“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt.

That sentiment certainly captures the mood on Commencement Day, as this jubilant group celebrates a major milestone. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)

This flowering tree near the Cube on Central Campus brings to mind the words of Percy Bysshe Shelley:

And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

(Image: Daryl Marshke.)

As the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Willie Stargill once said, “When they start the game, they don’t yell, ‘Work ball!’ They say, ‘Play ball!'”

Freshman infielder Jake Bivens takes those words to heart as he dives to make a play against Northwestern in early May. (Image courtesy of MGoBlue.com.)

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything,” wrote William Shakespeare in Sonnet XCVIII.

That spirit is in full effect as these youthful artists take melodic inspiration from a gorgeous spring afternoon in front of Angell Hall. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest,” wrote Ernest Hemingway in A Moveable Feast.

These optimistic students have shed their heavy winter garb, despite the bare trees and seemingly frosty ground. At least the sky is blue and spring, even “the false spring,” is a harbinger of good things to come. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)

“When we played softball, I’d steal second base, feel guilty and go back.”

So said auteur Woody Allen, who could never hold a candle to U-M second baseman Sierra Romero. This junior on the U-M softball team was named espnW’s National Player of the Year in early May. Romero helped her team capture its fourth straight regional NCAA title last weekend. (Image courtesy of MGoBlue.com.)

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

This young juggler embodies the words of Rainer Maria Rilke during Springfest on the Diag, where students were able to engage with more than a hundred organizations across campus. (Image: Eric Bronson.)

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.”
— Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

These students enjoy an early spring day in U-M’s Law Quad, a type of “secret garden” that is beautiful in every season — even when the leaves have yet to pop. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)

“Being on a boat that’s moving through the water, it’s so clear,” said singer-songwriter James Taylor. “Everything falls into place in terms of what’s important and what’s not.”

Freshman Kendall Brewer and seniors Jessica Eiffert and Alex Spaulding likely would agree. These members of the women’s rowing team recently were invited to the 2015 USRowing U23 National Team Selection Camp. The camp prepares athletes to compete in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Bulgaria in July. (Image courtesy of MGoBlue.com.)

Spring brought with it these inspirational messages, produced by the team at U-M’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Students who came across the poetic placards were encouraged to take a picture and share a message of hope on social media. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)

“If people did not love one another,” wrote Victor Hugo, “I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring.”

With spring comes graduation and the celebration of lifelong friendships forged through the college years. (Image: Daryl Marshke.)