I do not know if anyone is interested at all, but I defended successfully my thesis on December 6 (the most-significant, hard-wrought, emotional struggle of my life). After a lot of anxiety, I passed it easily. It was by far, the best thesis defense I could have hoped for. As such, I get to walk the lawn this spring. If anyone wants to come, I will need to get tickets. It is sort of an anti-climatic thing for me, so no huge plans- off to work the next day, I am sure- but I did want to let everyone know.
UVA is a school that is public, yet ivy-league, as such, there will be many notable people present, not limited to Larry Sabato, the current Poet Laureate of the US, likely the governor, and I am certain the speaker will be a well-know, dynamic, amazing person. In the past several years, I have heard Christopher Reeves, Sandra Day O'Connor, Andy Rooney, and Francis Collins speak. Anyway... there is the huge lawn ceremony which includes the undergrads, all the graduate students, MBA students, Law students and medical students. Then we break off to designated areas for a smaller "school of Developmental Biology" graduation where my lovely boss will give me my fancy hood and cornered cap.
Finals Weekend 2008 will be held on May 17-18, 2008.
Please continue to visit this page as we will provide more detailed information as it becomes available.
Schedule of Events (General)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
11:00 a.m. - Class Valedictory Exercises (Ceremony at which University awards and the class gift are presented)
3:00 p.m. - Commissioning Exercises (Joint ceremony for Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force candidates)
Sunday, May 18, 2008
10:00 a.m. - Academic Procession and Final Exercises (all schools)
After Final Exercises on Sunday, Diploma Ceremonies for individual schools and departments (Arts & Sciences) will follow throughout the day (locations and start times will be announced during Spring 2008).
Thomas Jefferson’s original plan for the University of Virginia did not provide for a commencement ceremony, or even degrees and diplomas — though early students petitioned the Board of Visitors for diplomas, at least in part to improve their opportunities for employment. The board took no action until 15 months after Jefferson’s death, directing in October 1827 that plans for the first “Public Day” be made.
Because the academic procession down the Lawn has become such an important rite of passage for graduating students, only the most inclement weather — thunder, lightning, high winds or other conditions that would make the outdoor ceremony unsafe — prompts Finals to be moved indoors to the John Paul Jones Arena.
11 comments:
If I worked half as hard as Crystal did on her thesis, I would have graduated with honors. Honey, I want you to know how proud I am of you and all the effort you put into getting this degree. I know you made a lot of sacrifices to finish this when you did. I know that you worked very hard and I hope my way of honoring your achievement will be sufficient to demonstrate the effort you put into this. I love you.
Matt
Crystal,
This is such a huge accomplishment for you, I totally think you should walk. To think that you did almost all of it as a single mother is amazing. You have really shown the strength of you character and are such a good example to me. Congratulations!!
PS: Did you take those pictures? They are beautiful, it looks like a beautiful campus.
That is so great Crystal. Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment
David
I am definitely going to walk, it just is a matter of logistics since we now live over an hour away. It was a struggle, to say the least to complete my graduate degree- I was actually doing that in addition to all the teaching and teaching at UVA too (MBC as well) for the last 2 years. I am relieved (greatly) to be done, but at the same time, I kind of really wish I had gone a different post-undergrad route. I chose the program I did because they pay for your tuition and fees AND you make a decent stipend, which is not the case in any field EXCEPT biomedical sciences. Now I wish I would have just gone to become and MD or CNM, but... I can still do that too.
As for the photos, I took all but the last one (though I have the very same shot with my camera but it is on my other iMac... what a pain it is to switch computers). UVa is the most-gorgeous grounds I have ever in my life seen... there are secret gardens, the lawn and amazing architechure (sp?) everywhere.
Of COURSE we're interested! This is such a huge accomplishment. I can't even motivate myself to go back to school, and I've only got me and one job to worry about. You're amazing, for making it to this point. For sure I would like to go. I already put it in my calendar. :o)
Congrats Crystal, I can't imagine the work to get to that academic level. I knew that you had been working on it tirelesly, and I'm glad you were able to pass, for lack of a better word.
Does this mean that you and Colin aren't friends. UVA and VT, I'm not from the east, but I don't think that mixes well on the football field.
Eh... I dont care about sports and I dont care about football or any of them at all. A lot of that was eased last spring with the murders at tech, but yes you are right. It is a HUGE rivalry. I could tell you some pretty funny stories some time about witnessing that rivalry on Thanksgiving weekends from the past. One interesting thing... do you know what a Hokie is? The back story behind that mascot (and the Wahoo) is pretty funny.
That story about the Hokie isn't tru by the way. They had a contest to come up with the mascot and that was some guys turkey call. Anyway, of course we're still friends. VT is so far ahead of UVa in sports that it's not even worth fighting over. You know, UVa has been in the ACC for over 50 years and they haven't won a conference title in football. VT did it in their first year. Not that it matters. At least we know Matt's a hokie fan, right?
colin
In true Wahoo spirit, I will mention that the academics are the focus at dear ole "u vee ayy." Having worked for the athletic recruiting chair and ACC lacrosse champ (#2 in country, thank you) this summer, I know that UVA will NOT accept a student with below a 1200 SAT or 3.2 GPA... That has allowed for less that stellar sports teams from time to time (or the entire 7 years I was there). I dont care a bit about football though, seriously. I am more a basketball person... Though the football games were so much fun to attend. Singing the good ole song and seeing the undergrads in their Sunday best and such... where all is bright and gay (NOT GAY!) but I have been a Duke fan since I was in middle school. Still though the ACC is the best, I am lucky to be living here.
With regards to Colin's comment I'm a Hokie football fan (come to think of it I like just about any school that has a running game instead of a west cost offense). When it comes to soccer, basketball and lacrosse I'm in favor of UVA. I will admit that the UVA football games are pretty fun. It was nice to see the Wahoos beat the Demon Deacons from Wake Forest (actually we left before UVA pulled it off).
I have to say I've become more of a UVa fan after living in C-ville and learning that Edgar Allen Poe, Dr. Suess and others attended dear old "u vee ayy". I also have to admit the grounds are prettier than VT.
It's true that VT has a really good engineering school and are well known for that.
Lastly, when it comes to football I respect the fact that famous football players from UVA haven't gotten themselves in trouble (legally).
Besides when the campus was designed by one of our founding fathers you can't go wrong.
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