kevyn | Hagrid at Graduation

Here I am in graduation drag (complete with pink umbrella) at the summer commencement at Western Washington University. After 22 years, I finally earned my Bachelor's Degree!

(Note swollen right hand, hanging uselessly. It's blown up like a balloon. Mom thinks its bursitis.)

Hagrid and Mom at Graduation

Left: Me and mom. Her problem child finally graduated. She rode 2-1/2 days by Greyhound from Kentucky, just to see me graduate. My brother-in-law, Joe, drove her up from Ft. Lewis, where he's stationed.

Then, after buying me a class ring, dinner at my favourite Asian buffet, and some necessary toiletries at Wal-Mart, she took a nap, went to Mass, and then turned around and went back to Joe's, in order to catch an 8:30 am bus back to Kentucky.

That's my mom.

Below: The cover of the WWU 2008 Commencement Program booklet.

Commencement program cover

The Graduate, sans umbrella

Right: Mom insisted I have a photo taken sans umbrella.

Below: I'm listed on p. 18 of the Commencement program, 2nd column, 5th down. It reads:

Kevyn Daniel Jacobs
Bachelor of Arts
General Studies

Page 18 of the
Commencement program.

My Tassel

WWU Diploma Folder

Left: The tassel I wore on my mortar board cap. Class of '08!

Right: The diploma folder we were handed as we crossed the stage.

Hagrid the Graduate holds aloft a pink umbrella!

As I walked across the stage, I held my pink umbrella aloft over my head to salute the cheering throngs. Mom didn't want me to carry the umbrella, but I didn't care. It was my moment of triumph!

WWU Dummy Diploma

Awwww, not a real diploma, just a dummy placeholder they handed to us all. The real diplomas will be delivered by post in about 6 weeks.

After graduation

Rick Ruben, mom, and me after graduation at WWU.

All photos by my brother-in-law, Joe Best. Flatbed scans by me.

UPDATE: Mom just came back after mass to drop off a dollar store bottle of shampoo I had left in the truck. I kissed her and hugged her and thanked her and told her I loved her. Then she waved goodbye.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Good photos. Seems like a lot of the traditions haven't changed much since 1978 when I graduated from WWU. Same diploma covers and so forth. I remember getting the hat, but they forgot to include the tassle so I went back to the office that issued it. Told my mom the tassle was a hassle. My sister said I "granulated." I was the youngest of 5 kids that my parents sent through college. 5 kids all granulated. Now I'm between bike trips on my vacation. Got back from Ice Caves at Big Four. Not the famous one someone fell in (the news). Then went to Orcas. May be headed to Oregon in next few days, possibly by Amtrak. Good to see your graduation. Will make coffee again (even though I drink cocoa) sometime toward end of Sept.

Thanks Robert! See you at the end of September!

Hagrid at Graduation

Graduation

Re: Graduation