In a few weeks, more than 1,000 students will take the long awaited walk across the stage to become A&T alumni. On May 13, the annual spring commencement ceremony will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum.

For many students, commencement is the culmination of four or more years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to A&T. It is the moment when students officially make the transition from being in Aggieland to becoming a part of the real world.

For many future alumni, graduation will mean that the all-nighters in Bluford Library and frustrating professors that they have had to endure for the pastcouple of years will finally come to an end.

One would think that the final semester of an undergraduate student would be a cakewalk, but that is completely the opposite for some.

“I feel that I am working much harder in my final semester just to get out of A&T than I have in the past few years,” said Kevin Prichard, a psychology major. “It is a lot of work coming down the tunnel in addition to worrying about all of my graduation obligations.”

Christopher Hayes, a sociology major shares similar sentiments.

“I am glad to be getting out, but I still do have a lot to focus on and finish up before I get out of here,” said Hayes.

A pending concern for most students after they graduate is to find his or her first job.

“I have a few options lined up for after I graduate, but I am still weighing some of them out,” said Todd Martin, a chemistry major.

“I plan to go to the service corps for about a year, and then go on to graduate school and enter into my profession,” said Hayes.

This year’s commencement will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will broadcast live via the Internet on the university’s Web site.

As a reminder, all graduating seniors must have satisfied all academic and financial obligations to the university prior to commencement. They may pick up their caps and gowns from the bookstore starting on May 1.

Any students graduating with honors may pickup their chords from the Office of the Registrar starting on May 8.

In the tradition of such luminaries as Tom Joyner and James Earl Jones, this year’s keynote speaker for the spring commencement will be Alphonso Jackson, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Jackson is an expert on public housing and urban issues, who has served on numerous national and state commissions.

Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education administration from Truman State University. He has also received his law degree from the Washington University School of Law.

• Jeuron Dove