The "swine flu zombies" got their own intimate graduation ceremonies at a university here Saturday, an event designed to ward off the possible spread of the H1N1 virus to thousands of other students and well-wishers.

The group of 22 students at Slippery Rock University got the latex glove treatment after returning from Mexico where they had been student teaching. The school opted to have a separate ceremony that included only the students, their families, and university officials. A videotape of the event was broadcast during graduation ceremonies for the more than 1,300 seniors receiving degrees.

"It makes us a little distinguished from the group," a member of the group, Dan Godshall, told CNN. "We were already the Mexican group, the swine flu zombies. Now it gives us something positive and everyone has to watch our ceremony."

The students, all education majors, had been teaching in Mexico City when swine flu broke out. They left Mexico before finishing their internships out of fear the border would be closed.

Education majors at the university can student teach in Las Vegas, North Carolina, Dublin, or Mexico City.