I still hadn’t really decided if I was going to commencement or not until Pinning night.  So on this past Saturday morning (May 5th) I got up early, got ready, put on a dress and left for commencement at 8:10 am.  I arrived at the Silver Spurs Arena, where commencement was taking place,(And yes, they hold dreadful rodeos here as well as cattle auctions and stuff like that,)   around 8:30 am.

I met up with Desarie at check in and we got into line.  Janice arrived around 8:50am and checked in. During check in they have us a lovely charm or “zipper pull” for our gown.

  We waited with the other graduates out in the sun and the 90 degree weather for an HOUR! (It didn’t start until 10am). There were paramedics with oxygen walking up and down those lines looking for sick grads.   Thankfully they had buckets with bottles of water available at various points in the 4 very long lines they had us in.  Still that didn’t keep some 4-6 graduates from “falling out” and having to be taken inside the building by paramedics due to head exhaustion.  The lines kept moving up periodically and we finally got into the shade of the building around 10-15 minutes before they started the ceremony.    We took the waiting as an opportunity to take some photos!

Yep, only three of us from our class came to commencement.

The ceremony started late because people were still coming at 10 am.  We processed to “Pomp and Circumstance” after faculty and other administration filed in. We literally walked the red carpet and I felt like a rock star with all the people cheering for us. Grads waved and hammed it up for the camera.  So much fun.

The three of us were in a good place in line.  We ended up in the middle seats about 10 rows back.  There were two video screens on either side of the stage that would allow people in the back and those who could not see the stage see the proceedings.  (it was also streamed on the college website during the ceremony).  We stood for the pledge and then we were addressed  and commendated by the board of trustees.  Then they recognized faculty and staff and then honors program students.  Then an award was presented to the distinguished graduate- a lovely $5000 scholarship.

 
The commencement address was by Ms Shardeh Berry- a girl who overcame adversity and got her degree and will do great things.

When they finally started conferring the degrees we got ours relatively fast. and then sat as they called names for the next hour and a half.  It was murder but we talked, farted around taking self portraits and portraits of each other, texting friends and family, etc.  We recessed to Party Rock Anthem (that was fun) and I met my husband outside the arena.

After commencement we met up with Dearie and her friends at Mikado Japanese Cuisine for lunch.  That was fun too.

What a ride this has been!!