Another class of seniors will walk across the stage on Alumni Lawn and receive their diplomas during Vanderbilt's Commencement ceremony on Friday. Vanderbilt has had a plethora of talented senior classes, and the Class of 2012 is no exception.
Athletically, the class will go down as one of the most accomplished in school history. Since stepping foot on campus in the fall of 2008, the graduating class has claimed a total of five team and individual SEC titles. Academically, the list of accomplishments is even more impressive.
The Commencement ceremony gets underway at 9 a.m. CT on Friday and can be viewed online, by clicking here.
But before the seniors could depart campus, VUCommodores.com caught up with a number of them to discuss their future plans and reflect on some of their favorite memories.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: After the 2010 SEC Championship, when we came really close to winning it as a team and I won the individual championship.
Favorite professor: Cherrie Clark - Marketing and Investment Analysis
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Anxious
Favorite place on campus: Right next to Calhoun Hall - garden next to it that's really pretty
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My team
What does it feel like to be graduating: A little weird - I've been in school my entire life, so not having to go to school anymore is going to be different.
Plans for next year: Hopefully be involved at Under Armour in Baltimore, but no job offer yet.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Rites of Spring weekend my freshman year.
Favorite class: Criminology with Professor Woods
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: SAE house
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The friends I made here and all being in the same place.
What does it feel like to be graduating: I don't feel old enough to be graduating from college. Its a little scary to go into the real world and create new routines and make new friends. I'm excited to get started on a new chapter in my life though.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: My freshman year, the whole move-in weekend where they help you move in everything for you. It's where I met everyone.
Favorite class: Joan Forry, philosophy professor - Ethics in College Sports
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: McGugin Center, because I spent so much time there.
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss college golf the most - being around the guys, competing, and playing in awesome places like Pebble Beach.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It's a big accomplishment, definitely feel some pride. It was a big challenge and I got through it. It's a little scary, because I don't know what's next, and a relief - that piece of paper is going to do some good things for me.
Plans for next year: Graduate school at Villanova University for human resource development
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: This year watching AJ Austin secure a spot for us in the NCAA Tournament by winning a marathon match against LSU at the SEC Tournament.
Favorite professor: There are lots of great psychology professors but my two favorites are Randolph Blake who taught perception and David Zald who taught personality. It's always easy to stay engaged and have fun when the professor is really passionate about their material. Although, it doesn't hurt to have an interesting class topic.
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
Favorite Place on campus: I actually have a few. I love the Biomedical Library, lots of natural light, great for study. Buttrick Hall is my favorite building, I would have all my classes there if I had the choice, and the tennis locker room. It was a safe haven for me my entire time at Vanderbilt.
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Friends and teammates more than anything. I got to see them everyday, but with moving back in the home direction, it will have to be planned out and coordinated to see them.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It feels like it's time to move to the next stage of life. I will definitely miss all the people and experiences Vanderbilt had to offer. I feel very fortunate and I'm grateful for my time at Vanderbilt.
Plans for next year: Professional soccer for the Philadelphia Fever
Favorite class: Women and Humor in the Age of Television
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The fact that all of my friends were in one place. There will never be another time that all of my friends are a 15-minute walk away and I will miss that.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It feels surreal. I swear I was just a freshman yesterday.
Plans for next year: I plan to take a year off of school to pursue my bowling career. I plan to go back to graduate school in the fall of 2013 for a masters in sports administration.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: I have sooo many good memories from Vanderbilt that it is hard to choose just one. Being a part of the 2011 runner-up team and bowling with my teammates on ESPN was an amazing experience that I won't ever forget. Also being on a team that bowled a baker 300 game in 2011 was incredible.
Favorite professor: My favorite professor at Vanderbilt was definitely Professor Tobey, who works in the HOD department. She was amazing and I have a really good relationship with her.
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: Peabody campus, everything about it
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I am going to miss all of my teammates. We have become a family and leaving all of them is going to be really hard.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It feels amazing to be graduating. I am excited to get onto the next part of my life and see where it leads me. However, I am going to really miss Vanderbilt and everything about the school, the bowling, and the city of Nashville.
Degree: Psychology with a concentration in research and cognition
Plans for next year: I will be working at Uniformed Services University Health Science (USUHS) / National Institute of Health (NIH) as a research assistant in an eating disorders laboratory.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Hugging my cross country teammates on the finish line after hearing that we won the Southeastern Conference title (fall, 2011).
Favorite class: My freshman writing seminar, surprisingly, was my favorite class: America in the 1960s.
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Closure (that offers new beginnings)
Favorite place on campus: Brueggers
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My coaches, my team, my friends, walking through campus in the mornings, running in Centennial/Percy Warner Park, eating at Divinity Café, going to football games, feeling like an accomplished student, locker room dance parties, and (of course) the city of Nashville.
What does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet is the word that most people (myself included) associate with graduating. I feel content and refreshed to create a hard-earned, successful future ahead of me. As both an athlete and a student, I could not have asked for a better, more rewarding experience at Vanderbilt. I feel as if Vanderbilt's community has prepared me for the future challenges life has in store. Overall, I can only describe my emotions as a blend of happy, sad, excited, and scared but most importantly, optimistic and ready.
Degree: Human and Organizational Development and Pre-Med
Plans for next year: Working at Epic Healthcare Systems in Madison, Wisc.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: The team pre-season camps in Natchez Trace State Park
Favorite class: HOD 1700: Systematic Inquiry with Professor Van Schaack
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: Wyatt Lawn (especially in the fall and spring)
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Friends and teammates
What does it feel like to be graduating: It's very exciting to be graduating and starting a new job, but it also sad because I will be leaving the friends I have made over the four years. I had a great experience here at Vanderbilt and will definitely miss it.
Degree: Special Education with a minor in Cognitive Studies
Plans for next year: Graduate school at Northwestern University for speech and language pathology
Favorite professor: Andrea Capizzi in Classroom Management
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Ecstatic
Favorite place on campus: Iris Cafe. Yum!
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My team
What does it feel like to be graduating: It's a little sad to be leaving Nashville, but I am overwhelmed with excitement to be moving to Chicago and starting a new journey.
Degree: Human and Organizational Development, and Sociology
Plans for next year: Teach For America in the Nashville area.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Beating Auburn in 2008.
Favorite professor: Dr. Laurie Woods
Favorite place on campus: THE Frat House
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The diversity of people from all over the world.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It feels amazing to have graduated from a top-tier institution. I was completely motivated and endorsed by my parents in every step I took. I am honored and eternally grateful to call them my family.
Degree: Bachelor's in Computer Science and Math, Master's in Computer Science
Plans for next year: Work at Real-Time Innovations in Sunnyvale, Calif., as a Software Engineer
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: The first dinner at Cafe Coco with the rest of the seniors on the cross country team at the beginning of our freshman year.
Favorite class and/or professor: My favorite class was Introduction to Computer Animation and my favorite professor was Professor Aniruddha Gokhale
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Anticipation
Favorite place on campus: Alumni Lawn
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The opportunities, with regards to both learning and to social activities/experiences.
What does it feel like to be graduating: It's both scary and exciting at the same time. I can't wait to start my life out in California, but it's very sad to be leaving my friends and my home for the past four years. Vanderbilt has prepared me so well to make it on my own after graduation, I just wish I didn't have to leave so much of what I love behind in Nashville!
Plans for next year: Waiting to hear back from a children's hospital and Xcel Energy back in Denver for a human resources position.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Cafe Coco night with my seven best friends.
Favorite class and/or professor: Favorite class = Small Group Behavior. Favorite professor = Professor Trank
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Exciting
Favorite place on campus: Commons
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The seven seniors from the team.
What does it feel like to be graduating: Awesome - Vanderbilt gave me so much to enter this world with, it will be sad, but I am looking forward to a new beginning.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Passing my fitness test freshman year. Almost died. Thank you Emily Grant for yelling obscenities at me to get me through.
Favorite professor: Dr. Peggy (German)
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Ready
Favorite place on campus: My room
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Soccer
What does it feel like to be graduating: Starting a new chapter of my life.
Degree: Medicine, Health and Society (major) and Corporate Strategy (minor)
Plans for next year: To complete my master's degree in Medicine, Health and Society through the MA (4+1) Program, while completing my last seasons of cross country and track and field eligibility.
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Being a part of the 2011 SEC cross country championship team
Favorite class and/or professor: Medical Ethics (class) and Cherrie Clark (teacher)
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: The high top tables in the Buttrick Hall atrium
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Being able to see my best friends whenever I want.
What does it feel like to be graduating: Surreal. I can't believe four years has passed this quickly. I am sad that it is over, but I have many great memories to look back on and an exciting future to look forward to.
Degree: Psychology, with pre-med requirements on the side
Plans for next year: Play professionally
Favorite memory from Vanderbilt: Paint war on Highland Quad lawn as part of a friend's bachelorette party, and beating UT in Knoxville, 4-3, to advance to the Sweet 16 in NCAAs.
Favorite class and/or professor: History of Rock for class and Howard Sandler for professor.
One word to describe your feelings about graduation: Nostalgic
Favorite place on campus: Stevenson roof at night
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The people I got to see around every day.
What does it feel like to be graduating: Intimidating; I'm not sure I'm ready for the real world, but my career at Vanderbilt has taught me to adapt quickly to the circumstances and roll with the punches. Leaving this campus' nest will just be another challenge I am ready to accept.
