UCI Grads Make ‘Extra Wild’ Exit to Strong Job Market

They blew bubbles, launched an inflatable bull skyward and tossed corn tortilla shells minutes before walking across the stage.

For many of the 3,700 UCI graduates, Saturday’s commencement was their last chance to behave like adolescents before entering the working world.

“I wanted to preserve my youth today,” said Ajay Shah, a computer science graduate adorned with a four-ring cellophane lei stuffed with candy. “I’m afraid of turning into an adult, so I went out extra wild today and yelled and chucked things.”

Of the five graduation ceremonies Saturday, the rowdiest bunch converged in the Bren Events Center, where graduates from the School of Physical Science and School of Information and Computer Science, also called ICS, were honored.

Jubilant computer science graduates performed the human wave once, twice, three times consecutively just as the last diplomas were being passed out. Some clumsily hugged their professors as they galloped off stage. Others hollered sweet nothings to their relatives in the stands.

“The ICS graduates usually are the happiest group,” said Ralph Cicerone, the dean of physical sciences, who will become UCI’s new chancellor next year. “Maybe it’s because of the thriving job market.”

Job opportunities in technology and computer science continue to flourish, so many UCI graduates already have landed high-paying jobs.

Shah, 22, will earn more than $50,000 as a computer consultant in Los Angeles.

Brett Gerry, 23, will work as a software engineer for a San Diego firm.

“The market is great,” Gerry said, beaming. “It was hard to make a choice among three offers.”

Calvin Chan, 21, who soon will start working as a technology consultant, struggled to pick from dozens of job offers. At one point, he was so deluged that he had to turn away phone calls from interested companies.

“I had no problems getting job offers and contacts,” Chan said between congratulatory hugs from friends. “I sent out my resumes and boom, they hooked me up.”

But not all graduates have secured jobs.

Reed Ballesteros, 23, will continue his search throughout the summer. Wearing a lei his sister made out of about 80 $1 bills folded into flowers, he said he is confident he’ll find something quickly.

“For now I just want to go home and relax,” Ballesteros said.

Job prospects are less certain for many nonscience graduates. Several surveyed at the social science ceremony said they planned to travel, live with Mom and Dad indefinitely or take any job to tide them over until graduate school.

“Finding a job is never easy,” said social science graduate Steve Pederson, 23, who will continue working in sales for a textile company.

Mia Enriquez, 22, wants to become a teacher. But first she needs to look into schools where she can earn her credential.

And Jeannie Young, 22, offered some last words of wisdom: “Don’t have expectations when you go into college. Keep an open mind because things can easily change. I came in wanting to go to law school. Now it’s business management.”