Welcome to the “real world” class of 2012, there’s no spring break here, Chancellor Boschini said.

Although the ceremony honored graduate and doctorate degree recipients, Chancellor Victor Boschini geared his remarks toward the 1,173 students receiving their bachelor’s degree. Amidst the sea of undergraduates were 256 graduate and 31 doctorate students, which marked the largest graduating class in the university's history. 

In a prepared speech, Boschini said that graduation marks a time when students will transition from college to life outside of campus—which for many means no more money from mom and dad.

While Boschini praised the students for their accomplishments, he also extended the congratulations to the parents in the audience who would no longer be financially burdened by their son or daughter.

Boschini condensed most of his advice into droll snippets such as, “most babies and student loan payments come due in about nine months.”

But the looming real world did not hamper the excitement of the graduates or their friends and families who packed the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum to its 7,156-person capacity.

Occasionally, a foghorn could be heard somewhere in the audience and energetic applause punctuated each recipient’s name. Silly string, beach balls and confetti covered the floor after the nursing school celebrated their graduation.

TCU’s commencement ceremony was divided into two sessions. The morning session honored graduates from the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, College of Fine Arts, Neeley School of Business and the master of liberal arts graduate program.

In the afternoon, graduates from the College of Communication, College of Education, College of Science & Engineering, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Brite Divinity School walked across the stage.

Rev. Angela Kaufman, the university minister, closed the ceremony with a prayer acknowledging the difficulty of the road before the graduates as well as the capacity of each graduate to reach their fullest potential.

“Let us now go out and change the world,” Kaufman said.