Graduation

Our Family:)

Whew... we made it!!  On May 18th, Chris officially graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST), and we couldn't be more thrilled.  Chris has been through some great discoveries, learning experiences, stresses, and some hardcore studying at MST, but it was definitely all worth it because now he is a nuclear engineer!!  Some of his most frustrating/hard classes and experiences through MST were Calculus III, Statics and Mechanics of Materials (mainly civil engineering based courses... and Chris is definitely not into civil engineering), and dealing with a certain, unnamed classmate who was constantly interrupting teachers and thought he invented nuclear engineering himself (for any specific stories, just ask Chris.  He has some crazy stories about this guy).  Some of his favorite classes and experiences were Power Plant Systems, Radiochemistry, Radiation Measurements (notice they are nuclear engineering courses, not civil engineering:)) and working on his Nuclear 308 project: Neutron Flux Profile Mapping of the MST Reactor Beamport (which was hard work and a math intensive project, but with a great reward... his overseeing professor was so impressed with his work and results that he told Chris he would like to publish his research and findings).  MST was definitely a tough school and Chris probably did more studying there than he ever thought possible, but again, it was worth it to get to where he is today.  And a little shout out to his hard work:  he graduated with a 4.0 on all classes within his major and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.55 GPA overall (Smarty McSmarter Pants).  And he received the best graduation present a week before, the birth of our baby boy:)  Congrats to Chris and all his hard work, we're so proud!!  (Chris and I wanted to thank everyone who attended:  Mom Nina, Carl, Justin, Uncle Kevin K. and Aunt Vonnie, Uncle Kevin H. and Aunt Pam, Grandpa and Grandma Koch, Grandpa and Grandma Swisher, Dad David, Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary-Ann, Mom and Dad Owens, Christine and Kathryn, and Richard).

P.S. Mitchell did great through the whole two hour graduation ceremony; he slept through the entire ceremony, which was hard to believe since the auditorium was not air conditioned and it was 100 degrees in that place.

Sharing in the moment: Uncle Kevin, Grandma and Grandpa Koch, Uncle Kevin H.
and Aunt Pam, Sarah, Mom (Nina), Carl, and Justin.  Not pictured is Aunt
Vonnie (she was taking the picture).

I love how Chris is a whole head taller than everyone else.  You
could definitely find him in the crowd:)

Four generations of Swisher men: Chris with his dad, grandpa, and son.

Proud mom and dad

Proud grandparents Koch and Swisher

The pressure is on, setting Mitchell up to follow in his dad's footsteps:)