The annual Herndon Climb separates plebes, or first-year students, from the rest. At the end of the school year (May 17, 2023) on the yard of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, freshmen are tasked with working together to remove an underclassman’s “Dixie cup” hat from the top of the 21-foot Herndon Monument, which is generously greased with more than 50 pounds of butter, shortening, and oil.

As the final task of their right of passage, the plebes must replace the "Dixie" with an upperclassman’s cover (hat). Once they do, they move past the arduous first year at the academy, becoming “Plebes No More,” earning the right to be called Midshipman 4/C.