Glaring sunshine could not stop graduating seniors from marching through the six columns March 3 like they did as incoming freshmen with their free Buck’s Tiger Stripe ice cream.

Mizzou Alumni Association sponsors Tiger Prowl, the annual event held at Francis Quadrangle before commencement.

After Tiger Prowl, graduating seniors went to Tiger Plaza to get refreshments. Mizzou Alumni Association executive director Todd McCubbin said they serve beer instead of ice cream because most of the graduating seniors are older than 21.

“We treat them like adults,” McCubbin said.

It has been more than 14 years since Tiger Prowl has become a tradition for MU’s graduating seniors.

“Tiger Prowl started when the first-year Tiger Walk class came to us four years later (and) asked to reverse Tiger Walk for the seniors as part of Senior Send-off,” he said. “So, it was really (the) students’ idea.”

McCubbin said the first Tiger Prowl drew about 300 people, and the number has continued to grow each year.

“Now, between 2,500 and 3,000 seniors attend,” he said.

When senior Elizabeth McGiffin walked through the six columns, she said various emotions crossed her mind.

“It’s like in “Tangled” when (Rapunzel) escapes from the tower: it’s the best day ever, yet bittersweet,” McGiffin said.

The commencement will be held from May 11 to 13. During this time, 5,795 graduates will receive a total of 6,495 degrees, according to an MU news release.

Select MU alumni will come back to deliver speeches to the class of 2012.

Former right tackle for the MU football team and current color analyst for MU football radio broadcaster Howard Richards, who graduated in 1988, will deliver a speech at the College of Arts and Science’s commencement.

Robert J. Smith, the first African-American graduate of the MU School of Medicine and current associate professor of surgery at the University of Tennessee, will deliver a speech at the School of Medicine’s commencement.

“The University of Missouri is proud of their achievements and confident that our graduates will continue their success out of the classroom and into the workforce,” Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Ann Korschgen said in a news release.