Photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
Last Wednesday, Feb. 8 marked 90 days until the 2017 Commencement. As part of the Countdown to Commencement series, the campus Graduation Committee sponsored Grad90—a Spring kick-off event in the Bradley Center honoring graduating seniors.
Grad90 was an opportunity for students to support the men and women’s basketball teams in their games against Rutgers-Newark, all the while celebrating the fast approach of graduation.
Starting at 5 p.m. in the Bradley Center, graduating seniors were invited to a pre-game celebration where pizza and beverages were served. Prior to the women’s game start, students lined up to record video and photo messages to be showcased on the Jumbotron at the Prudential Center on May 11.
The women’s basketball team won, 47-43—after it was tied up 42-42 with just one minute and 45 seconds left in the game. Their game was followed by a brief intermission where students could congregate in the Bradley Center lobby and stuff their faces with sweet treats. There were cupcakes, cookies, muffins and other snacks. Seniors also picked up a raffle ticket for a seniors-only raffle during half-time.
Moments before the men’s basketball game students were informed that the college had been closed for the next day due to pending inclement weather, adding to the seniors' sense of excitement.
The men’s basketball game began and gave reason for plenty more cheering throughout the rest of the night. During half-time, seniors checked their tickets to see if they won an Alumni package or a commencement photo package valued at more than $100. Also at this time, graduating seniors from Ramapo sports teams were recognized for their performance as student athletes throughout their time at Ramapo. A total of 28 seniors that participated in baseball, dance, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, soccer, softball, men and women’s swimming, men and women’s track and field and women’s volleyball were individually called to walk across the court and shake the hands of the athletics staff.
“It feels great to be honored as a graduating senior for the swim team,” said Cara Housel, a member of the women’s swim team. “Swimming has been an essential piece in my overall experience at Ramapo and to have the school, my peers, the athletic staff recognize and take time to put together an event for us is really special. It’s a small but sweet gesture on their part and I know I speak for a lot of other athletes when I say we couldn’t have achieved what we have without their hard work as well so it was not only recognition for us but them as well.”
The event ended with the men’s basketball team winning against Rutgers-Newark, 87-64. Several other Countdown to Commencement events are planned for the upcoming months as graduation quickly approaches.
aduke@ramapo.edu
