Congratulations, Class of 2012 — you made it through! (In case you think you dreamed it, here are pictures from this weekend’s commencement ceremonies to prove you really did graduate.)
It was a busy four years, wasn’t it? Let’s take a stroll back down memory lane; click the links for past posts (and in many cases, photo galleries)…
You arrived four (or maybe five) years ago… We introduced a few of you back in the spring and summer of 2008: National Merit finalists, aspiring doctors, Gates Millennium Scholars, Eagle Scouts, and plenty of valedictorians. You attended Line Camp, then joined the Baylor Line, and Freshman Follies broke any ice that remained.
During your time here, you welcomed a new president, helped Baylor to its highest U.S.News rankings ever, and got to help guide the direction Baylor will take for the next 10 years as the new strategic plan was shaped.
Technology progressed, and you followed along as Baylor launched Twitter accounts and an official Facebook page. That helped you know of visits from all the prominent guests who sat foot on campus, from George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice and Sandra Day O’Connor to David Crowder, Max Lucado and ESPN’s College Gameday basketball crew.
Four years on campus means four Diadelosos (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), four Sing performances (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and four Homecomings (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). [Mark your calendar now to return for Homecoming 2012, Nov. 2-3.] You even enjoyed a couple of snow days.
You celebrated national titles in track, women’s basketball and equestrian, Baylor’s first bowl game and first bowl victory in years, and two men’s basketball Elite Eight runs. You cheered on Robert Griffin III to that unbelievably believable Heisman win and saw Bears taken in the first round of the NFL, NBA and MLB drafts.
In between all that, you found time to serve, serve, and serve some more. You helped out after Hurricane Ike, went on mission trips, started Campus Kitchen, built homes for Habitat, and went out on two Steppin’ Outs a year.
As you graduate, you join the 150,000 living alumni who, while you’ve been in college, have been winning awards (from the Olympics to the Grammys) and leading the way across all fields — from government to real estate, ministry to medicine, sports to education, technology to travel, health care to law. They’ve also been giving to support you and Baylor, from scholarships to stadiums.
What a ride! Graduates, we look forward to continuing to tell your story here on Baylor Proud — we’ll just check the “alumni” category instead of “student life” next time.
Sic ’em, Class of 2012!
