Winter commencement 2010

Hundreds of graduating students, their family members and friends crowded into Sam Carver Gymnasium on the campus of Western Washington University Saturday for winter commencement.

Hoyt Gier, a vice president with Goldman Sachs & Co. in Seattle, was the ceremony's main speaker. He is also immediate past president of the Western Washington University Foundation and a member of the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Approximately 556 undergraduates and 40 master’s candidates received degrees in winter quarter.

Winter commencement’s student speaker was graduating senior Alexis Aippersbach, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree with two majors, Marketing and Spanish. A graduate of Seattle’s Roosevelt High School, Aippersbach plans to travel to South America or Spain after graduation to gain work experience abroad.

Graduates and their family and friends during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Woodring College of Education graduates wear apples on their mortarboards, or caps, during Westen Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard greets the graduates and guests during Western's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Sgt. Jason Graham of the United States Marine Corps, walks to Sam Carver Gymnasium for WWU's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. In his own words, Graham say he "chose to wear my uniform to graduation because I wanted show my love and appreciation
University Marshal Daniel Larner, president of the WWU Faculty Senate, gives the opening remarks during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for
The family of a graduate from Canada proudly waves the maple leaf during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Hundreds of graduates and there friends and family gather outside of Sam Carver Gymnasium following Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Graduate Michael George with his mom Sue George, left, and grandma Donna George following Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Family members of graduates wave to them during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Chris Kong dances while wearing "water wings" and a "float ring" after receiving his degree in business administration during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of
1980 Western Washington University alum Hoyt Gier gives the commencement address Graduates during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Gier is the Vice President of Private Wealth Management a
Simone Ott and her fellow College of Science and Technology classmates, prepare to receive their degrees during Westen Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photograph
President Bruce Shepard and his wife Cyndie congratulate the graduates as they process out of Sam Carver Gymnasium during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
(from left) Friends Rhea Fernandez, Kevin Li, and Adam Wetzsteon, before Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Danielle Courtney hugs a family member as she walks toward Sam Carver Gymnasium for Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Jonathan Gipaya leads his fellow fine and performing art graduates into the Western Washington University 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gym. Behind is Andrew Barringer who sang the National Anthem and the Alma Mater during commencement. Photo
Tammy Statkus waves to family and friends as she enters Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Family and friends welcome their graduates as they walk into the Western Washington University 2010 Winter Commencement. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Student speaker Alexis Aippersbach, who now has a degree in business administration, addresses her fellow graduates during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayn
Rachel Newton and Matthew Huddle read the program as they wait for all the graduates to take their seat during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
The Dean of the Graduate School, Moheb Ghali, tells President Bruce Shepard, behind, that the graduate degree candidates have met the requirements for their specific degrees, during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gy
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard greets the graduates and guests during Western's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Thomas Yum receives his degree in business administration from President Bruce Shepard during Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement at Sam Carver Gymnasium on March 20, 2010. Photo by Rachel Bayne of Bayne Photography | for WWU
Sgt. Jason Graham of the United States Marine Corps, walks to Sam Carver Gymnasium for Western Washington University's 2010 Winter Commencement on March 20, 2010. Sgt. Graham joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and has three months left to complete his obliga