Update:  Pics are up at Flickr.  I’m even in one (they’re from my camera).

A (very) partial list of classmates and friends graduating:

Honore Bray:  The Library School Alumni Association Student Award

Katharine Chandler:  Congrats and Good Luck in Philly Kasey

Matt Cordial:   Social Justice Award.  Summer II when I start (hopefully) trying to learn XSLT I’ll be calling Matt.

Julia Derden:  Jane 
B. and Robert B. Downs Professional Promise Award

Kirk Hess

Maggie Hommel:  Herbert Goldhor Award for Public Librarianship  Birthday verse.  Thanks for being you Maggie! 

Lisa Hyder:  One of the LEEP students I got to know more recently, over dinner.

Katherine (Katie) Kopchok:  "Madame President" of ACRL@UIUC. 

Beth Larkee:  Ms. User Services, I’m glad Beth is also staying for a CAS.

Annette Lesak:  Anne M. Boyd Award (Beta Phi Mu).  Annette and I started together Summer 2004.  We were in a small group together in our very 1st class and are still friends.  I am so happy she’s hanging around to do her CAS.

Michelle Maloney:  Bryce Allen Award for Reference Services

Angela Maycock:  2005-2006 Masters Student Representative to the Faculty, Co-supporter of justice for all in LIS education (Thanks again partner!  I get to take a class with Pauline starting tomorrow.  I just might start bouncing like Tigger if I’m not careful!), and All-Around Cool Kid.

Mary Miller

Kyle Naff:  C. Berger Group Entrepreneurial Promise Award

LeAnn Suchy

Karin Suni:    Good luck in Philly Karin!

Richard Urban:  Jane B. and Robert B. Downs Professional Promise Award.  Richard blogs at Musematic, among other places, inhabits interesting cultural spaces, and I’m happy he’ll be here for a while longer working on a PhD.

Candle Marie Wester-Mittan:  Small group member and still likes me after I dumped about a pint and a half of syrupy lemonade in her purse and on her cell phone.  Yeah, not one of prouder moments (although accident, not intentional).  Best, Candle!

Virginia Weil:  One of the very 1st LEEP students that I got to know, over coffee.

August 2006 Grads

Jonathan Chepenik

Parmit Chilana

Elizabeth Marie Edwards:    This young woman is always inspiring!  Hell, she got me up on rollerskates and thus to my Rollerblades.

Kristin Schar: 

Perry J. Trolard: 

Ph.D.

Keren Moses Joshi:  Literate Attachments in a Multilingual Kindergarten: A Case Study.  May 2006

I broadcast Keren’s LIS409LE Storytelling via LEEP Spring 2005 while I was taking Betsy Hearne’s Storytelling on campus.  It just further added to the experience of storytelling education.

and to so many other graduates here and elsewhere … Congratulations!

NOTE:  I could talk about these folks (and so many more) for quite a while.  You have all influenced me in some important way and hopefully a few not so important ways.  Time to post.