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URBANA — This year's commencement ceremony was held Saturday, May 31, at the Tryon Festival Theatre in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Hundreds of family members, friends, faculty, and well-wishers turned out to congratulate the 64 new graduates as they ended their careers as Uni students and officially began their journey as Uni alums.

Speaking of alumni, much-accomplished Connecticut attorney Frank H. Finch Jr., Class of 1949, returned to Urbana to receive the 2008 Max Beberman Distinguished Alumni Award. Student speakers were Micah Berman, who delivered the welcome address, and Zoë Schein, who gave the farewell. Social studies teacher Billy Vaughn gave the commencement address, while chemistry teacher David Bergandine delivered the benediction.

Social studies teacher Chris Butler and Spanish teacher Jenna Finch presented flowers to the graduates as Assistant Principal Sue Kovacs read their names and rising senior Adam Tiouririne read brief final words from each.

One of the highlights of the ceremony came in the form of a class video, produced by classmates Berman, Schein, Chris Nixon, and Julian Hartman.

Look for photos of the ceremony later this week. Here, photographer Anna Gooler takes us "backstage" with the soon-to-be graduates as they get ready for the big event.

ANOTHER VIEW: BACKSTAGE AT COMMENCEMENT '08

Erin Hayes makes sure everything looks just right. Erin will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Gargoyle photos by Anna Gooler (click to create your own slideshow)

Andrea Park helps Julian Hartman. Andrea is going to Amherst College; Julian will be heading to the University of Chicago.

Rachel Hurley applies some finishing touches. Rachel will take the year off before going to college.

Zoë Schein tries on her cap. She is one of four '08 grads who will attend Grinnell College.

Jennifer Roloff makes an adjustment as Jie Han looks on. Jennifer will attend the University of Michigan, while Jie will venture to the East Coast to attend Wellesley College.

Andrea Park will join her brother, Justin Park (Uni '06), at Amherst.

Eunice How will attend the University of Washington at Seattle.

Samantha Nguyen is another member of the Class of '08 heading to the East Coast. She will attend Boston University.

Ruth Welch decorates her cap, a commencement tradition. Ruth will spend next year in Mexico on a Rotary International Youth Exchange. When she returns, she will attend Dartmouth College.

The artistic Aliisa Rantanen will study industrial design at the University of Notre Dame.

Bhaskar Vaidya receives some help from Lucy Zhang. Bhaskar will study mechanical engineering at UIUC, while Lucy will attend Duke University.

Some students were extra creative.

Jamie Weiser will attend Kansas State University.

Jamie helps out Carl Zielinski, who will attend the College of William and Mary.

Madeleine Garvey, left, and Michelle Gao work on their caps.

Madeleine, the third Garvey sister to graduate from Uni, will attend Grinnell College.

Michelle will study business at UIUC.

The matching MGs, ready for commencement.

Madeleine talks with Ethan Stone, who will spend next year in Belgium on a Rotary International Youth Exchange. When he returns, Ethan will study civil engineering at UIUC.

Linda Song displays her sketchbook featuring the Garvey family van ("Garvan") as it might appear in "Transformers." Linda will study public health at the Johns Hopkins University.

From left: Madeleine Garvey, Joe Leigh, and Chris Nixon look at Linda's sketches. Joe will study computer science at UIUC, while Chris will study engineering/computer science, also at Illinois.

Zoë Schein doesn't seem to be in a hurry as she talks with Assistant Principal Sue Kovacs.

Karen Woodley will study linguistics at UIUC.

Madeleine and Joe.

Katie LaPointe gets some assistance from Rachel Hurley.

Katie will attend UIUC.

Larissa Pittenger will attend the University of Chicago.

Sarah Pfander, left, will attend Oberlin College after she spends a year in Israel. Jessica Stark will study chemical engineering at Cornell University.

Zoë Schein, still taking her time, joins Sarah and Jessica.

Linda Song checks her cap.

Michelle Mehnert and classmates still have a few things to do. Behind Michelle are Chumar Williams and Adriana Black. Chumar will study community health at UIUC, and Adriana will study health sciences at Saint Louis University.

Michelle helps Jie Han.

Michelle will study civil engineering at UIUC.

Dedicated thespian Michelle Gao is ready for her last appearance as a Uni student.

Zoë Schein and Carl Zielinski mug for the camera. Eventually Zoë donned her gown, much to the relief of her classmates — she was, after all, the farewell speaker.

Emily Chu waits for the ceremony to start. Emily will study international relations at UIUC.

Happiness is an imminent graduation. From left: Carl Zielinski, Ethan Stone, Emily Chu, Aliisa Rantanen.

Samantha Nguyen and Michelle Gao talk as the 3 p.m. starting time nears.

Counting down.

Katie LaPointe's cap says it all.