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</p><p>There was an excited buzz of conversation surrounding the Campus Store Complex as hundreds of graduating seniors queued up聽Mar. 8-9, 2023聽for GradFest. The annual event was created to help graduates get everything they need in time for May commencement ceremonies.</p>
<p>In addition to ordering caps and gowns, grads could peruse聽memorabilia like class rings and diploma frames, as well as聽decorate the sashes that go over their gowns.</p>
<p>Lines snaked throughout the bookstore as the future alumni waited to make their purchases. They also聽geared up to take the first of many graduation photos.</p>
<p>鈥淚t was very eye-opening because it doesn鈥檛 feel like I鈥檓 going to graduate in a few months,鈥� said Joshua Laxa, graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology.鈥� The crowd and decorations made it feel real,鈥� Laxa said.<b>聽</b></p>
<p>To offer in-person guidance, vendors such as Herff Jones and PrideSash set up laptops for students to order their caps, gowns, sashes and more.</p>
<p>Representatives from GradImages were there to snap professional photos of smiling seniors dressed in graduation regalia.聽The photos were then聽available for online purchase.</p>
<p><b></b>聽鈥淚t was convenient having everything in one place, especially since I was confused about where to get my graduation stuff,鈥� said Anthony Lopez, who will graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in broadcast journalism.</p>
<p>Those who took advantage of this annual two-day event could do more than shop.<b>聽</b>They could also<b>聽</b>ask questions about the commencement ceremonies, learn more about alumni association benefits, take photos and more.</p>
<p>Students who did not attend can still find a list of vendors and campus partners on the <a href=" website.</a></p>
There was an excited buzz of conversation surrounding the Campus Store Complex as hundreds of graduating seniors queued up聽Mar. 8-9,...