of the people who were sorted into the house, and I'm confident we'll see some exciting developments!" - Dr. Jim Hudson
Like the original Houses at their founding, Hudson’s members will now have the honor of shaping their identity by creating a House crest, motto, mascot, and more. It’s a rare opportunity to leave a legacy that will guide generations of students to come.
Before The Sorting, Game Programming senior Kyle Morath volunteered to serve as Hudson’s first House Officer. His initiative to step up and help guide new students was recognized with 20 points for House Hudson, giving the new group a strong foundation as they entered the system.
With those first 20 points, Hudson officially entered the race for the House Cup. The trophy is awarded each January for the previous year’s competition and is currently on display in the ATC Gaming Commons alongside a plaque honoring past winners.
First Challenges of the Semester
The Sorting wasn’t just about banners and colors. It also kicked off the fall challenges of the House Cup race. Students jumped into a pair of lighthearted competitions designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and rivalry.
- 🧠 Trivia Challenge
- Host: Luke Austin - House Skaggs
- A Jeopardy-style contest with categories in Gaming, Tech & Software, and Shawnee State History. Harder questions were worth more points, rewarding both quick thinking and deep knowledge.
- 🤪 Mad Libs Theater
- Host: Haley Magee - House Witherell
- Houses filled in the blanks of silly scripts with the most outlandish words they could imagine. Once complete, the House Officers performed the skits at the front of the ballroom. The scripts will be reviewed for creativity, with House Cup points awarded later.
The points awarded through the evening’s activities gave everyone an early taste of rivalry and set the stage for a lively, creative semester of House Cup challenges.
Looking Ahead
While The Sorting marks the beginning of a student’s academic journey in their House, the House Cup follows a calendar-year cycle. The next winner will be crowned in January 2026 for the 2025 competition.
The first opportunity arrives on Friday, September 26, with the Codebreaker Challenge, co-hosted by the IEEE Computer Society and Computing Houses (4–6 PM, ATC 228).
After that, attention turns to one of the year’s biggest House point events: the SSUGames Fall Game Jam (October 10–12), where creativity, teamwork, and late-night coding marathons will shine.
From pizza and sorting to trivia and Mad Libs, the evening showed just how much spirit the Houses bring to campus. With the Codebreaker Challenge and Game Jam on the horizon, the semester promises plenty more chances for students to make their mark.