Alena Graduates From UMHB - May 10th, 2014
Graduation celebration at Alena's apartment clubhouse
Family gathers early for conversation before lunch
Grandma Mavis and boyfriend Doug celebrate with Alena
Grandparents Kathy & Lawson and great aunt Judy
NICE nurse cake awaits!
Beef, chicken and shrimp fajita dinner arrives
Bonnie thanks everyone for coming and opens the buffet
The graduate goes through the line first, of course
Fajitas, beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream, it's all good
Two tables of family sit and enjoy lunch
David has two hearty tacos with all the fixings!
Chocolate flan and straight up flan for dessert
Too much flan, so good, but no more . . . please!
Alena with her classmates Paige and fellow graduate
Circle around with drink in hand for the speeches
Alena starts off and Travis adds color commentary
Classmates enjoy the rememberances
Jerry is very proud of Alena's milestone achievement
Alena cuts her fancy cake
Aunt Cindy and cousin Meagan distribute the servings
Alena sits and opens her congratulatory cards and gifts
Group cleans up after finishing lunch and dessert
Jerry, Mavis and Meagan take a comfy couch seat
Circle around the room while Alena opens her gifts
A nice bag to help me move back to Houston
Travis gets some abuse during the gift opening
Great aunts give some great gifts
Alena, proud graduate of the UMHB school of nursing
Mom Bonnie is very proud of her graduate!
Brother Travis and step-dad Jerrry are also very proud
With grandparents Jerry, Mavis, Kathy and Lawson
Boyfriend Doug, FHS class of '09, gets a photo w/Alena
Paige and Ann Marie celebrate with their classmate
Alena with her great aunts Judy, Janie and aunt Cindy
Layne and Meagan join the family photo
Bonnie's friends Alex and Bea pose with the graduate
Aunt Cindy is proud of her niece!
Brother Travis is next on the graduation list!
Uncle David is inspired to finish his MBA
Head to UMHB campus for the graduation ceremony
Greeted by a Crusader outside the Campus Center
Ceremony is held for the first time at Crusader Stadium
Nice, brand new stadium with shade and a cool breeze
Find a group of seats near the exit with a great view
Alena's family and friends are ready to watch her graduate!
The keyboardist queues up the marching music . . .
And the graduates begin to file into the stadium
Finally find Alena on the right side 2nd from the back row
Faculty files in after all the graduates have entered
With all in place, Spring Commencement for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 158th graduating class begins
UMHB Pres. Dr. Randy O'Rear gives introductory remarks
334 baccalaureates, 35 masters & 19 doctorates awarded
Brian Burks, father of two graduates, gives the invocation
All stand for the The Star Spangled Banner
Alena and fellow graduates sing the national anthem
Daniela Loera gives a scripture reading
Four graduates are sworn in as second lieutenants
Dr. Steve Oldham recognized the honor graduates
Ten graduates recognizes for finishing with a 4.0
Graduate involved with the most organizations
Graduate who demonstrated the most school spirit
And finally, it is time for Alena to take her walk
She sees her family and is excited about this big event
She hands her written name to be announced to all
Her name is announced as she walks across the stage
She approaches the president who smiles
He shakes her hand & presents the ceremonial tube
She shakes more hands
And gives her professor a hug
Congratulations on achieving this milestone!
Ladies in heels get a hand down the stairs
And she makes her way back to her seat
I did it, that was awesome!
Panarama of the brand new UMHB Crusader Stadium holding its very first graduation ceremony
The final 19 graduates, the doctorals, approach the stage
The final graduate always gets the loudest applause
Graduates are proclaimed graduated and flip their tassels
They are welcomed into th UMHB Alumni Association
And then sing the UMHB Alma Mater with C's held high
The Benediction is read by Mrs. Jennifer
The Mace, the authority of the University, is carried out
The doctors lead the graduates out of the stadium
Alena's row stands and begins their march out
Graduates exit out the opposite side of the stadium from the parking lots . . . a diversion!
The new stadium still bathed in light after the ceremony
All gather back at Alena's apartment afterward
Enjoy a snack before starting the long drive home