Jason's NCSU PhD Graduation

So we've been seemingly very busy and have gotten quite far behind on blog updates with my Graduation from NC State, the holidays, and just getting back to work.  Over the next couple of days I'll try to get us caught up.  Right now I'll start with my graduation. 
 After 5 and a half years working with Dr. Hawari, I finally completed my graduate work.  I had succesfully defended my dissertation in October titled "Examination of Nobel fission Gas Diffusion in Uranium Dioxide Using Atomistic Simulations," and now it was time for the Pomp and Circumstance.

  

NC State splits their graduation ceremonies into two parts.  The "big" part is held at the RBC Center.  This part of the ceremony is where all the commencement speeches are given and the Ph.D. Candidates are officially conferred their degrees individually. 

Here is me on the RBC screen receiving my diploma from one of the graduate school deans.  He played a master of ceremonies part in the ceremony, and I remember him being both British and quite unimpressed with any levity that was inserted into the event.  

Here is me coming off the stage.  Mom and Dad had quite the prime seats, and Melissa was able to really get a good shot of me right after receiving my degree.  

My diploma, thankfully everything is spelled correct.

Dad, Mom and Haley were all able to make it to Raleigh for the big event.  

 The second part of the NC State graduation is the departmental ceremony.  Here the Masters and Undergrad students are given their diplomas.  Here is Dr. Azmy the Nuclear Engineering department head speaking during the NE departmental ceremony. 

My adviser Dr. Hawari spoke on behalf of Dr. Murty to introduce the graduate degrees.  This was a big graduation for Dr. Hawari.  Not only did I graduate, but my colleague from Dr Hawari's group Brian Hehr also finished with his Ph.D. and my colleague Zoe Xiao received her MS. 

 Here are the graduates from the department of Nuclear Engineering that attended the ceremony along with the faculty of the department. 

It was great for Melissa and I to get a quick trip back to NC for graduation.  It was also great for us to see all our friends in Raleigh for the weekend.  For now I'm glad to be done with my graduate work and look forward to being a researcher at INL.