Graduate plans two big events

CSUB student's marriage, commencement same day.

Filed: June 15, 2001

By TIM BRAGG
Californian staff writer
e-mail: tbragg@bakersfield.com

Kelly Small was planning one of the biggest events in her life for Saturday.

But because of a slight calender oversight, she'll be getting another one of those life-changing ceremonies on the same day.

Small had planned her wedding to fiance Jeremy Shirley months in advance.

But Small, a Cal State Bakersfield student, didn't realize that it would also be the same day she would graduate from the university.

"I've been going to college for the past 10 years, so I really wanted to go to graduation ceremony," Small said.

Small is a candidate for graduation in the university's psychology department.

She looked at last year's academic schedule and thought the graduation would be a week earlier.

But a look at this year's academic calender showed this year's date would be different.

Even though the two ceremonies are planned for the same day, Small plans to go through with both.

As soon as she returns from the graduation ceremony Saturday morning, she will take off her cap and gown and start the hours of primping and preparing for her wedding.

Fortunately for Small, the graduation ceremony starts at 7:45 a.m. Her wedding is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., giving her a window of time to prepare.

"A lot of my friends and professors say I'm crazy," Small said. "But I didn't want to cancel the wedding after having planned on it for so long."

The day will be hectic, but having the wedding on the same day as the graduation ceremony has its upside.

Small's family members are traveling to Bakersfield from Michigan to witness the wedding. Some plan on attending the graduation, too.

"There's no way that my family could have seen me graduate if they weren't already coming for the wedding," Small said.

Small is among 1,453 candidates for bachelor's degrees and master's degrees who are looking forward to the culmination of their hard work this weekend.

CSUB will confer degrees at four commencement ceremonies, one for each of the university's academic schools.

The CSUB School of Education will kick off the commencement ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. today in the Icardo Center.

he ceremonies Saturday kick off at 7:45 a.m. when the School of Humanities and Social Sciences celebrates its commencement at the CSUB Amphitheater.

The School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering celebrates its first commencement at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Icardo Center.

The School of Business and Public Administration rounds out the commencement ceremonies in Icardo Center at 6 p.m. Saturday.