Spent some time shooting Grad Ceremony at Culver Acad. in northern Ind. this June

[mereimage]

Its a private prep school about 35 miles south of S. Bend In, and is surrounded by miles of corn fields on the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee.

Its symbol is the Culver Eagle

http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/23682051-M.jpg

http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24949983-M.jpg

The school has alot of interesting architecture, the most celibrated is probably the chapel

http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/23682053-M.jpg


http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/23682061-M.jpg

its large stained glass window
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/23682068-M.jpg

http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/25389821-M.jpg

the steeple
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/23682097-M.jpg

The grad ceremony is a long standing tradition-over 100 years for the cadets and close to 30 yrs for the girls. it starts with the band marching onto the field
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24949990-M.jpg

then there is a processional - first the graduating coeds
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24949994-M.jpg

followed by the cadets
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24949997-M.jpg

then the color guard enters
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950005-M.jpg

http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950013-M.jpg

the Grd coeds are acknowledged and recieve diplomas
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950032-M.jpg

The graduating cadets then march forward as their names are called- but first they stop and salute the Culver flag for the last time
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950043-M.jpg

go forward and recieve their diploma from the Head of Schools
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950048-M.jpg

Salute and receive congrats. from the Commandant of Cadets
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950050-M.jpg

and pass thru the Iron Gate which is up only 2 days a year, immed. after grad it is crated up and stored for the next year-only graduating cadets are allowed the honor of passing thru it(notice it is backwards), new cadets enter the school thru it (forwards ) during a fall ceremony
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950056-M.jpg

The emotion of the day
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950077-M.jpg

The turning over of command the next years Regimental Commander
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950064-M.jpg

This is followed by the tossing of the 'covers', they are no longer cadets
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950086-M.jpg

The ceremony ends with the retreat of the Colors till next fall
http://mereimage.smugmug.com/photos/24950106-M.jpg

Its quite a moving ceremony and a fitting conclusion to the demands these kids are under for four very challenging years.....................................

Thanks for your indulgence, if these long 'story posts' are not appropriate please let me know/////////Mereimage

[Dee]

I almost feel like I was there too. Great color, excellent exposure too! And a nice report of this very important day for the graduates.

[mereimage]

I will be there for a few more of them. Its a UNIQUE school with the only remaining calvary mounted unit in the US. I will post some shots of the troop, color guard, and drill team in the future, i felt this post was long enough.
....................................Mereimage