A graduation party took over the UH Campus Store on November 15.
Graduating seniors had received an invitation through their e-mail to come by the first floor of the store to pick up or order their cap and gown, receive extra commencement tickets they had “won” through the lottery, and have some fun at the Graduation Celebration.
“I wasn’t going to come, at first, but my family was telling me, ‘Oh, you’re graduating, so you better go, you have to get everything ready,’” said Maria Beltran, human development and family sciences major. “It’s something special, being a first gen, I will be the first person in my family to graduate. Celebrating is just making it worth working, worth all the stress.”
Attendees immediately got in the groove due to the atmosphere created by the music played by the deejay — with the occasional Shasta growl mixed in. Seniors had an opportunity to express themselves at the cap decorating station and get a quick bite and drink at the food table.
“I appreciated it, because as a graduate, it was easy to access the different things that we need for graduation, such as, our cap and gown.” said Melanie Carreon Castillo, business marketing major. “And the food was also great!”
Also on hand were the Spirit Cord team, who handed out spirit cords and had set up a photo booth, and a representative from Herff Jones, the university’s commencement regalia vendor, who was available to take any needed orders or answer any questions. Throughout the day, door prizes and a total of $500 in UH Campus Store gift cards were randomly handed out to eventgoers.
“It’s a really great opportunity for students to just knock it all out at once,” said Timothy Jackson, Follett market leader for the University of Houston System. “This event’s really been taken over by Special Events. They also provided the food and the music. These are the things that we probably wouldn’t be able to do without her support. We’re able to make this event even cooler and more exciting.”
Special Event has organized the Graduation Celebration since spring 2023.
Art major Adiana Flores Orantes attended the event because as a first-generation graduate, she wants to celebrate all her accomplishments. The senior said the event was a fun experience and that she was glad that she decided to attend.
“We wanted to take it up a level — we wanted to give more and more to our graduates,” said Tonja Jones, executive director, Special Events. “We want to send them out to be excited about being University of Houston grads and alums.”