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Members of the GW community packed the main atrium of the 100-year-old train station to drink, eat and dance to covers of classic songs such as "Shout" by the Isley Brothers. Monumental Celebration is an annual post-graduation event featuring music and food as well as novelty acts such as clowns and caricature artists. Flanked by parents and siblings, graduates roam the station in formal dress during their last night as GW students.
University officials estimated that 2,300 people attended the event Saturday night - about twice as many as last year.
"It's really nice that they have this celebration in addition to the formal (graduation) ceremony," said Kathy Pape, mother of graduate Elizabeth Trinkle. "It's nice because there are all kinds of people in all kinds of dress. It's a good mix."
Tracy Schario, director of Media Relations, said the University sold-out of 1,800 tickets by mid-April, and subsequently decided to rent out another area of the station to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend.
"We are extremely pleased," Schario said. "It is twice as big as last year and everyone who wanted to attend was able to."
The University rented three separate rooms, each with its own atmosphere and live band. While some people danced to an upbeat cover band in the main hall, others slow-danced to a jazz quartet in an adjacent room. In each area, hors d'oeuvres and dessert dishes lined the tables in addition to the many cash bars.
"I've been all around the world and there is nothing like (Union Station)," said John Mooney, grandfather of a recent graduate. "It's really a tribute to the United States."
Mario Gutierrez, who graduated in a Saturday afternoon ceremony, has been taking online classes for his masters in clinical research for the past several years. He and his family drove from Cincinnati early last week for Commencement and Monumental Celebration.
