Law Students

FYI: GRADUATION ITINERARY!

Friday 5/16/2008: Family dinner at Magianno?s at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday 5/17/2008

CEREMONY: latest forecasts say that the temperature should be in the high 80's on Saturday. We should all be prepared in case it's even hotter! There will be bottles of water under your seats during the ceremony. The Adobe Lodge will be selling water Saturday morning for your guests. There is still some - very limited - seating under the tent in the gardens. This seating will be first-come, first-served. If you are concerned about sitting in the heat, they might want to try to find seats under the tent. PARKING: Parking is first come, first served (except for the Bannan lot, which is acting as the reserved lot, which is full. Parking will be limited so arrive early. They can park in any spot as long as it?s not a handicapped spot, a residence hall spot,or the President or Provost?s spot :) SEATING: Seating is first come, first served. There are ABSOLUTELY NO saving of seats. Do not send Uncle Ned at 7 a.m. to save the whole first row. We, and our "oh-so-persuasive" campus safety escort won?t let him save the seats. Please, please, please. It makes for a very ugly scene. Please explain to your family members that they can?t save seats. WHERE ARE THE MISSION GARDENS??....if you are facing the Mission Church, they are the large lawn areas to the left.

Time line:
8:30 a.m. - Graduates need to show up outside Heafey/Bergin Hall facing the Alameda Mall. We will help you put on your tams, gowns and hoods and line you up for the procession. There will not be a group photo. Your family members should go out to the Mission Gardens and find seats. 8:50 a.m.: - Graduates will be escorted to line up for the procession. You will line up numerically, by the seat numbers on the name cards you received with your cap and gown. Staff members will be on hand to assist you.

9:30 a.m.: Dean Brad Joondeph will lead the graduates through the audience into the Mission Gardens to their seats. Staff members will be stationed at strategic points to make sure everyone goes in the right direction. FYI?there is a bottle of water under each graduates chair.

Next: Introductions, speeches...

Next: When it is time for you to walk across the stage, staff members will be posted at each end of your row of seats. We will tell you when your row should stand up, when your row should walk to the bottom of the stage and when to walk up the ramp. We will take a quick photo of you on the ramp and as you are receiving your diploma. We tell you when each of you should walk across the stage. As you start to walk across the stage, you will give your name card (the one that came with your cap and gown) to Professor Jimenez. He will read your name as you are walking over to get your diploma cover. You then shake hands, shake hands, shake hands, and walk down the ramp on the other side. At the bottom of the ramp will again be staff members who will guide you back to your seats.

Next: Congratulations speeches, closing...

After the ceremony: (anywhere from 11-11:30 a.m. depending on the length of the speeches) we will have champagne, water, strawberries, and cookies in the Mission Gardens for you and your family members. You also need to return your gown (you get to keep the tam and hood) to the Bookstore. They will be open until 4 pm on Saturday. If you don?t return your gown, you risk having a hold slapped on your record.

AFTER THE CERAMONY:

Lunch: All family AND friends are invited but are not obligated to eat a light lunch with me at Eric?s Deli and Cafe. Directions here. The big sort of celebratory feast will be at dinner.

In Between Lunch and Dinner: I really have no idea what to do in between lunch and dinner. My apartment, which will be housing my brother Kevin and my mother-in-law, is already bursting at the seems and doesn?t have the capacity to host anyone on Saturday so I?m open to suggestions. One thing that came to mind is perhaps going to Santa Cruz for a few hours. It?s a lot cooler there and there are a lot of fun things to do. I?d love to hear anyone else?s thoughts on the matter. The only problem is that we have reservations back in San Jose for dinner so we?d have to make sure that we?re back on time.

Dinner: At the Elephant Bar at 6:30.

Sunday 5/18/2008

Church: 1:00 pm. I?m actually speaking during sacrament meeting, so all of my gentile friends may want to stick around and hear what I?m sure will be extremely valuable words of wisdom. Directions here.

Full post as published by SoapBox Law on May 15, 2008 (boomark / email).