Winner blends passions for both science, music

Tucson High Magnet senior Cathy Tran may be an award-winning science researcher, but don't be fooled. The 18-year-old can rock the steel drums, too.

Refugee from war-torn Somalia has ultimate goal of being doctor

When Aden Abdi first arrived in the United States at 9 years old, he and his family had hopes of a better life, education and success.

Share your graduation photos

Seniors Kylie Jarufe, left, and Briauna Johnson relax on the football field after graduation practice for Catalina Foothills High School. The ceremony begins at 7:30 tonight.

Share your graduation photos

• Share your graduation photos and tweets in real time. Tag your Instagram photos and tweets with #tucsongrad, then go to live.azstarnet.com or our mobile app on your phone to see them on the live graduation blog under "mobile extras."

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Creative-writing major Jacqueline Vito, 21, captures the moment on video with her iPhone as she enters the stadium before the 2013 University of Arizona spring commencement for undergraduate and master's students at Arizona Stadium.

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Claudia Diaz Combs photographs mortarboards of fellow students before they become graduates. More than 6,000 degrees were awarded Friday.

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Long lines form to enter Arizona Stadium before the 2013 commencement, which was last held on the football field in 1972, in an era when much of the technology used Friday was unheard of.

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Graduates Eddie Khav, bottom left, and Aishan Shi, bottom right, form the letter "A" with the help of Jonathan Wan while Eric Cascketta, standing, enjoys their high jinks.

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Family members and friends in the stands found ways to show graduates on the football field their support. Several signs here are meant to get the message to a graduate named Anthony .

Class of '13 send-off feels 'like a concert'

Every new University of Arizona graduate had a chance to see his or her smiling face on the Jumbotron on Friday night as commencement returned to Arizona Stadium.

Memories of the horror of 9/11 already are fading

As seen from the New Jersey Turnpike near Kearny, N.J., smoke billows from the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Too often, visitors now treat the memorial built on the site as a playground.

Senior to graduate with canine trainee at her side

Alyssa Gallagher is training Bismarck to become a guide dog. Bismarck will join Gallagher at NAU this fall.

Senior to graduate with canine trainee at her side

A Tanque Verde High School student will be bringing a special four-legged guest to graduation tonight.

Students who didn't pass AIMS can't walk in Tucson Unified graduations

After hearing emotional pleas from students and parents, the Tucson Unified School District denied a request to allow seniors who did not pass AIMS to walk in graduation ceremonies tonight.

Pima Community College to graduate record number of students

A record number of Pima Community College students will graduate on Thursday, the school said.

Hope outlasts all regret as Drew graduates UA

Fran Donnellan celebrates with her son, Drew, at the UA College of Fine Arts graduation ceremony. Drew, while a 16-year-old student at Salpointe Catholic High School, was paralyzed in a gymnastics accident six years ago this weekend.

Hope outlasts all regret as Drew graduates UA

Gym monitor Kayla John helps Drew work out at the UA. Regular workouts have helped Drew adapt his body since the accident.

Hope outlasts all regret as Drew graduates UA

Drew's gymnastics career came to an end on May 12, 2006, after he over-rotated on a flip and landed on his head.

Hope outlasts all regret as Drew graduates UA

At Craig Hospital in Denver, Drew learned to operate his motorized wheelchair by blowing through a tube.

Hope outlasts all regret as Drew graduates UA

UA sophomore Hunter Kroll and Drew Donnellan study for finals at the UA's Center for Disability Related Resources. Drew completed his college career with a media arts degree and earned all A's and B's, with a single C, and has thrived on his independence.