Flash animation by Matt Bechtold

Seniors, mark your calendars and grab your checkbooks — in less than two weeks, Grad Finale will be here.

For six months, KU Bookstores and Jostens, a company that sells graduation regalia, have planned what KU Bookstores marketing coordinator Kelly Stazyk called a one-stop graduation shop for graduating students. Grad Finale will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 17, 18 and 19 at the Ballroom on the fifth level of the Kansas Union.

“Graduation can be overwhelming because you can’t show up at the ceremony without previous planning,” Stazyk said. “The KU Bookstores can help students walk through the process at Grad Finale or anytime.”

Courtney Brax, Hutchinson senior, said she was a little overwhelmed about her May graduation. Brax said she would attend Grad Finale to help pass out senior class T-shirts and to pick up her cap, gown and graduation announcements.

“I just want to be a little more prepared for graduation and get everything ready ahead of time,” Brax said.

Todd Wiedenmeyer, territory sales manager for Jostens, said he hoped to see 70 percent of graduating seniors attend the Grad Finale. He said University offices such as the University Career Center, the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Student Financial Aid would attend the graduation fair, as well as retailers including Balfour Rings and Classic Photography, Inc.

Jennifer Alderdice, assistant vice president of student programs for the Alumni Association, said she would attend Grad Finale on behalf of the Alumni Association. Alderdice said the event’s setup was beneficial for students.

“I think that the grad fair is so important for students to attend because there are so many resources available to them in a one-stop shop atmosphere,” Alderdice said. “Students really can benefit from having everything they might need for graduation in one room. Plus, it’s a lot of fun and an exciting time to plan for their big walk down the hill.”

Stazyk said even if students couldn’t attend Grad Finale, they could still log on to the KU Bookstores’ Web site, kubookstore.com, for information and links to some of the vendors.

— — Edited by Heather Melanson