Welcome friends and families of the Class of 2008 for a weekend of ceremonies and the all-university commencement procession down Mount Oread into Memorial Stadium Sunday.

This weekend, Rachel Huffman will graduate with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. Among many other efforts, she has logged time at the Lawrence Community Shelter, where she assists with housekeeping duties and strives to improve life for the homeless.

A KU Endowment Meritorious Scholar, Ryan Rowan will graduate with bachelor's degrees in political science and African and African-American studies. He is also one of 10 graduating seniors honored with Chancellor's Awards.

The campanile, one of Mount Oread's best-known landmarks, was built as a memorial to KU family members who died in World War II. This year, about 4,000 graduating students will pass through it on the way to Commencement, as their counterparts have since 1951.

During his time at the University of Kansas, Erik Nelson researched why — despite the risks — people talk and text on cell phones while driving cars. His well-publicized study has shed an important light on drivers' hazardous cell phone habits.

Before, she translated Arabic for national security purposes. Now, Jennifer Garrison is earning a bachelor's degree in linguistics and focusing on a career as a speech-language pathologist.

Dighton senior Nick Weiser will graduate at the top of his class with a bachelor's degree in classical piano performance and carry the School of Fine Arts banner at commencement May 18.

Betty Amos (back left) earned her bachelor's in special education in 1970 from KU and went on to a 30-year career in education. Flash forward 40 years, and Amos has reached the Mount Everest of academia: the doctoral degree.