School's out for...

5/16/2016 Taylor Tucker

Written by Taylor Tucker

 
Cantaloupe in the Ike carved like a jack-o-lantern for Halloween.
Cantaloupe in the Ike carved like a jack-o-lantern for Halloween.
Cantaloupe in the Ike carved like a jack-o-lantern for Halloween.
Good job everyone on making it through another school year!  I’d like to briefly address our graduating seniors.  
 
Congratulations, all of you.  As I hope you know, Alma’s plaque reads, “To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings.”  Your graduation will enter you into the camaraderie of children sending greetings to future generations.  Some of you will be staying here for grad school or work, but for the rest, if I were in your shoes I would be echoing Winnie the Pooh’s words: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” 
 
Here’s a short look back at things that happened during our school year:
  • Head football coach Tim Beckman fired
  • MechSE’s new M.Eng. program announced and welcomes its first class 
  • The Fighting Illini beat the Leatherheads 44-0
  • Espresso Royale opened in Grainger Library
  • Krannert hosted the guitar festival Elnora
  • Pygmalion 2015: Run the Jewels and Ride were headliners
  • September 27th: Supermoon eclipse
  • Illini football beats Nebraska for the first time since 1924
  • October 24th: The Illini lost to Wisconsin 13- 24 in the Homecoming Game
  • November 3rd: 70 degrees
  • November 13th: Friday the 13th
  • November 15th: France declared war on Syria following terrorist attacks
  • Mats Selen was named Professor of the Year
  • December 2nd: First snow
  • First week of January: RIP Natalie Cole, David Bowie, Glenn Frey 
  • Flint, MI declared to be in state of emergency due to contaminated water
  • January 31st: 60 degrees
  • February 2nd: Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow and predicted an early spring. This marked his 130th broadcast.
  • Illinois alum Josh Whitman was hired as the new Athletic Director
  • February 20th: 68 degrees and winds gusting 40 knots
  • February 29th: LEAP DAY
  • March 4th: Unofficial
  • March 6th: RIP Nancy Reagan, age 94
  • March 7th: Lovie Smith was hired as the head football coach
  • March 15th: Ides of March and the primary election
  • April 18th: 85 degrees
  • April 21st: RIP Prince
  • May 4th: Last day of classes
And now, on to summer!
 
Sunset near ECEB.
Sunset near ECEB.
Sunset near ECEB.
RC blimp flies through the Armory at E-fest in early February.
RC blimp flies through the Armory at E-fest in early February.
RC blimp flies through the Armory at E-fest in early February.
3D printed owl at EOH.
3D printed owl at EOH.
3D printed owl at EOH.
Flowers bloom on one of Illinois' numerous magnolia trees.
Flowers bloom on one of Illinois' numerous magnolia trees.
Flowers bloom on one of Illinois' numerous magnolia trees.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photos by Taylor Tucker.
 

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This story was published May 16, 2016.