Click on any photo to enlarge.Video of her "walk" at the very bottom of this entry. Lighting in auditorium was challenging for us amateur cameramen and the shakiness is due to plain excitement and me making sure the kids don't fall out of the balcony.
What a wonderful time we had celebrating Monique's graduation!! She finished her BS degree with a 4.0 and of course was snatched up by the school with a full time faculty position that is fortunately still like the adjunct, part-time effort she has had for some years now.
For honor graduates, there was a ceremony and reception the night before the big day. Monique's folks had just made the 9 hour trip in to our house for a quick turn around back to the college, and of course my parents were present. My dad was checking out Chef Mo's accolades.
Monique's personal cheering squad adorned with super hero cape. He was too proud, surprising us when Monique was called as he shouted, YAY MOMMY standing on a chair.
Monique's teachers, now bosses!
It was a most impressive crowd. Folks were getting degrees in media, graphics, video gaming creations and of course, culinary. Folks in white are getting culinary AAs...the row behind them are the BS degree folks. All graduates had their family cheering sections here and there, BUT for Monique, everyone in white cheered like Michael Jackson had taken the stage. IT WAS CRAZY. She had taught most of them and is such a well-liked, yet stern professor.
Faculty members marching in.
About 25 of us gathered at a finer dining joint afterward...Mitra's. It was an experience. The chef brought this dessert out for the graduate.
A little surf and turf for the grad.
The shrimp tortilla soup was awesome.
Very hip decor.
Talking shop with the Executive Chef.
