Graduation Day

Four long years - and it's finally here: Graduation Day.

More specifically, Commencement, but why not, given that many people posted that they graduated. Anyways I've completed all of my units for my BS, but I've still a co-op to go before I obtain my master's degree. (On a related note, for those who were wondering, my original FB post about this is here. It has the most likes out of all of my image / status posts to date, at 19.)

Graduation in relation to MCHS: I know at least one student from class of '08 (my class), the class of '09 and '10 from my high school also graduating this year.

Location: Alex Spanos Center. This was taken seconds before coming out to the crowd. And I heard in my head this music playing (not graduation music).

RJ Barry Memorial

I've received an email in my inbox saying that a UOP student, Robert "RJ" Barry, was killed last night via an accident.

I don't know him at all (the first time I've heard about his name was the slideshow presentation going on during the Senior Banquet which happened last Saturday), he's still important. Why? He was part of my graduating class of 2012 (in the same engineering school) and was set to graduate this coming Saturday.

Because of this, I'll remember him when someone talks about my grad class.

Senior Grad Party

The Senior Graduation Party occurred today. In addition to a free Alumni T-shirt and food (for up to 500 people, but it seemed like it fed a lot less than that), there were a few games as well as raffle prizes (which of course appeared to be horribly rigged as two people won two raffle prizes.)

Note I had to resort to my cellphone camera for this image - it helps to bring a camera, but not if you forgot to put your SD chip back in.

What drew people in: Free beers. Two of them. Quoted by a student on the event page: "How could I say no?!" *(Note that I don't drink beers or any other alcoholic beverages myself)

Zuma's Revenge: Iron Frog Run

And now for something completely different... beating Iron Frog in under 20 minutes, focusing on speed rather than points.

Hints: Combos are your friend - they stall (and push back) balls giving you more time to think. Attempt gap shots to end the trail of balls quickly.

Epilogue: The Capital Banquet

The end draws near - Although we're given thanks* alongside a Capital Division Slideshow, we give thanks to Erin in the form of a thank you video and more.

Banquet Summary

Banquet starts with several introductory speeches, opening slideshows (which technically didn't work that day) as well as thank you gifts. We give our appreciation back to Erin. A pie-Erin done by Mo-Kang concludes the event.

Revised Erin Thanks

I wasn't able to get myself filmed for this surprise video (it was done around 30 minutes or so after I had to leave since I had to prepare for tomorrow's presentation, but the written transcript reads:

Erin, thank you for everything you've done this year - From the time I first knew about you last May during STC, you've been one of the most amazing and coolest LTG's I've met during my three years at Circle K. Good luck with the rest of the year!

Concluding Statements

The year finally comes to an end, and as Kevin says it, where an era ends, and a new one begins.

Sometimes, some of the best things comes to an end. For others... they are just beginning...

Sacramento Zoo Zoom: ZooRunner

Surprisingly enough, Taffe can run eight minute miles.*

Event for ZooZoom - a variety of different marathons for people with all ages, including a 5K and 10K marathon.

We're busy working with Key Clubbers from nearby high schoolers and holding up various motivational signs for people to keep them going, until both races are over.

Action Scene: One person collapsed to his knees near our position - and all of us rush over to the scene in no time.

Fun Fact: The first runner for the 5K came by at the 15 minute mark, but my stopwatch was off by a minute and a half so I said to nearby friends that the first person crossed the finished time in 15 minutes 2 seconds. (I later verified this)

Additional Feature: Volunteers and runners get into the Zoo for free after the race is over. (Us volunteers, however, do not get the privilege of free food.) At least we enjoyed the experience of flamingos and giraffes.

Blokus Mindgames

Feature in Alex Ung's house: Blokus. I've heard about the game before but never actually played it - until now.

General Directions: You need to place down more pieces on the board than anyone else. You can only place down pieces which are diagonally adjacent to your existing pieces, and they cannot be touching next to each other.

Strategy Used: I tend to focus on not what might be the next good move, but rather a few steps ahead to know what pieces I might be using up, figuring how (in one or two moves) to reach certain squares to expand my options, etc.

Additional Feature: Learned about Perler Beads, the source for both a fundraising initiative for Sac State CKI as well as a distinction for Sac State on their nametags during DCON. I will personally get a set of these beads and use them to build a few things later on in life...