Seniors Salute Years Spent at UCSD

Christine Clark | June 9, 2008

More than 330 people came to this year's Senior Salute event.

Porter’s Pub was packed with graduating seniors eager to sign the Class of 2008 Plaque at the fourth annual Senior Salute Thursday evening. The Alumni Association hosts the event to congratulate the graduating class as members take the next step to becoming alumni and to give them the opportunity to leave their mark on the class plaque before it’s installed on Library Walk.

More than 330 came to this year’s event according to Alumni Affairs intern Yao Leung.  Leung helped coordinate the celebration and was thrilled with the turnout. "This is one of the most revered traditions UC San Diego has," she said. "It has really grown and a lot of students look forward to it every year."

Students lined up outside Porter’s Pub to be one of the first 250 seniors to receive a complimentary beverage and commemorative cup. Inside the pub, they ate, mingled and reminisced while watching the Senior Salute slide show on the big screen.

Senior Taryn Huhn said she was looking forward to the celebration throughout the week. "I had my last class today," she said. "It feels good to be done with school, but graduation is bittersweet."

Former A.S. President Marco Murillo also said he was excited about the event. "I think this is a great way to end the year,” he said. “It’s fun to hang with all the graduating seniors. I am really looking forward to graduating and walking in two weeks.”

Graduating seniors Marco Murillo and Emma Sandoe sign the class plaque of 2008 at Porter's Pub.

The Senior Salute officially kicked off its 'Party at the Pub' in 2005, according to Student Foundation Manager Nicole Parker, ‘05. Parker said the tradition is especially memorable for her. "I helped plan the first Senior Salute when I was an intern at Alumni Affairs," she said. "We wanted a lot of seniors to come to the event and celebrate the class plaque so I said, ‘Let’s make it at the pub.’ It is a fun tradition and it is very popular."

One of the events’ highlights was a speech from graduating senior Mary O’Connor. She had submitted her speech to the Alumni Association and it was selected because of its sincere message, according to Student and Alumni Programs Manager Brittan Trozzi, ‘01.

O’Connor, a native of Ocean Beach, reflected on her experiences studying abroad. She spoke about how she originally wanted to go to college on the East Coast, but that her best years in college were spent at UC San Diego.

"The friendships I have made here have changed my life," O’Connor said. "I, like most undergraduates, don’t know what I’ll be doing over the next several years, but thanks to everything that I have done at UC San Diego, I am certain that I will have a fulfilling future."

Students can continue to celebrate the Class of 2008 Plaque when it will be installed at 2:30 p.m., June 18 on Library Walk.