Chapter 75

Again, I don't own any of these characters

The next morning, Cody and Bailey were up early. After showering and changing into semi-dress clothes, they headed to the hotel to meet their families again. With such a large number of people, they told everyone to be ready by seven thirty figuring it would be closer to eight by the time everyone was ready to leave. Well, they were wrong, and it was closer to eight thirty. Everyone had to hurry to get over to campus and to the brunch. Between the Pickett and Martin families, they took up quite a few tables, and each table held twelve people. Cody and Bailey were at a table with Zack, Cassie, Sarah, Kurt, Arwin, Carey, Ellie, Bailey's grandmother, Maggie and Joe.

Finally, the brunches were served as the University President took the stage.

"Welcome to the Class of 2014, families and friends. The Class of 2014 includes over 1200 students. As you can see, there are not that many people here this morning. The ones of you that are here have been nominated for distinctions and honors, so that is what we are going to do today..."

The first several awards we handed out to those graduates who excelled on the field of competition as well as the classroom. The next awards were given out to those who had shown great contributions to the betterment of the campus and community. Those were followed by awards given to those contributed the most to expanding diversity on campus.

"Our next award is the Amanda Walton Award. It is given to an outstanding member of the senior class who best exemplifies quality of courage, strength of character and high moral purpose. The winner of the Class of 2014 is...Miss Bailey A. Pickett..."

Everyone at the tables began applauding, none harder than Cody, and Bailey got up to accept the unexpected award. Along with it came an honor cord to wear for graduation. Bailey shook the President's hand as she accepted the award and had her picture taken.

"Next, we have the James Andrew Haas Prize. It is awarded annually to that member of the senior class in Yale College whose breadth of intellectual achievement, strength of character and fundamental humanity shall be adjudged by the faculty to have provided leadership for his or her fellow students, inspiring in them a love of learning and concern for others. The winner in the Class of 2014 is...Cody M. Martin."

Cody was surprised and stood up as everyone began applauding him, no one more than Bailey. Cody walked to the stage for his handshake with the President and picture while receiving the award. It too came with an honor cord to wear at graduation.

Next came the awards for the individual colleges such as humanities and creative arts. Soon, they would be getting to the awards in social sciences and natural sciences, both categories Cody and Bailey were eligible for.

"The next two awards we will knock out at the same time. First is the Arthur Twining Hadley Prize. It is awarded to the senior in Yale College majoring in the social sciences who ranks the highest in scholarship. We have a tie this year, and the winners for their majors in Economics are Bailey A. Pickett and Cody M. Martin, both graduating with perfect 4.0s. Further, Miss Pickett and Mr. Martin have also won the Russell Henry Chittenden Prize. It is given to the senior in Yale College majoring in natural sciences or mathematics who ranks highest in scholarship. Both Miss Pickett and Mr. Martin were also Biology majors, and again perfect 4.0s...And in case if you are wondering, they are engaged and getting married next month..."

Cody and Bailey both stood up again to more applause. Both were happy to get the awards, and both again went up to receive them. This time, they took a group photo with the university president as they received the awards. Returning back to their seats, they whispered to each other.

"Congrats, Bails!"

"You too, Codykins!"

"I guess Bill was right..."

Cody and Bailey sat back down and their families congratulated them again as they passed around the awards for everyone to look at.

"Our final general Yale College award is the Alpheus Henry Snow Prize. It is awarded to that senior who through the combination of intellectual achievement, character and personality, shall be adjudged by the faculty to have done the most for Yale by inspiring his or her classmates an admiration and love for the best traditions of high scholarship. And this year's winners is...Miss Pickett and Mr. Martin. In case you didn't know, they were the team that won the first ever Jeopardy College Team Tournament for Yale..."

Cody and Bailey again got up to get their award. By this time, both were feeling a little bad about winning almost everything. Okay, not really. They had busted their humps and were glad to be recognized for all their hard work. The real joy to them was being recognized together.

Finally, it came time for each individual department to hand out its awards. First up was African American Studies. Zack smirked and asked his brother how come neither Cody or Bailey won any of the awards there.

Eventually, it was time for the Biology Department Awards.

Professor Reed walked up to the podium. "I hate to sound like a broken record, but the Department of Biology awards will include familiar names. We hand out two annual awards, The William R. Belknap Prize for excellence in biological studies and the Edgar J. Boell Prize awarded to a senior for excellence in Biology. We have a tie for these awards, and the winners are Bailey A. Pickett and Cody M. Martin. In addition to these awards, Miss Pickett and Mr. Martin have automatically become members of the Biology Honor Society, Tri Beta and will graduate from our department with honor and distinction."

Cody and Bailey got up once again to a round of applause. The both shook Professor Reed's hand and had their picture taken with him. In addition, they were both given a red and green honor cord. Cody and Bailey returned to their seats with their new awards.

The next departments heads got up and handed out their awards. Everyone had to wait a little while as there were several departments that began with a 'C' and a 'D'. Finally, it was turn for the Economics awards. And to Cody and Bailey's surprise, it was Bill who took the podium.

"I'm Professor Bill Thomas from the Economics Department, and it is my honor to hand out this years departmental awards. The first two recipients I have had the privilege of knowing for the past three years. Not only are they two of the finest students the department has ever had and two of the finest people you will ever meet, my wife and I have had the honor of being their neighbors and landlords for the past three year. And yes...I'm talking about Bailey Pickett and Cody Martin. This year, they are the co-winners of the Charles Heber Dickerman Memorial for best departmental essays by seniors majoring in economic, the Louis F. Laun Award which is awarded to the senior majoring in economics for overall excellence in his or her program of study in Yale College, and the Ronald Meltzer/Cornelia Awdziewicz Award for outstanding senior essay in Economics. In addition, they have automatically become members of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the Economics Honor Society and will graduate with departmental distinction and honor. Congratulations, Cody and Bailey..."

Cody and Bailey got up one last time to accept their awards to a round of applause. However, this time, they both hugged Bill and got their picture taken with him. In addition, they were given a blue, white and gold honor cord.

When they returned to their seats, Zack turned to them again. "If you guys have anything more around your necks, you're going to look like Mr. T..."

Everyone sat and waited for all of the other departments to hand out their awards. By the time everyone was done, it was close to twelve thirty. Since Zack and Cassie were crashing with them that night, the four of them headed back to Cody and Bailey's apartment. They told their families they would meet them at the hotel at 2:30 so they could all head back to campus from there.

Once home, Cody changed into his new suit while Bailey changed into her nicest dress. Both knew their gowns would cover both of them, but they wanted to show the ceremony the respect they felt it deserved. Grabbing their caps, gowns and all of their honor chords, they all headed back out to the hotel. Once there, since their families pretty much took up a whole floor, they had Cody and Bailey put on their caps, gowns and cords so they could take pictures. And there were a lot of pictures taken. Finally, by 3:30, everyone had to cut it short so they could get back to campus. Cody and Bailey were dropped off at Cross Campus before everyone else parked and headed to Old Campus to get their seats. Fortunately, the weather was cooperating and it was a beautiful day.

Once gathered with the other graduates, Cody and Bailey had to go up to get their cards. The cards had their names and the degrees they were graduating with. Yale didn't actually pass out the diplomas at graduation; they would be mailed out to the graduates later. So, not having to be in alphabetical order, Cody and Bailey could sit together.

About a quarter till 5:00, all the graduates were lined up so they could begin the walk over to Old Campus. From across campus, they could hear the Yale Orchestra beginning to play Pomp and Circumstance. The column of graduates began marching, and Cody and Bailey marched in with them. They made the short walk to Old Campus and the graduates walked down the aisle between the two sections of seats for graduates. Bailey marched in front of Cody, and they split off to the right and stood in front of their seats. Once everyone was in, they were instructed to sit down.

Things were began with opening words from the University President. He addressed the graduating class and gave them some words of wisdom. Then he turned it over to the Graduation speaker. It was none other than former President Bill Clinton, Yale Law Class of 1973.

President Clinton is a natural born orator, so it was no surprise that he had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand. He gave an inspirational speech to motivate and encourage all of the graduates. When he was finished, he received a standing ovation from not only the graduates but from everyone in attendance.

Finally, it was time for everyone to cross the stage. Cody and Bailey were sitting in the middle, so it was going to take some time for it to be there turn. And fortunately, not all 1300 graduates showed up to walk for graduation.

After about an hour, it was Cody and Bailey's turn. Bailey was first.

"Bailey Anne Pickett. Miss Pickett is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology. She is graduating Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and with honor and distinction from both the departments of Economics and Biology. Miss Pickett is also one of our Albright Award winners."

Cody followed her.

"Cody Mitchell Martin. Mr. Martin is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology. He is graduating Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and with honor and distinction from both the departments of Economics and Biology. Mr. Martin is also one of our Albright Award winners."

As both crossed the stage to shake the university president's hand as well as the hand of President Clinton, they were showered with numerous whoops and hollers from their families in the crowd. Both saw numerous flashes going off, and both saw their Dads videotaping everything.

After returning to their seats, they waited for everyone else to go through the progression. Once everyone was through, the university president spoke again.

"Will all the graduates please rise..." After everyone did, he continued. "Your tassels are now hanging on the right side. Please reach up and switch them over to the left side. Congratulations! You are the Yale Class of 2014!"

With that, numerous graduates threw their caps into the air. Cody and Bailey did as well, but made sure to catch theirs – they wanted to save them as souvenirs. After the chaos calmed down, Cody and Bailey walked over to the family seats and noticed others who had shown up. There was Woody, Addison, London, Esteban, Francesca, Murray, Max, Tapeworm, Ella, Ty, Beth and Great Uncle Tommy. Cody and Bailey hugged each of them and thanked them for coming.

London spoke up and said that Wilfred Tipton had reserved an entire restaurant for everyone to celebrate at, so they should move the party on to it. Everyone did, and soon enough, everyone was in the restaurant celebrating. For everyone who was 21, a round of champagne was ordered, and Cody and Bailey were toasted for their accomplishments.

Cassie turned to Bailey. "You're college graduates now. What's next?"

Bailey smiled back. "Next...Cody's and my wedding!"

The End...

Author's Note: Senior Ditch Day is now up on Youtube. And yes...we finally get Cailey interaction again. I dare anyone to watch it and deny that those two weren't made for each other.