Celebrating the Graduates

This weekend I was able to go to Stillwater, Oklahoma to celebrate my nephew, Braden, graduating from Oklahoma State University with his Bachelor's degree in Architecture. Melissa and I worked half a day Thursday and then we headed to Dallas to stay with Mason and Grace for the night before heading onto Stillwater. 

On Friday, we arrived in Stillwater around lunch time. Shawn had work in El Paso, so he flew into Tulsa, where Braden picked him up. Melissa and I grabbed some lunch and then headed to the RV park where my parents were staying. I stayed there while Melissa headed to Braden's apartment. We all relaxed for a bit before getting ready to head to the pinning ceremony.

Braden receiving his pin.

Braden and Lakin

Lakin was on the Pinning Ceremony Committee and she and Braden created a slide show with information regarding each graduate. These are their slides:

 

Proud family!

After the ceremony, Braden and Lakin took us to the architecture building to show us around.

We visited the gallery where we were able to view their final project, Spatial Ecologies, a collaborative group project. This is the first project that Braden and Lakin were able to be on the same team. Their project, along with all of their classmates projects, are in the running for the prestigious Baumiller Prize which honors the legacy of Professor Baumiller, a highly respected professor who believed deeply in improving society through urban design, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. We then toured the studio where they have spent so much of their time working on projects over the past few years. 

Braden and Lakin explaining their project. 

We ended the evening celebrating at Stonecloud Brewery with Lakin's mom, best friend and her fiance as well as one of their classmates. Fun times!

On Saturday we got up, got ourselves ready then went and hung out at Braden's apartment before getting ready for the graduation ceremony that started at 7:00pm. While we were there, Braden and Lakin received an email informing them that their team was selected as the 2026 Baumiller Prize winners and they were awarded the $5,000 team prize for their outstanding work. Yay!!! What an incredible honor! 

The Baumiller Prize team winners!

Prior to the ceremony, we documented the momentous day with a few pictures. :)

Proud parents!

Dad, Braden and Mom

Proud Aunt!

The Key/McAnear families.

The architecture graduates.

Getting ready to graduate!

 

The bagpipes played at the beginning of the ceremony

Ready to walk across stage

Lakin

Go Pokes

Braden

After the ceremony.

Sunday morning, we headed to Edmond, OK for a graduation luncheon that Lakin's mom, Erin, and Melissa held to celebrate the graduates. 

Lakin and Braden will be moving to the Dallas
area where they both have secured a job with
architecture firms.

Braden and Lakin with their grandfathers.

 

Me and my momma.

After the luncheon, we headed back home. It was such a great weekend spent with family and friends, celebrating Braden and Lakin and all of their hard work and achievements. We are so proud of them and can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

Soccer Banquet/Prep Baseball

Today was a busy day for the Hood family. Today is School Nurse Day and I received flowers from Shane and the boys. 

This evening, Tomball Memorial had their Spring Athletic Banquet. All the players, their families and coaches met in the cafeteria where we all enjoyed Chuy's for dinner. 

After dinner, we all split into separate rooms based on individual sports. Only 6 of Camden's JV soccer team mates showed up for the soccer banquet.

After the banquet, Shane and I headed to the Farm League to catch Casen's 8:00 high school prep baseball game, where his team won.

I am so glad we were able to catch both boys events this evening!