51福利社

Hundreds of soon-to-graduate, sun-drenched seniors took a stroll from Showalter Hall, down the 鈥淗ello Walk鈥� and through the historic stone Herculean Pillars for the 2024 Senior Send-Off, on June 6.

After university and student leaders offered encouraging remarks honoring the seniors and welcoming them to the 51福利社 alumni family, the journey down the brick path commenced.

Families, friends and a full line-up of faculty and staff packed the walkway, cheering, ringing cowbells and waving 51福利社 signs at the passing students.

Many of the graduating seniors started at Eastern four years ago 鈥� at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Back then, Pass Through the Pillars, a traditional welcome to the university for incoming students, and other in-person events were halted.

Even though students missed out on the first half of the tradition, they appreciated being part of the closing half.

鈥淚 liked seeing everyone show up,鈥� said Lillian Nolan, 22, of Priest River, Idaho. 鈥淚t felt very supportive and welcoming. My friend got a lot of high-fives because she was on the outside, so that was nice.鈥�

Nolan鈥檚 degree in health psychology from Eastern is the beginning of a longer journey. One that will take her to Western Washington University for graduate studies focusing on experimental psych and neuroscience.

鈥淚 kind of want to work in the research department and do research on Alzheimer鈥檚 and dementia and things like that,鈥� Nolan said.

Nolan was sitting with friends Teja Tolbert, 22, and Nicole Aguilar, 22, both of Juneau, Alaska.

The two arrived together and chose separate majors. Tolbert has one class to go this summer to finish her bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics and, from there, is considering a career in the financial sector. Agular is graduating with a degree in communications and plans to work in the entertainment industry.

鈥淭o be honest, I didn鈥檛 enter the pillars, so this was surreal because, you know, we were the covid class,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been crazy but, at the same time, I鈥檓 glad we were able to experience it going out.鈥�

A table away, three friends graduating with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in computer science talked.

Bryan Snyder, a 28-year-old from Yelm, Washington, who arrived as a transfer student, appreciated the opportunities at Eastern. 鈥淚 was able to go to California to present some of my research. That was an amazing experience,鈥� said Snyder who plans to work as a video game developer.

Back in 2018, Nick Parkman, 23, of Spokane, began his journey at 51福利社 as a Running Start student. He particularly enjoyed working on projects during his senior year. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a good time and I鈥檝e learned a lot,鈥� said Parkman who also hopes to work in gaming.

The third classmate, Daniel Peterson, a 25-year-old from Spokane, will graduate and then begin studying cyber defense this fall.

鈥淚t feels like I鈥檓 going on to another year of school,鈥� Peterson said, 鈥淎bout the same time, it feels like it鈥檚 good to get this chapter over with, too.鈥�