A Well-Earned Celebration

I’ve been to a lot of graduations in my time. With six kids and thirteen grandkids (and a lot of luck!), there’ve been plenty of opportunities. Over the years I’ve seen just about every kind of ceremony imaginable - everything from kindergarten and first grade to high school, college, and even a graduate degree or two. Each one has its own special meaning. Whether the cap barely fits a five-year-old or is perched proudly on a college senior, it’s always worth celebrating.

Of course, graduations are about more than just the ceremony and the party afterward. Each one represents years of effort, persistence, and determination. There are challenges along the way, obstacles to overcome, and plenty of late nights and early mornings that most of us never see. Reaching that milestone takes dedication, and that’s something that deserves real admiration.

We’ve got a special occasion coming up, a granddaughter graduating this spring. It’ll be a wonderful day for the whole family - lots of smiles, proud moments, and maybe a few misty eyes. I plan on being very proud, in a grandfatherly sort of way.

Moments like that stick with you. And sometimes they inspire a little creativity in the studio. Recently I found myself thinking about graduation and this character, inspired by the colorful candies from M&M's - complete with cap, diploma, and a slightly surprised expression, as if realizing just how much work it took to get there!

In that spirit, here’s a big congratulations - and hats off - to all the new graduates out there. You’ve earned it.

God Bless,