Education

NIU Spring Graduates Recognized For Achievements

Northern Public Radio | By Jessie Schlacks

Published May 14, 2016 at 1:10 PM CDT

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A student sports a mortarboard that reads, "Goal Digger."

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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A student takes a photo for two others while waiting for graduation ceremonies to begin at Northern Illinois University Saturday.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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Dana Beverly takes a photo of another graduate's cap while waiting for the undergraduate ceremony to begin Saturday morning.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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Spanish major Matthew Isaacs checks his phone while standing in line before the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate ceremony begins. Isaacs aspires to be a judicial interpretator or a foreign ambassador.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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Left to right: Jacob Cinfio, Justin Johnson, Sergio Vazquez and Nick Huggins -- all brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon -- enjoy each others' company before heading upstairs for the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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Gabriela Silva (left) and Andra Dobbel (right) sit and wait for the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate ceremony to begin Saturday.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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NIU basketball player and corporate communications major Darrell Bowie waits for the commencement ceremonies to begin.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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NIU Steel Band member and music student Carla Robinson plays the bass steel pans during Saturday's commencement ceremonies.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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President Doug Baker publically acknowledges Maria Colompos, who was an ROTC student at NIU. Baker said Colompos took 24 credit hours her last semester and maintained a 3.9 GPA.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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Ali Alhamdan stands up in the audience while holding his son Abdullah. Both were supporting graduate, wife and mother Hawra Alhussain. President Doug Baker acknowledged mothers, fathers and other relatives in the audience by having them stand.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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ROTC graduates Walker Steinke (left) and Shanell Walter (right) take a selfie after becoming officers during the NIU undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony on Saturday.

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

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The center cap reads, "I still have no idea what I'm doing."

Katie Finlon / WNIJ

More than 2,500 students were honored during the Saturday undergraduate commencement ceremonies at Northern Illinois University.

Friends, family, and relatives filled the stands of the Convocation Center for graduate activities.

NIU President Doug Baker acknowledged three students for what he calls notable achievements. ROTC graduate Maria Colompos was one of those students recognized for their accomplishments while attending NIU.

Three ROTC students, including Colompos, were recognized for becoming officers in the United States Army. All three are being stationed elsewhere, including locations such as Germany.

The NIU Steel Band performed in the commencement ceremonies for the third consecutive year.