Ying—China, England, Missouri

Many people wear mortar boards at this time of the year. But only one of them is Ying. My First Wife and I love Ying. We’ve known her for four years. Already?! She came to the US for college at the tender age of 17. Alone.

Ying speaks impeccable English—with a British accent. She lived in England for several years where her father was a Chinese government diplomat. While she’s been in the US, she’s made two trips to visit her parents “back home” in Beijing, China. Alone.

This Saturday she graduated—Summa Cum Laude , thank you very much!—from the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC). Next semester, she’ll be at Purdue University to study for a PhD in Pharmacy. Alone.

Ying’s very brave and determined, and quite a lot of fun, too. It’s been our blessing to be a tiny part of this beautiful and special young woman’s career.

And, oh yeah...doesn’t she makes that "hat" look good?

Terrissa—Kansas

While I was in the park with my granddaughter recently, Terrissa came and sat in the grass for her photographer. They were doing their homework for a photography class: a portrait that captures everything special about the subject (Terrissa). They let me take a couple of photos, too. Nice girls.

Terrissa is wearing that hat because she loves country music. And she wears it often. As we can see, she’s also into laptops, guitars, and K-State Powercats. Most of all, she knows how to put on a real pretty Kansas smile.