Hey Illini Nation,

It's been a few weeks now since I joined 8,000 of my fellow University of Illinois graduates on the field at Memorial Stadium for what I would call more of a celebration than a ceremony. The speakers came and went, the confetti canons erupted, and collective cheers rang out as we turned our tassels from the right-hand side of our cap to our left signifying our transition into one of the strongest alumni networks in the country.

I look back at the last four years of my life and wonder how I ever got so lucky. It's truly unbelievable to think about how my time as a student-athlete at the University of Illinois has changed me for the better. The people I've met, the places I've gone, and the memories I've made along the way during my undergraduate career will be forever cherished. The journey has been far from easy, and whether I'd like to admit it or not, there were certainly days when I questioned whether or not it would all be worth it. But as I turned onto Interstate 57 following graduation and saw Champaign in my rearview mirror, I felt heartbreak like I've never known before. And at that moment I was reassured that it was more than worth it – every single minute of it.

But as it's often said: when one door closes, another opens. I left the University of Illinois with confidence knowing that my degree from one of the most established universities in the country would prepare me well for anything that lie ahead. Fortunately for me, what lie ahead happened to be an amazing opportunity to begin my career with two of the most prominent golf organizations in the nation. As the Communications and Marketing Intern for both the Illinois PGA Section as well as the First Tee of Greater Chicago, I have been granted the opportunity to gain experience from some of the hardest working and highly established individuals in the golf industry. I hope that my work this summer is just one small way I can give back to the game that has given me so much over the years.

In thinking about my years as an Illini golfer, I say with certainty that my time as a member of this program, and of this team in particular, will stay with me forever. My fellow seniors and I could not have asked for a better ending to our four years here at the U of I.

Grace. Pailin. Jan. Dana. Bing. Tristyn. Ali.

We are 'Seven Strong', and together we re-wrote the record books and took our program to new heights. It could not have been done without the efforts of every single one of us. We redefined what it means to be a member of the Illinois Women's Golf program, and we know that legacy will live on long after we are gone.  Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and to everyone who believed in me along the way, because it truly would not have been possible without you.

Keep it in the short grass,

Dana Gattone