College Years: My Graduations and Thesis Defense

Undergraduate Commencement

On December 16, 2001, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and written communications! This college degree was ten years in the making (many delays due to health problems), so it was an especially special day and a big achievement.

We had a great party to celebrate my undergraduate commencement. People came from all over and sent flowers and cards to mark this occasion that was so many years in the making.

My Mom ordered a cake with a photo of my first day of kindergarten and the words "Well Done Sandy!"

I (very nervously) gave a speech at my party. You can read my speech here.

Grad School!

My Master's Thesis Defense took place on January 29th, 2004. It was amazing and stressful and really cool! I will never forget the feelings from the day -- being nervous, excited, daunted, happy, and feeling really supported by the profs who have so wonderfully directed my academic growth. What a day! Here are some photos of me with my thesis advisor and me with my full thesis committee. (My thesis was about the Rubik's Cube.)

On April 25, 2004, I graduated with a Master's Degree in Mathematics! Graduate school goes by so fast -- especially compared to my undergraduate education, which took ten years because I was delayed due to medical problems. I was completely finished with graduate school less than 20 months after I started. Fast...and very intense. But, the thrill of surviving and thriving in graduate school in unmatched.

A note from the graduate (April 2004)

Thank you to everyone who supported me during my graduate school experience. Thanks for the e-mails, phone calls, celebrations after my successful thesis defense, and everything. It hasn't been easy...but I made it!!!

                                                       Sandy