Cheyenne Nichols graduated from the University of Colorado--Denver last Saturday May 18, 2019, with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from the College of Arts and Media. The Spring commencement was held outside on the Tivoli Quad, Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
It was 40 years since Grandpa Ross graduated from the University of Colorado. Though he "re-began" his university studies at the Denver campus in 1973, he finished his engineering classes on the Boulder campus and completed everything in December 1978 for a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ross' commencement exercises were in May 1979 at Folsom Stadium in Boulder, as I shared recently in a Nichols Kids monthly letter.
Last Saturday's graduation was an exciting day punctuated with some inclement weather which finally brought the graduation ceremony to an abrupt halt and forced everyone to seek shelter when lightning began to zigzag the overcast sky. There was some cloud cover when we arrived prior to the 9 a.m. ceremony. Chilly. Then the sun came out from behind a VERY dark cloud and illuminated everything so brightly, I was sorry I was without sunglasses. Plus that little reprieve with hot sun actually warmed up the air. Not for long! The wind began to blow, and that very dark cloud began moving our way as it trailed wisps of black fringe obviously spitting rain along its way.
The exercises began with the National Anthem sung a capella by a group named LARK. One of THE BEST renditions I have ever heard! There was an INVOCATION! I was impressed about THAT, too. Introductions all around of the distinguished guests, the deans, presentations of outstanding contributions, as well as faculty and staff award winners, outstanding students, retiring faculty and staff--WHEW! There was a lot, including an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters awarded to Jake Jabs, president and CEO of American Furniture Warehouse. Who says having a pet tiger and all those TV commercials won't get you some recognition? Impressive credentials, though, I must say.
Only one speaker after all that. It was University of Colorado President Bruce D. Benson. As the president with the longest tenure in the university's history--11 years--he probably could have rattled off a lengthy speech. Instead it was several pithy quotes of advice about how to get along in the world now that the graduates were commencing their real lives. He closed with this one, "The harder you work, the luckier you will get." I applauded the brevity!
There was approximately 45 minutes remaining in the proceedings when the announcement came to get out of there! Cheyenne's College had just lined up to cross the stage to be handed their diplomas and was probably half through the list of candidates-- BEFORE it was Cheyenne's turn. Too bad. We didn't get to see her walk confidently toward the tangible reward of her last four years' efforts. The graduates were directed to a nearby gymnasium where they finished the program WITHOUT spectators. By then the rest of the family was huddled in the glass vestibule of the nearby parking garage awaiting Cheyenne's joining us for pictures--without her gown because she had already had to turn it in. Still there were big happy smiles all around, in spite of the fact our teeth were chattering.
Louis and I arrived a few minutes early that morning, and from texted directions easily found Cameron, Judy, and her brother Edwin. (Unfortunately, Brice was in the hospital and missed it all). Burgandy got there after we did. While we were waiting for the processional of graduates to arrive at the quad, I mentioned to Judy that I had graduated from Brigham Young University on May 31, 1968, in Provo on an overcast day much like that day. But other than that I really didn't remember a thing.
So, with several minutes to go, I Googled "BYU commencement May 1968" and was soon scrolling through the entire program. Wow! Didn't remember that N. Eldon Tanner, then a counselor in the First Presidency conducted the graduation ceremonies at the Field House. (No Marriott Center at that time.) Didn't remember Hugh B. Brown was the commencement speaker. Didn't remember James Cash Penny was awarded an honorary doctorate. I didn't receive my diploma until the Humanities College Convocation later that day. English majors had theirs at 5 pm. And THAT was where I finally graduated from college along with 2,850 other people throughout that day during their own college convocations.
Truthfully, I remember lots more about other people's graduation than I do my own. I just wanted to be the heck over with it and on my way. Said a hasty goodbye to my parents and left for a month's visit to California to spend some time with my cousin George and his wife Karen in Sacramento. I think we took off in the dark of night after the graduation. Happiness was seeing BYU in my rear view mirror! It meant I was done. Done. DONE.
I would venture to say that the graduates in my May commencement at Brigham Young University were probably predominantly white with a smattering of other ethnicities like Asian, Hispanic, etc. But at Cheyenne's graduation, white people were definitely in the minority--and I mean students from all over the world!. Here was a group of people who had probably defied a lot of odds to complete their education. Individuals who didn't grow up with the expectation that they would be graduating from college--and many, many with advanced degrees which probably took years for them to complete as they worked full-time and took care of families along the way.
And...they were dressed up like it was a special occasion--just like when I graduated. There was no rowdy, drunken partying along the way as was Ross' graduation in 1979. These people at Cheyenne's graduation (2,100) respected what they were experiencing and acknowledged that great effort with a show of their best--behavior and appearance. I was proud of them all, especially Cheyenne!
Hard work may indeed make it seem like it was nothing but luck.
BUT EMBRACE BOTH....
PS Pictures to be added later.
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