IF YOU MISSED COMMENCEMENT FAIR, THERE IS STILL TIME TO CLAIM YOUR COMMENCEMENT PACKET.

Spring and Summer 2010 Graduates

If you will complete your graduation requirements in Spring or Summer 2010 and you are enrolled in one of the following schools: Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; Elliott School of International Affairs; Graduate School of Education and Human Development; School of Engineering and Applied Science. You can pick up your Commencement packets, from Colonial Central, Marvin Center ~ Ground Floor, until April 30.

You will need to pick up your School Celebration tickets from your school directly. All graduates will need to complete the mandatory graduation survey in order to pick up your School Celebration tickets. Please bring a copy of your email confirmation and your GWorld card to your school distribution location. Please visit www.commencement.gwu.edu (Ticket Distribution Schedule) for ticket and graduation survey information.


CAP AND GOWN ORDERS

If you did not have the opportunity to pre-order your cap and gown, you can purchase it online until April 16, 2010 (by 11:59 p.m.) on the Herff Jones Web site: www.herffjones.com/college/graduation. If you have additional questions, please contact The GW Bookstore at (202) 994-6870 or visit www.gwu.bkstr.com. Regalia will not be available on the National Mall.


ORDER PERSONALIZED GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS, RINGS, AND DIPLOMA FRAMES

You can shop online at www.herffjones.com/college.graduation to order personalized graduation announcements and rings. You can purchase diploma frames in person at The GW Bookstore, Marvin Center ~ Ground Floor, or online at www.gwu.bkstr.com.


MONUMENTAL CELEBRATION, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010, 8:30 p.m.

There’s still time to get your tickets to Monumental Celebration!

Monumental Celebration is a Commencement-eve gala for graduates of The George Washington University. All 2010 graduates and their family and friends, along with GW faculty and staff are invited!

The event will be held on Saturday, May 15, at historic Union Station (50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE) from 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

The event will feature live music, desserts, and caricature and balloon artists!

Come raise a glass and toast the Class of 2010!

Tickets are available online at www.commencement.gwu.edu (Monumental Celebration) or by calling or visiting the TicketMaster box office located on the ground floor of the Cloyd Heck Marvin Center (800 21st Street, NW, 202-994-7411).


CHERRY TREE PHOTOS (SENIORS ONLY)

LAST CHANCE!

April 12-16, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Marvin Center Lobby. There is a $15.00 sitting fee. For more information, please visit www.gwcherrytree.com.


CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHY AND DVDS

A professional photographer from GradTrak will take individual pictures of graduates as they cross the stage during school celebrations. The photography company will mail or e-mail proofs to the graduates after the ceremony. Individual photos of students are not taken during the University Commencement on Sunday. Graduates and guests may also purchase DVDs of the school celebrations and University Commencement. Information will be available at as later date on www.commencement.gwu.edu.

Yesterday over 800 students from GW, Howard, and Trinity came together at Roosevelt Senior High School in NW DC to paint, clean, and fix-up the aging school that serves one of DC lowest-income areas. It was a long, but rewarding day and the Class of 2010 was out in full force! Here are some pictures from the day. Check out the rest on our Facebook page: facebook.com/gwseniors2010.

The Office of Community Service gives us incredible opportunities to make an impact in the greater-DC community, and the world, through programs such as the MLK Day of Service, Freshman Day of Service, and the many projects under way to help the victims of the destruction in Haiti. To help support their efforts to help us to change the world, give your Senior Class Gift toward their office online here.

In the Grand Ballroom for quick welcome from Timothy Kane, Director of OCS, and Mr. Tapscott's famous "Enthusiasm!" warm up.

Seniors Rhonda Crittle and Laura Maas are tired but excited after a day of painting and cleaning!

Seniors David Cutting, Kori Clanton, and Shakir Cannon-Moye, along with other students, painted a mural of the DC flag on the school's elevator used by physically challenged students.

Lunch break in the cafeteria! It's almost weird how much it felt like being right back in high school.
Right to left: Seniors David Cutting, Kelley Stokes (me!), Kelcey Abney, Nicky Sampogna, Shakir Cannon-Moye, Rhonda Crittle, Jordan Chisolm, Kori Clanton, and Kyle Boyer

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26
9PM-12AM
MCFADDEN'S

How perfectly does it work that 110 days from graduation is a Tuesday? And, for a lot of seniors, Tuesday means McFadden's! For this Senior Night, we figured we'd celebrate at a place that is already really popular with seniors. I swear, the first time I went to McFadden's this year when I FINALLY turned 21 (I'm a young October baby) I was so excited to finally be able to go to McFadden's. It just seems like such a "Senior" thing to do. In honor of our class, we'll have $2 beer and rail specials from 9-12a, (like a really big Happy Hour!), and if you give your gift at the door, you get TWO FREE drink tickets! If you already gave, there'll be a free drink ticket waiting for you, too, as a continued thank you.

See you there!

- Kelley

I really can't believe that Monday morning is our last first day of classes at GW (as undergraduates, at least). This has proven to be such an odd feeling year. Half of the time I'm hyperaware that I'm a senior and it makes me all nostalgic, and nervous, and excited for next year, and the other half of the time I'm so busy I'm completely oblivious to thinking about it all and something will randomly hit me that bring back all the senior feelings again. Starting Monday, this semester is going to be a series of lasts for us - our last first day of classes, last Spring Break, last mid-terms (not complaining about that one), and tons more. So, to help you survive the emotional rollercoaster, we figured we'd help you start Monday out right with free breakfast at Senior Breakfast, Monday (Jan 11), from 9-11am at Alumni House. Stop by, grab some free breakfast, chat it up with your friends and get ready to power through second semester. Hope to see you there!

-Kelley

From Marissa Bialecki (CCAS '10):

In the race towards graduation, I paused to take a minute and reflect on what I've gained from GW these last four years. I've had experiences at GW that I could not have had anywhere else in college, as I'm sure all the seniors have had. I gave to the 2010 Senior Class gift because I wanted to show my gratitude for all of the opportunities GW has given me. By donating, I know I am improving the University for a future GW student.

I chose to divide my donation between 14th Grade Players, one of the student theater companies I've acted with, and my community service sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha. Having been involved with these organizations for some time now, I know how far even the smallest donation can go. I was happy that the senior class gift allowed me to direct my donation towards two groups that have helped define my experience at GW. Additionally, I am thankful for the Luther Rice Society's pledge to match the senior gift contributions. We've all pulled an all-nighter or two in Gelman and know that as the University grows, our library needs to grow as well. The Class of 2010 Gelman Library Fund is a worthy cause that will have a tangible impact on future GW students.

To those who may be on the fence about donating, I urge you to really think about what this University has given you--a reputable degree, the DC experience, that amazing internship, leadership roles in your student organization, your favorite class, your best friend, your roommates, the list goes on and on. Any donation, no matter how small, can make a difference. Your parents have given you the means to go to GW, but donating to the senior class gift is your chance and your decision to give back to an area of GW that has been meaningful to you.

You know what to do: seniorclass@gwu.edu.

Happy Holidays! Spread some GW cheer.

Finals period is a weird time of year in a lot of ways. First, you want to celebrate because you're done with classes, but then you realize that you have exams and papers and all this other stuff to do before you're really done, so then that excitement turns into stress, but since some people really are done the last day of class, you're stressed, but your friends possibly aren't...it all just gets really messy.

So, in an effort to help with both those excited feelings and the stressed feelings, the Senior Class Gift Campaign is hosting two events during finals: Senior Night at Mr. Smith's tomorrow night from 10pm-1am, and Senior Study Break @ Gelman on Monday, 12/14, from 8-10pm in Gelman's 2nd floor lounge. This way you can celebrate the end of classes at Mr. Smith's and then, while you're freaking out with stress on Monday, you can come grab some free coffee and refreshments to relax. Also, don't forget that our last Midnight Breakfast is this Wednesday! (I hate thinking about everything as being "our last...". It's so bizarre.) See below for more info on each event. See? we got your back.

Good luck on finals, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!

- Kelley

Celebrate the end of the semester with friends over great drink specials tomorrow night at

Mr. Smith's in Georgetown!

No cover
$2.95 Beer of the Month
$3.50 rail, Bud Lite, Miller Lite & Budweiser bottle
Get a FREE drink ticket if you give your senior class gift at the door!

Already given your class gift? You get a FREE drink ticket, too!
Already gave over $25 and have a t-shirt? Wear it during the day on Tuesday for the chance to win a free drink ticket from one of our spotters!







Let the Senior Class Gift Campaign and Gelman Library help you de-stress during finals next week at...

Senior Study Break
Monday, December 14
8-10pm

Stop by Gelman's 2nd floor lounge to grab some FREE coffee and refreshments and get a sneak peek at the plans for the first floor renovations that our class gift will help fund.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving break, which was WAY too short, here's what some seniors say they're thankful for at GW:

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. During my time here I was exposed to a truly diverse group of people." - Shakir Cannon-Moye

"I'm thankful for Thurston." - Megan Melloy

"I'm thankful for the incredible faculty GW has; each professor I have met over the last four years has enriched my experience with fresh opportunities." - Olivia Hallihan

"I'm thankful for GW because it allowed me to live in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and I met my best friends along the way." - Nick Profeta

"I'm thankful for our heavenly intramural sports program because it keeps me active, physically and with the university. It's a two-fer." - Dan McClain

"I'm thankful for the great experiences I've had...both professional and personal." - Darnell Cadette

What are you thankful for? If it's a student org, your school/department, Gelman or Eckles, your favorite Colonials team, give your senior class gift online now here and direct it to that place. Remember - every little bit counts!