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There were six students in ��ƷSM����ӰƬ’s first graduating class, in 1882. At commencement 2017, Friday, May 12, the university honored nearly 6,300 students — more than 4,600 undergraduates and 1,600 graduate and professional students.

Commencement is a big day for all graduates — and important enough to Chidobe Awuzie (Mgmt’16), the 60th overall NFL draft pick, that he skipped his first day of pro football camp to walk in the Folsom Field ceremony. In fact, despite the demands of also playing Division I football, A wuzie finished his degree in just three-and-a-half years.

��ƷSM����ӰƬ’s 2017 cohort also included the largest Air Force ROTC commissioning class in the nation and 10 students who earned straight A’s every semester, among all manner of other standouts.

In addressing the graduates, Kate Fagan (Comm’03), ESPN writer and former Buff basketball star, offered a thoughtful take on how to assess one’s circumstances at any given phase of life.

"Life is best when your ‘should’ and your ‘want’ are aligned,” she said. “When they're divergent, ask yourself why."

Photos by Glenn Asakawa and Casey A. Cass��