Our U of I Graduate

Ammon graduated from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho on Saturday, May 14, 2022 with a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Business. His girlfriend Gabbie also received her Bachelor's Degree the same day from the College of Medical Sciences. Thankfully, both of their colleges had their commencement ceremony at the same time (there were two different ceremonies that day); their graduation was held at 2pm at the Kibbie Dome on the U of I campus. 

It was a crazy weekend for us when he graduated: we'd gone to Kanyon's district track in Idaho Falls on Thursday. Josh had driven the team there on the bus, so we were able to spend the night at the hotel with the team after picking them up on Thursday evening when they were done for the day. He drove them back to the district meet on Friday morning, and then he left with me in my car. Kanyon's coaches wouldn't let him leave, even though he didn't have any events on Friday, so we left him there and asked a teammate to drive him home that night after they got back to Salmon. We picked up Micah in Idaho Falls, who'd gone with the ward youth to the temple activity that morning. Then we drove all day Friday to get to Moscow, and spent the night in Palouse, Washington at a small Air BnB, just a few miles outside of Moscow. On Saturday morning, we went to brunch in Moscow with Ammon, Gabbie, and Ammon's friend before heading to the commencement exercises at noon. After the graduation, we went to an outdoor BBQ held by some of Ammon & Gabbie's friends, and then went back to our Air BnB for the night. On Sunday morning, we took Ammon to breakfast before Josh, Micah, and I drove south, headed for Boise where Jonah had state golf the next day!

Ammon was on the Dean's List all 4 years of his college duration, and was a member of the U of I Fraternity of AKL: Alpha Kappa Lambda all 4 years as well. He was even their vice-president during his sophomore year. He started his college years living on-campus in a dorm room, then moved to the fraternity house the second semester of his freshman year. He lived in the fraternity house his sophomore year, until COVID hit, and then he moved home and did online schooling (as mandated by the University). He lived in an off-campus apartment his junior and senior years. Post-COVID years were harder for him, as some of the classes remained online, and some in-person. There was a lot of regulations that the college enforced, such as random COVID testing, and testing sewage for COVID which resulted in entire buildings being quarantined for certain lengths of time. It wasn't as enjoyable for him as a result, but he never gave up and continued to work towards his business degree, as well as being a part of the golf program there. 

University of Idaho has the only golf program of all the Pacific Northwest colleges. Ammon really enjoyed being a part of their program. He had a summer internship every summer, as required to become a Golf Pro, and the college's golf department helped him find places to go. His first summer he interned in Boise at SpurWing Country Club and he lived with his friend Tim, which was fun for him. After his sophomore year, he interned at Bronze Buffalo Sporting Club at Teton Springs outside of Driggs, Idaho (during the COVID-protocol summer). His 3rd internship was at Columbine Country Club near Denver, Colorado. During the summers, he also worked on passing the PAT (Playing Ability Test), which you have to shoot a certain score on 18 holes of golf play. He passed it on his 2nd attempt. He also worked at the golf course on campus his last two years of college in the spring and fall. He graduated with a degree in Operations Management (with the professional golf management emphasis) and a minor in Marketing from U of I, but after he finishes his final internship (a 7 month one which he started this fall in Scottsdale, Arizona), he will also be a certified Golf Pro. 

After Josh, Micah, and I arrived at Kibbie Dome after noon on Saturday the 14th, we found Ed & Kathy (Josh's parents), and made our way inside. I randomly picked where we sat, which ended up being right across from where Ammon sat with his Business College in the area below us, which was such a blessing! As per the University's tradition, the graduating class members paraded across campus, led by a bagpipe band and the professors. The procession was being videoed and was broadcast on 2 large screens placed above the stage area, so we watched them from where we were seated. It was raining outside, and several of the students held umbrellas; the others (including Ammon) chose to just get drizzled on. We searched the video for Ammon, but never saw him. However, we did spot Gabbie once!

There's Gabbie holding the umbrella!

When the procession reached the Kibbie Dome, the graduates paraded in, and we finally spotted Ammon!

The professors, who had been walking ahead of the graduates in the parade, then formed a line and congratulated all the graduates as they passed by them on their way to their assigned seats.

We were so delighted to discover that Ammon's seat was straight across from where we were seated in the bleachers! 

He looked SO happy!

Gabbie was seated 3 sections over from us, but we still had a straight shot of her, too. Her family was seated on the opposite side of the stadium from us, so we never saw them until after the ceremony ended.

The commencement speaker was a retired journalist who is now a professor at U of I. He did a fantastic job, and I really enjoyed his speech about how the pandemic has affected us all, and changed our world, but how the students of U of I have forged on against the odds. Then the Masters Degree students received their diplomas, which took FOREVER. Finally, each college awarded their Bachelor's Degrees. The graduation had a live feed, so my parents got to watch, too, which was so nice that both sets of grandparents saw him graduate. 

After he got his diploma, he walked right by where Gabbie was seated (and thankfully she was seated on the aisle), and she stood up and hugged him. I loved witnessing that moment! It was so great they got to graduate together--they met their freshman year, and have been together ever since!

You can see her outstretched arms as Ammon approached her.

Then it was Gabbie's turn to receive her diploma from the College of Medical Sciences. By this time, however, Josh's parents left because they wanted to get back to Salmon by a decent time in order to sing in the church choir the following morning, so sadly they missed all the photo ops afterwards. Ammon was disappointed he wasn't able to talk to them while they were there.  

When it was all done, the graduates moved their tassels, and then confetti and streamers were released from above. The professors began the procession to leave the room, and then all the graduates filed out into the area outside of the dome. Thankfully, by this time, the rain had stopped. 

It was busy and crowded outside, but we were able to find Ammon, and then Gabbie. I gave them the chocolate/money leis I made them for graduation gifts, and we took lots of photos together. It was a truly happy moment at the end of a long four years! We were so proud of Ammon and for his perseverance to get to this point! He had a very successful college duration, and because of his hard work and good grades, he was able to make it through all 4 years without ever taking out student loans--an incredible accomplishment in itself! Although he wasn't awarded many scholarships when he graduated from Salmon High School (despite being a Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA), he received multiple scholarships from U of I while he was a student there, so his dedication paid off in the end. 

Our family (minus Kanyon who was at district track &
Jonah who was at state golf)

Gabbie's family (her parents, aunt, grandma and sister). 
Her youngest sister wasn't able to come, either.

We met some of Ammon & Gabbie's friends afterward, and went to a friend's BBQ that was at an outdoor park for a while, until it got too cold. It was a wonderful day and we were SO grateful that the commencement exercises were able to be held in person once again so that we could witness it!

2 of the newest U of I alumni!