By: Alionie Georges
Server handing out mocktails to graduating students. Before graduation day Hood College hosts a Luau for family and friends to celebrate their graduating students.
Jadah Watkins closes the door to her car. Students arrive early to their graduation ceremony to avoid graduation traffic.
Jadah Watkins cheekily poses as she walks towards the ceremonial hall. Her graduating class comprised 491 students, 260 undergraduate students, and 231 graduate students.
Simone Whyte (center) and her two sons Levi(left) and LJ(right) leave their home to attend Jadah's graduation. The graduation was held at the Hood College quad at 10 AM.
Lesandre Whyte (center) and family enter the car to head to the graduation. Jadah's family from New York flew down to join her during this joyous day.
Simone Whyte and family arrive along with many other attendees at the graduation parking lot. Over 1,000 friends and family were in attendance for the graduation ceremony.
President Andrea Chapdelaine enters the graduation ceremony. She is the last individual to enter the graduation ceremony after faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
Lesandre Whyte joins daughter Jadah Watkins to take memorial pictures of Jadah in line during the entrance of the ceremony. The students passed family and friends before they took a seat before the commencement speeches.
Jadah Watkins looks back towards waking family members during the graduation ceremony. Traditionally students must stand during the Hood Brass Quintet and the Invocation prayer.
Deeiona Richardson waves to family members as she walks towards the stage. Richardson was in the same orientation group as Jadah Watkins when joining Hood College.
Jadah Watkins checks in attendance and placement before being able to walk on stage. To ensure accurate reading of the graduating students, Hood College assigned seating for their students before the ceremony.
Hood College staff, pass out drinks to students during the hot graduation ceremony. With no shade present the 78-degree weather felt like 90-degree weather.
Jadah Watkins waves to family members after walking off stage.
Jadah Watkins's family members wait for Jadah's arrival after the end of the graduation ceremony. With the number of people, it took 20 minutes for the family to join together.
Naba Fawzi celebrates graduation with friends after the ceremony. Fawzi is also an undergraduate student at Hood College.
Hood College mascot Blaze applauds the graduating students after the ceremony. Blaze, made his debut in a surprise flash mob performance at the end of the traditional Convocation ceremony in 2010.
Jadah's family members search for Jadah in the crowds of students.
Jadah Watkins searches for family members in the crowds of family and friends. Friend Zakiyyah Allsup (left) made a surprise appearance at the graduation.
Jadah Watkins takes pictures of family members who traveled from all over America. Family members from New York, Florida, and Maryland traveled to be in attendance.
Melvin Rodriguez, Jadah Watkins's finance takes her picture in front of her department building. The Tatem Arts Center is home to the Hodson Gallery, the Avalon Performing Arts Studio, ceramics, and other art studios, and education and foreign languages classrooms and faculty offices
