In the wake of Barack Obama's election to the presidency Tuesday night, the same fervor displayed by Penn State students in a cross-campus procession and a gathering on the steps of Old Main was present at colleges and universities nationwide.

Georgetown University

At 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania Avenue was filled with throngs of cheering Obama supporters.

Some were students, some adults, some even police officers, but all were waving signs, high-fiving and embracing each other, chanting "O-bam-a" at the top of their lungs. In front of the White House, the faint sounds of the Georgetown fight song rose above the cheers. The crowd sang "Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)," and the lights at the White House went out.

-- Kathleen Nahill, The Hoya

Illinois State University

As a group of students marched, its numbers swelled to likely more than 2,000 people. Local police monitored the peaceful parade as it stopped traffic in the streets.

"I heard them for like 15 minutes," Tonya Starnes, a freshman communication studies major, said. "We joined up with the crowd and it grew from 100 to over 1,000 in just a few minutes."

From Atkin and Colby Halls, the crowd ran to the flagpole on the Quad and joined together in singing the National Anthem.

"It was the largest outpouring of youth support for anything political on this campus that I've ever seen," Ben Hanrahan, a sophomore political science major, said. "The spirit of it was really inspiring."

-- Matthew Tomlin and Kate Stickelmaier, The Daily Vidette

Princeton University

At the onset of a historic Election Day, pessimism was brewing among campus Republicans, as chances of a victory for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the presidential race seemed just out of reach.

"I really wasn't optimistic going in. I kind of had a feeling in the back of my mind ... it was [the difference] between what you want to see and what you know is going to happen," Princeton freshman Jay Parikh said, surrounded mostly by triumphant Democrats at the election-watching party in Whig Hall on Tuesday night.

-- Doug Eshleman and Daniella Roseman, The Daily Princetonian

University of Illinois

The presence of several armed Champaign police officers lining the intersection of Green and Wright streets didn't stop a mob of university students from celebrating Barack Obama's presidential victory in front of the Alma Mater early Wednesday morning.

Several students climbed on top of the Alma Mater, chanting "O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA" and "USA! USA! USA!" with the crowds that encircled it.

The face of the Alma Mater was covered by a paper photo of Obama's face, and those standing on the monument popped champagne and sprayed it on the crowds.

-- Kathleen Foody, Megan Kelly and Andrea Cheng, The Daily Illini

Compiled by Collegian Staff Writer Heather Schmelzlen