My old stomping grounds.

Eric's convocation ceremony took place around my old stomping grounds. Did you know I graduated with a degree in Physical Education, July 1987? I did. And I spent a great deal of my college hours on lower campus in the Richards Building and in the Field House. So having Eric's convocation there brought back A LOT of memories! Good memories. "I did it!" and "I can do hard things." type memories. And lots and lots of goofy memories. Just was a day full of good things - good feelings. For old times' sake - that's the Richards Building behind me.

And of course, had to snap some more pictures of the beautiful flowers. Such a lovely time of year.

Convocation

Friday April 20 was convocation. Eric's convocation was at 11am in the Smith Field House. Sandy's graduates had their ceremony at 8am in the same place with a reception afterward. She came looking for us so we were very glad to see her and get hugs. Blair Harris had convocation in the Marriott Center at 11 as well. So Wally went to Blair's ceremony and Judy came to Eric's. Ryan and Garry caught up to us, so we were able to sit with them too. Eric is in there somewhere, we know he was on the right side but didn't see him.

Eric is 7th in line here.

Almost there, his name is being read "Eric Reed Hardester" At this point we started a whoopin and a hollerin - and Claire yelled "Yeaaaaah!" And the woman in front of her, Ryan and Garry, with her baby dressed in a mini graduation gown in her arms "asleep" turned around and gave them all a stern "Thanks A lot!" because the baby woke up. :-/

And since we were yelling, we didn't get a great picture of him getting his diploma but that is him...diploma in hand on his way to shake hands with Peter Huntsman, CEO of Huntsman Corporation, whom was the featured speaker and revealed that he felt a bit out of place since he never graduated. He was the only one on the stand who wasn't wearing a fancy robe.

After the ceremony was over, we headed outside - to a glorious day (it was really nice Thursday as well) - for some pictures. This is Professor Truscott, the man who runs The Splash Lab - the place where Eric has worked this past year and where he continues to work and will do graduate study. More on that later.

Eric explaining his next fantastic engineering idea... just kidding. I don't know what he is saying but I love this picture!

I love these pictures too.

After pictures, we left the group - they headed to Salt Lake to catch up with the Harrises. Greg, Eric and I headed to upper campus for a reception to honor the Engineering graduates. The reception was held in the Clyde Building, which of course is the Engineering building and where Eric has spent most of his time the past two years.

A yummy buffet was provided. It was ham in rolls, with fruit kabobs and mini eclairs and some gooey bar treats. Was delicious. We didn't learn about the reception until the end of the ceremony. Everyone was invited to attend. We thought it very nice they provided the reception.

So that's what he's been doing.

It's the secret life of Eric Hardester which isn't secret in the slightest, but sure was fun to take this pathway to the workshop where he and others work on their Capstone Projects. This pathway is behind the Clyde Building. It certainly seemed a secret passage way, walking behind the bushes and between buildings like we did.

Can you believe that Eric said he'd never really noticed the flowers!! How could you not notice the beautiful lilacs and blossoms? I fear I'd never make it to where I was going if I walked a pathway like that every day. In fact, I almost didn't make it to the workshop - I ended up far behind Greg and Eric.

This is where Eric's team works on the super mileage car. Super Cat is the name of the car. A prototype they learn on and Eric has driven around is on the floor, up higher is the unfinished real thing!

Just something funny to keep around.

Checking a prototype engine.

This is where his head goes.

This is where his feet go. Remember, feet first so this is the front of the car.

This is the real engine - still being perfected.

His helmet to protect his head from bumps, and goggles to protect his eyes from the little gravely things the wheels kick up into his face. :-p

A vending machine that dispenses workshop staples. Eric says they never use it - too expensive.

Eric and "Super Cat"

When Eric finished showing us around the super mileage car he took us back to another workshop - this one is for "fast cars", electrics and hybrids. It also has the form they used to make the shell of Super Cat.

Super fast car.

Electric motorcycle.

Hybrid car.

The GM thing is a precision cutter that cut the foam that made the form that they put the fiber glass over to make the form that made the final shell for super mileage car.

Onto The Splash Lab - the place where Eric does his research/work under the direction of Prof. Truscott. Eric fist worked there counting bubbles - here on this computer. :-)

As of late, Eric has been taking high speed pictures of metal balls dropping through bubbles - all to measure the skin thickness and breaking points of bubbles.

This is a picture of a metal ball dropping through a bubble (just thought I'd explain that in case you couldn't tell :-)

Now Eric will start working on a thesis paper. I can't begin to explain that - it didn't really get explained to me. Something about "flapping robots"? Eric you'll have to fill us in. It was so fun having him show us around where he spends so much of his time. It was all so interesting. Super Mileage car will compete in June. Can't wait to hear how things are going. They're up to 720 miles to the gallon.

Cue "Pomp and Circumstance"

Can it be? I have a child that is a college graduate?

Yes! It is so!

Yay! Eric! Spring Commencement was on Thursday April 19 at 4pm in the Marriott Center. Nearly 6,000 graduates. Eric is in there - We know because he waved to us. :-) I'd tell you where but the picture doesn't zoom enough on the blog so you'll just have to take my word for it. Greg, Ryan, Claire and I sat together.

Elder Oaks was the featured speaker. Was a very very fun time!

After commencement exercises we met up with the Harrises and Wally and Judy. Blair graduated as well. Extra fun to graduate with a cousin.

Eric is wearing a "Stole of Gratitude" - a sash that came with the graduation package he selected. He's supposed to give the stole to someone who helped him to this point. You'll see the stole gets passed around. When Greg had it on we decided it was really just a very expensive tie.

Blair graduated in Finance. He has two job offers - one in Dallas the other Denver. I've yet to hear what he decided.

We spent sometime taking pictures of the new graduates and family.

A picture with the sisters who will carry on at BYU (but Eric and Ryan will be there next Fall too).

After we were through with pictures, a reporter for Deseret News approached Eric and Blair wondering if she might ask some questions. She started with Eric. She asked what his plans are. He told her he is going to graduate school. She wondered if he was doing that because of the economy and job market or had that been the plan all along. Eric told her it had always been the plan. She moved onto Blair. Same questions but when he told her he had two job offers she became very interested and probably interviewed him for about 5 minutes. So look for that Deseret News piece, written by Elizabeth Stuart (Greg recognized her name, he says he's read her articles).

All through with pictures we headed to Midway, in Heber Valley, where we stayed with Harrises and Wally and Judy, in Harris' condo. We had dinner at Cafe Galleria. Wood fire pizza is their specialty. Was a fun evening. Congratulations Graduates!!