By Colter Hettich, Features Editor

After spending the last four years separated by the Atlantic Ocean, family and friends of 24 Malagasi seniors watched the graduates receive their ACU diplomas in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Even after adding additional chairs, latecomers faced standing room only in the elegantly dressed Hotel Carlton Ballroom. Event planners had little idea how many people would show, but the 625 that arrived, including Madagascar President Ravalomanana, his entire cabinet and Prime Minister Gen. Charles Rabemananjara, more than exceeded expectation.

Ron Hadfield, ACU Today editor and graphic designer, traveled to the country’s capitol to help oversee details of the commencement ceremony and kept a daily blog throughout his journey.

“The challenge was to create an ACU commencement ceremony for friends, family, government officials and media that was as much like the one in Moody Coliseum as possible,” Hadfield said. “Any time you’re dealing with a head of state, you have security concerns and protocol issues that we had to make accommodations for at the last minute, but that’s to be expected.”

The event on July 12 spawned a flood of local and national media coverage. Television, radio and print reporters persistently interviewed the returning students.

Solofoarisina Randrianasolo was one of the 24 graduates and said the eyes of the country were on the day’s ceremony, and for good reason; never in the country’s history had someone graduated from an outside university inside Malagasi borders.

“You are like a rock star for a week,” Randrianasolo said. “People recognize you when you walk around; people are looking at you and expecting something. It was interesting.”

It had been two years since Randrianasolo had stepped foot on his home’s shores and he was one of many whose family attended the ceremony.

“[My family] were really happy,” Randrianasolo said. “After two years of not seeing each other, it was kind of a relief.”

The entire ceremony was performed in Malagasi and the English languages, and the programs also were printed in both languages. All academic regalia, such as diplomas, cap and gowns, was delivered ahead of time via mail – all except the giant backdrop designed by Greg Golden, which was printed on location.