Suzanne Louise Dantzler, my oldest daughter, graduated summa cum laude from Central Washington University Saturday. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with specializations in Marketing Management and Finance. She also minored in Economics. (Now that is a mouthful.)

She accomplished many things in the last 4 years. Two of the highlights are:

·         Purchasing a condo to live in while attending college and renting rooms to others to subsidize her living expenses.

·         Starting an organization, Giving With Love www.giving-with-love.org , that collects textbooks that bookstores won’t buy back from students, posting and selling them online, then donating to various organization to help improve the quality of life in developing countries and through the local Young Life program.

Graduating Day was full of memorable moments. Suzanne was bursting with excitement and pride. Friends and family sat right next to the fence and were able to see her smiling face as she entered the stadium. The view was perfect to see her and friends wait in line for their diploma. As her name was announced I blew an air horn to express my overwhelming pride while those around me cheered. She spread her arms high over her head with diploma in hand as she sprang down the ramp – a college graduate.

A fun and exhilarating moment for Kayla, my daughter, and I was a trip to Safeway to buy flowers and a balloon.  After Suzanne received her diploma I realized I hadn’t bought flowers. When I mentioned this to Kayla she suggested we “run” to the store to get some. (I was very touched by this gesture, Kayla is a great sister!!) So with only 3 rows of graduates left to receive their diplomas off we RAN to the car and then to the store. We were exhausted by the time we reached the car, Kayla and I strategized the best route to take, talking traffic lights into changing to green quickly. When we arrived at Safeway, I ran into the store and grabbed the flowers and a balloon, while Kayla got into line. While she was in line I gave her the items and ran to the car to pick her up. We parked the car back at the stadium and ran back to our seats near the fence, out of breathe but just in time to see the end and watch the graduates throw their caps into the air!!  We were both still breathing hard as we presented the flowers and balloon to the new college graduate.

After the ceremony, Suzanne had a party at her Dad’s house on Lake Tapps. The party was great with many family members and friends attending. A few special guests included: her fourth grade teacher, Pat de la Torre; her 2^nd cousin Wayne from Nashville with his step daughter Kinsey; and a childhood friend, Brianne with her mom and sister.

At the end of the party after the gifts were opened and most of the guests had left, Suzanne had some advice to pass on to her cousin Tyler. She said, “Just so you know it is much more profitable to graduate from college then high school.”

Suzanne has had two interviews and is hoping to hear some positive news from one this week.

Suzanne was highlighted in the local newspaper and in the college newsletter this quarter to read more go to: http://www.cwu.edu/~relation/pr-june5-08.html