IU organizations celebrate seniors

The DeVault Alumni Center was a hub of celebration and farewell Thursday as the IU Student Alumni Association and the IU Alumni Association sponsored their annual Senior Salute.

Graduating students lined up for free food and gifts while organizations like the IU Career Development Center and IUAA signed attendees up for programs, services and memberships. Many school officials were in attendance as well, offering their own well-wishes.

Senior Heather Schaefer, president of SAA, was one such official.

“It’s about us giving back to the seniors, our way to say ‘Congratulations,’” Schaefer said. “But it’s also our way to kind of spur them on the cusp of graduation, to think about being involved as an alumnus.”

Although Schaefer was there both as an event organizer and  graduating senior, she said she found time to celebrate and was excited by the turnout.

“As president, I get to do more of the outward-facing things,” she said. “I want to make sure my peers have a good party. I can eat ice cream while I’m signing people in.”

The event kicked off at 4 p.m., and Schaefer said hundreds of students were lined up outside.

By 4:45 p.m., representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences, who were passing out T-shirts, had run out of their supply.

Assistant director of Alumni Relations for the COAS Vanessa Cloe said the school set up a booth to inform students of the services the university offers following graduation.

“This is a great wrap-up event for seniors,” Cloe said. “It’s a nice send-off, but also our way of saying ‘Don’t forget us.’”

Senior Patrick Casey battled the long lines for food and prizes. He went last year with a roommate and said he returned this year because he wanted his own IU memorabilia.

“I’m here for three reasons,” he said. “One, I came for my graduation mug. I came to see Tom Crean, and I wanted the free food.”

But it was about more than gifts and food. Students spent much of the afternoon reuniting with each other.

“I’ve been surprised by how many people I know,” Casey said. “It’s been nice to reconnect with people I haven’t seen since freshman year one last time before we all graduate.”