"As a twelfth grader, I now have this peer who's ten years younger but is still part of the brotherhood. We might not be going through the same experiences, but we can connect on the fact that we're both Marksmen, we're both a part of this community, and we're both part of this brotherhood."

Each fall, shortly after the school year begins, blue-shirted seniors make the short trek to Lower School for a time-honored tradition. First, second, and third-grade boys stare up with awe as the twelfth graders squeeze into the pint-sized chairs and introduce themselves as their Senior Buddies.

Since its inception, St. Mark's has championed the idea that "we stand on the shoulders of giants." For one special group of Marksmen, this concept becomes a reality each year as seniors hoist their Lower School buddies on their shoulders to enter the All-School Christmas Party. Throughout the year, seniors and their Lower School buddies connect at special events, from a hot chocolate party to a day at the Dallas Zoo. It is a relationship that is even immortalized in the School's iconic Path to Manhood statue in front of Centennial. 

"I think the St. Mark's mission is one of brotherhood," said Lawrence Gardner ’25. "My Lower School buddy might be going through different experiences day-to-day, but we can connect on something else, and that's the fact that we're both Marksmen. We're both a part of this brotherhood."

For the seniors, their buddy is a reminder of the responsibility they have to set a good example for the next generation of Marksmen. For the Lower Schoolers, their buddy is both a role model and a glimpse of their own future at St. Mark's.

"It's a really special moment for me anytime I see my senior," said Rex Gorsche ’34. "I have someone to look up to, a role model. This is who I want to be."