CCS Graduation '07!
Saturday saw the graduation of the very first class of The Center for Cartoon Studies. There was a commencement with guest inaugural speaker Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts; live accordian music; and a lovely cast of graduates with lively spirits and a truly awesome body of work behind them. The group of 18 cartoonists spent the last two years paving the way for future classes, helping the school work out some of its kinks and rough spots, and every class to follow will be grateful.

A few of them have some work up at I Know Joe Kimpel.com that you can preview and purchase, and the I Know Joe Kimpel blog is up and running with posts from their class and mine.

Some photos of the commencement events:




The commencement ceremony was held the Briggs Opera House in downtown White River Junction, just a block from the school, due to the rain. It was a nice, cozy little venue, and comfortably held everyone's family, with everyone able to see the stage.


This is the only picture I have of our year's dapper Fellow, Gabby (Ken Dahl) Schultz, in which he is not flipping me off. He was recognized during the ceremony, but not to the extent that I would have liked to have seen. Thanks Gabby for all of your time spent with us!


This time I wasn't the only jerk with a camera in everyone's face.


The graduating class of 2007 at The Center for Cartoon Studies. Congratulations guys!

I have a bunch more photos on my flickr account, including half a dozen different versions of the above photo.



The above image is one of my favorites - Andrew has that smug, mischievous grin but Emily just doesn't care.

The main faculty was awarded with signed cards drawn by some of the class members. on the left is co-director Michelle Ollie, next to Steve Bissette (instructor extraordinaire) in the middle, and on the right is co-director James Sturm.


It was a spirited afternoon, with the public invited to the school to join the students, their families and the faculty at the school for the senior's thesis exhibit.


Xeric winner Sam Gaskin enjoys his accomplishments, and looks smooth while doing so.


Everyone cleaned up nicely, I must say.
Despite the constant drizzle, the cool breeze was comfortable, and I felt the afternoon was a classy and calm end to a great year. I hope it was nice for the senior class and I wish them well.


That evening a few of us celebrated at the India Queen, ending in a night at the school playing ping-pong. The way it should have been.




More pictures at my flickr page.