Trine Graduation 2026

 Morgan's college graduation ceremony was set to begin at 10:00 a.m on Saturday, May 2nd.  She had warned us that parking and seating would be limited so the doors would open at 8:30 and we should probably try to get there as close to that time as we could.  Well we tried, but due to the late night just the night before, some of us were a little slow moving and so we didn't leave the house until around 7:30 a.m.  We got to the Angola exit right at 9:00, but as soon as we exited the highway, we saw that there was a line backed up all the way down the road and it was pretty slow moving.  It took us about 35 minutes to drive a mile and a half and then Noel started looking for any empty parking lots off of campus so we could just walk as it was obvious we wouldn't get there in time for the start if we didn't get out of that long line.  Thankfully we found an old NIPSCO building with empty parking spaces so we pulled in and began to walk towards the rec center where the ceremony would be held.  All of the seats were pretty full except for single seats spread throughout, so we just walked over to the far wall and found a spot.  At least we could see the big screens.

About twenty minutes after we arrived, the band started playing and the faculty and staff walked by followed by all of the graduating students.  Morgan would be near the back as her School of Health Sciences was the last school receiving recognition, so when we saw her school's banner being lifted, we all began to watch for her and then Laynie was the first to actually spot her in the crowd as she walked by.

Knowing that the ceremony would last at least two hours, these two tired ones found a spot on the floor once the ceremony began.  Apparently former Governor and former Purdue President Mitch Daniels was not enough to capture their attention and they both took short naps.  (I took a series of pictures throughout the long ceremony because it was funny how bored they both were).  Marissa was following along in the program and she was able to get their attention when it was almost Morgan's turn.  We certainly didn't want them to come all that way and then miss her name being announced.  

And then they announced her name and her awards and she made her way across the stage.

Congratulations Morgan.  You did it!!

Shortly after, the entire class of 2026 was asked to turn their tassels and they are now officially and forever accomplished alumni of Trine University.

Here comes our graduate now!!

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Morgan was able to find several of her friends who had come to celebrate with her and we were happy that they had the chance to find each other outside to take pictures together, despite the fact that it was a balmy 39 degrees and we were all freezing.

Melayna needed to get back home so that she could get ready for prom, so as soon as we finished taking pictures, we started heading back to the dorm.  Marissa and Noel would stay with Morgan and help her finish packing and loading up her car.  I would leave right away and drive the younger two back home.  But wait...Melayna was going to wear those white shoes to prom and she realized that Morgan was wearing them.  No worries... Morgan would just take them off and then give them to Melayna.  And then she would run as fast as she could back to her warm dorm because it was a little too cold to be running around barefoot!!  LOL