UIUC Commencement 2010
With the end of classes for the school year comes the graduation ceremony for those who have done their time. The robes here are blue, somewhat like the CAMS ones, with the sleeve style being the main distinguishing factor between the BS, MS, and PhD versions. I was surprised to see that even the MS and the PhD robes are blue instead of the usual black, but the sashes for the graduate students (they have them for MS as well as well as PhD) are very similar in color and style to the Caltech sash.
Commencement is one of those times when the sheer size and influence of the student population sticks out even more than usual. The local public transportation system has been posting congratulatory signs on all of the buses for the past week. Commencement itself seems to be drawn out over three days instead of just the one at Tech, probably with multiple ceremonies to keep each one to a reasonable time window. Even with the partitioning, it's still crowded enough that graduates are lining up to have their photos taken at school landmarks like the Alma Mater statue.
People decked out in long robes can been seen all over campus surrounded by family as they revisit familiar haunts and pastimes (saw a few trying to play Frisbee in robes) before leaving for the last time. Best of luck to all of them as they move on to the next phase of their lives.