College of Business and Administration Ceremony | Virtual Spring 2021 Commencement Exercises
(light orchestral music) ♪ I just thought I'd have to wait a while ♪ ♪ Ain't got time for messin' around ♪ ♪ And it's not my style ♪ ♪ This whole town can slow you down ♪ ♪ People takin' the easy way ♪ ♪ But I know exactly where I am going ♪ ♪ I'm getting closer and closer every day ♪ ♪ And I am almost there ♪ ♪ I'm almost there ♪ ♪ People down here think I'm crazy ♪ ♪ But I don't care ♪ ♪ Trials and tribulations ♪ ♪ I've had my share ♪ ♪ There ain't nothin' gonna stop me now ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm almost there ♪ ♪ I remember Daddy told me ♪ ♪ Fairy tales can come true ♪ ♪ But you gotta make 'em happen ♪ ♪ It all depends on you ♪ ♪ So I work real hard each and every day ♪ ♪ Now things for sure are going my way ♪ ♪ Just doing what I do ♪ ♪ Look out boys I'm coming through ♪ ♪ And I'm almost there ♪ ♪ I'm almost there ♪ ♪ People gonna come here from everywhere ♪ ♪ And I'm almost there ♪ ♪ I'm almost there ♪ ♪ There's been trials and tribulations ♪ ♪ You know I've had my share ♪ ♪ But I've climbed a mountain ♪ ♪ I've crossed a river ♪ ♪ And I'm almost there ♪ ♪ I'm almost there ♪ ♪ I'm almost there ♪ ♪ Looking back on when I ♪ ♪ Was a little nappy headed boy ♪ ♪ Then my only worry ♪ ♪ Was for Christmas what would be my toy ♪ ♪ Even though we sometimes ♪ ♪ Would not get a thing ♪ ♪ We were happy with the ♪ ♪ Joy the day would bring ♪ ♪ Sneaking out the back door ♪ ♪ To hang out with those hoodlum friends of mine ♪ ♪ Greeted at the back door ♪ ♪ With boy thought I told you not to go outside ♪ ♪ Tryin' your best to bring the ♪ ♪ Water to your eyes ♪ ♪ Thinkin' it might stop her ♪ ♪ From whippin' your behind ♪ ♪ I wish those days could come back once more ♪ ♪ Why did those days ever have to go ♪ ♪ I wish those days could come back once more ♪ ♪ Why did those days ever have to go ♪ ♪ Cause I love them so ♪ ♪ Brother says he's tellin' ♪ ♪ 'Bout you playin' doctor with that girl ♪ ♪ Just don't tell I'll give you ♪ ♪ Anything you want in this whole wide world ♪ ♪ Mama gives you money for Sunday school ♪ ♪ You trade yours for candy after church is through ♪ ♪ Smokin' cigarettes and writing something nasty on the wall ♪ ♪ You nasty boy ♪ ♪ Teacher sends you to the principal's office down the hall ♪ ♪ You grow up and learn that kinda thing ain't right ♪ ♪ But while you were doin' it, it just felt outta sight ♪ ♪ I wish those days could come back once more ♪ ♪ Why did those days ever have to go ♪ ♪ I wish those days could come back once more ♪ ♪ Why did those days ever have to go ♪ (light orchestral music) ("Pomp and Circumstance" on piano) - I'm delighted to offer you my congratulations today on your graduation for UCCS. My name is Charles Greer, and I graduated from UCCS, better known as Cragmor by my generation, in 1971, 50 years ago. Cragmor was the springboard that enabled me to dream and to aspire to realize those dreams. Today, I am Professor of Neuroscience at Yale University, where I'm privileged to help shape the future of undergraduates and graduate students and to work with my team of scientists as we seek to understand the brain.
You too can aspire to realize your dreams. I want to leave you today with two quotes that reflect the philosophy that I try to live by. First is from Albert Einstein.
"The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help, but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, or the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend a little of this mystery each day." And from Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Congratulations, go find your dreams. - Hi, I'm Sean Svete, UCCS class of 2014. To the class of 2021, congratulations.
You didn't just survive tough classes, you survived at global pandemic. Maybe now a quote from Stephen Colbert is fitting. "Life is an improvisation. You have no idea what's going to happen next, and you are mostly making things up as you go along." So good luck graduates. Make sure you keep improvising.
- Hi, I'm Carissa Gump, UCCS class of 2010, and 2008 United States Olympian. I wanted to say congratulations on a job well done to the class of 2021. Best of luck to you on your next adventure, and welcome to the UCCS Alumni family.
- Hi, I'm Steve Dennis from the last century, class of 1970. Lots has changed since I left campus 50 years ago armed with an MBA. I don't even recall having a commencement ceremony. We just slipped away and began life in the real world. Thinking of this commencement, I'd like to paraphrase the late British prime minister Winston Churchill. This is not the end of your education.
It's not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning. Education is a lifelong journey. And every day out in the real world you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. Grasp those opportunities. Now you just need to find your niche, take advantage of the hard work that led you to your degree. So today, enjoy, and I wish you a good life.
- Hello, my name is Amelia Loving, and I'm a UCCS grad, class of 2017. I just want to take a minute to say congratulations. I know firsthand that the journey of UCCS is pretty unique, but that's great, because now you have something unique to give. I hope you'll take the knowledge and skills you've developed with your time on campus, out to wherever you're landing, whether that's Colorado Springs or across the globe. Know that wherever you go you can always connect with other UCCS grads, and you will now and forever be a UCCS alumni. Again, I just want to say congratulations, and I hope you'll come around soon and don't be a stranger, and go mountain lions.
- Hi class of 2021, my name is Consuelo, class of 2017. I just wanted to wish you a big congratulations on this big milestone. It took a lot of hard work and determination and you made it, so make sure you still celebrate. Congrats. - Congratulations class of 21. My name is Keely Griego and I graduated from UCCS in 2018.
I hope that each and every one of you is very proud, not just for earning your diploma, but for being resilient, and for doing so during a pandemic. As you move on to your next chapter, be patient with yourself, allow yourself grace, follow your passion, advocate for what is right, and believe in yourself. Congratulations again class of 2021. - Hello and welcome to Washington, DC. My name is Robb Harleston, UCCS class of 1983. Unfortunately for the second year in a row, traditional commencement ceremonies have been interrupted, because of the global pandemic.
But we're gonna get through this. It's been quite a year. Things have changed a little bit. Some things have stayed the same. But there is something new and different. The fact that you now have a UCCS degree.
And armed with that degree, you can go out and do anything you want, and be anything you want. We're looking forward to seeing great things from this new class of mountain lions. I'm still here at C-SPAN, coordinating coverage of Capitol Hill. If you ever get into DC, look me up. I'll take you out for a drink, and maybe even some lunch.
Good luck, go mountain lions. - Hi, my name is Stephanie Adams, the site director here at UCCS downtown, and a two-time alumna of UCCS myself. I know firsthand how difficult it is to balance the crazy, especially in a pandemic, and put your academics first, but congratulations to the class of 2021, because you did it. We're so proud of you.
I hope you take the time to celebrate your accomplishment, but most importantly, thank those who helped you get to this place. It's not possible to succeed on your own, but most importantly, celebrate those who helped you get to this point. Success is never a one-person game. We're so excited for you, and thank you so much for making UCCS look good. Congratulations! - My name is Jesse Burns. I'm a graduate of the Department of Communication, and former editor of The Scribe newspaper at UCCS.
For the past seven years, I have lived and worked in Washington, DC, as a political journalist. Today is an exciting time, and whether your next steps involve more education, or delving deeper into your career, I encourage you to do it with vigor and purpose. Relish today, but do not rest on your laurels.
Press ahead, and the sky is truly the limit for your potential. Congratulations, and welcome to the UCCS Alumni community. - What is up class of 2021? My name is Justin Miller.
I was a graduate of the class of 2019. I got my degree in mechanical engineering with minors in electrical and aerospace engineering. I now work at Lockheed Martin as a systems engineer. If there's one piece of advice that I could give you today, it would be to hold on to your friends and the connections that you've made through these years of college. Those friends and connections that you've made will last a lifetime, as long as you cherish and hold on to them.
Again, congratulations, and I'm excited for you to move on to this next chapter in your life. Thanks. - Hey, mountain lions, class of 2021, you did it. You've reached the finish line that is graduation.
Congratulations. You all have overcome so much, especially this past year, and I know it wasn't easy, but here you are on your graduation day. I hope that you all can reflect back on all that you've done, and all that you've accomplished with your time here at UCCS. We are so proud of your hard work and resiliency.
And now we want you to go out into the world and continue to do great things. And remember, wherever you go from here, you will always be a mountain lion. - Congratulations, graduates. Hi, my name is Jacque Jewell, and I'm a Strategy Planning Advisor for FedEx Services, and a member of the UCCS MBA class of 2020.
Congratulations to everyone graduating today. Your hard work has really paid off. Remember to continue to chase your dreams, never stop trying, never stop learning, live life to the fullest, and remember to give it nothing but your very best. Congratulations, and welcome to the UCCS Alumni family. - Hi mountain lions. My name is Kyle Boyle, College of Business graduate from the class of 2018, just here today to extend my sincerest congratulations to all of you on an incredibly well thought, well earned, degree, especially given the crazy, tumultuous pandemic we've had the last year.
What a way to finish strong, and earn that degree. And just here to wish you the best of luck on your next steps, whatever that might be. Go mountain lions. - Good afternoon. And welcome to the 2021 Virtual Spring Commencement Exercises, celebrating graduates of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, College of Business. I'm Doctor Christopher Bell, Associate Professor of Communication, and I will be serving as today's Commencement Marshall.
Life has many passages, the transitions from one period to another. We celebrate these passages with ceremonies steeped in tradition. Commencement is one of these important traditions. It is a ritual for the human spirit, signifying great accomplishment and moving onwards to a world of possibilities. Today is a momentous day, but it's also a different day.
We had all hoped to be celebrating together in person, as we have since the first UCCS alumni graduated in 1966. The past year has been an extraordinary time for us all, but we accept the situation we face, and we honor you in a virtual format out of care and concern for your health, and the health of your friends and family. We honor our spring graduates' past achievements, and celebrate their bright futures. Without further adieu, congratulations to the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Class of 2021. Now observe, as the visual and performing arts university choir, directed by instructor Solveig Olsen, sings the National Anthem.
♪ Oh say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous night ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets' red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ - We have assembled today in microcosm of our entire world. Our graduates represent states from across our great nation, and countries from across the globe. As you graduate today, you will go back out into the world using the work of your minds and your hearts, to make it a better place. We would not stand where we are today without the support of so many.
We thank all those whose dedication to the university has helped bring all of our incredible graduates to this point today. In particular, our thanks to the Board of Regents, and President Kennedy, for their support of our campus and today's ceremony. Thank you also to our faculty and staff, who embody the highest qualities of scholarship and inquiry. Thank you for setting a strong example, for our students, community, and the world. Commencement is a time of profound reflection, and profound joy.
It is a time for us to consider all the work we have accomplished, and the work that is yet to be done. Challenges are ever-present in our lives. I don't need to remind you of this.
We have all lived through an extraordinary year. The coronavirus impacted our campus, city, state, nation, and the world. Students, graduates, you rose above every single setback you faced. You demonstrated courage and resilience, and you did not give up on your dreams. Your time today is not just that you have succeeded in the face of difficulty, it is that you're stronger and better equipped to take on any obstacle that may come your way.
Now you begin your journey as a graduate of this university, carrying your torch into the world. So commit to being outstanding citizens. Stand up for what is right and good.
Practice compassion, patience, empathy, and respect. Be willing to serve, give your time and talent generously to the communities in which you live. Engage in respectful discourse that protects the right of all people to express themselves freely. This will lead to new knowledge, new understanding, and new ideas. Respect each other's differences, but remember to also seek out what unites us.
Use both to advance our community, our nation, and the world. Graduates, I know you are up to the challenge set before you. You will achieve it, just as you have achieved so much already. We now take a moment to celebrate those achievements. We are so proud of our graduates, who are the first members of their family to graduate from college, who transferred to UCCS from a community college or other institution. For our international students who worked full-time or part-time while attending UCCS, and who volunteered in this great community, in their home community, or in some way, gave back to others while attending school.
Few of us achieve a milestone, such as earning a college degree without the support of our family and friends. I'm sure each graduate would agree that they could not have come this far, without the support of very special people in their lives. And so, class of 2021, as you celebrate today with or without family members and friends, please know every member of the mountain lion family is celebrating and honoring you and your accomplishments. We offer you our heartfelt congratulations, and bright wishes for your future.
Now, it's my privilege to introduce Mark Kennedy, President of the University of Colorado system. - Congratulations, University of Colorado, class of 2021. You've traversed a turbulent period to reach this milestone, and you should be proud of yourselves. I applaud your resilience and perseverance, which enabled you to achieve this distinction.
On behalf of the entire university, we wish we could gather in person to congratulate you and thank your family and friends for their support of your educational journey. Nonetheless, our celebration of your success is in no way diminished. Your hard work and effort to earn your CU degree will unlock countless opportunities that will benefit you, your loved ones, and your community, throughout your lifetime. Rarely has an event forced us to alter our lives as dramatically and as quickly as the pandemic has done. During the past year, we endured isolation from and loss of, friends and loved ones.
And we're acutely reminded of the importance of both. I encourage you to always be on the lookout for those in need of a friend. As someone once told me, be a friend, and you will never be alone.
Throughout the uncomfortable, and at times painful, uncertainty, you successfully navigated sweeping restrictions, and overcame unexpected hurdles. The silver lining is that in the process, you honed your ability to adapt, a skill that will serve you well in the years ahead, particularly given the rapid acceleration of technology the pandemic has unleashed. I urge you to continue honing this skill. Your ability to navigate seismic changes will be a key determinant in your future success. Speaking of technology, while many social media platforms have entertained us, taught us, allowed us to connect and support each other, others have elevated harmful voices. I urge you to use social media for good.
I promise you that your life will be more rewarding if you remain positive and travel the high road. Be forgiving, so that you will deserve forgiveness. Be conscious of your news sources, and be curious.
Seek news from respected outlets, ideally those with different perspectives, to hone your critical thinking. Consider the data. In short, use the skills you learned during your time here at CU. They have prepared you well. Curiosity, lifelong learning, and critical thinking will benefit every aspect of your personal and professional lives, not to mention your mental health.
Further cultivating these skills will yield tremendous returns. As automation makes career paths less certain, it's critical to find your center, your anchor, your higher calling. Don't measure your self-worth by others' affirmation, especially not the number of likes on your social media posts. Each of you has a purpose to pursue that benefits the world and is invaluable.
Devote your life to this purpose. As we look ahead, we are buoyed by the power of vaccines to control the pandemic. We are excited for opportunities to meet in-person, travel, enjoy sports, live music and the arts, with friends and loved ones. We celebrate your success, and that of our nation and the world, in emerging from the pandemic to a more normal life. CU's faculty and staff devoted themselves to delivering high quality instruction and services despite pandemic restrictions, to advance you along your path to a degree.
They deserve our appreciation and our applause. Again congratulations, University of Colorado, Class of 2021. We honor your achievement. We are proud to welcome you to the CU Alumni family.
- Thank you, President Kennedy. My name is Aidan Meadows. As Student Body President, it is my honor to thank you for exemplifying the core values in the UCCS creed, purpose, respect, integrity, determination, and excellence.
I'm also pleased to acknowledge the class gift, a tradition that started with the spring 2015 class. Since its inception, more than $52,000 has been raised for scholarships and vital student programs by graduating students. This year, the class of 2021 is leaving its mark at UCCS with donations to Clyde's Cupboard, Mosaic, and scholarship funds that will pay it forward toward the next generation of mountain lions. All donors have received a blue cord as a memento of their thoughtfulness.
Thank you for your generosity. It is now my honor to welcome this year's recipient of the 2021 Student Achievement Award, and this afternoon speaker, to address our fellow graduates. - Thank you, Aidan. My name is Gwenyth Rosenkrantz, and as the first openly transgender student to receive this award, I am honored to be speaking today.
There are a couple of people we need to thank for getting us here. To our family and friends, thank you for supporting and encouraging us in earning our degree. I'd like to personally thank Sloan Gonzalez for being my advocate and getting here, and John Dagon for being my hero when I needed it most. John goes by the name, Jay, among the students who know him, but the only way you'd get the privilege of meeting him, is if you roam the halls of the dorm room buildings at around 3:00 a.m. My freshman year, I often found myself pacing these hallways in these early hours, struggling with severe depression and insomnia. I would have just stayed up in my dorm room, but I didn't want to wake my roommate.
Jay was a campus security guard, and walked the floors of these eerie hours of the night, as students slept, doing hero work that most people didn't notice. So, Jay and I stumbled upon each other in a miraculous sort of way. He'd find me outside my dorm room with puffy crying eyes, and stopped to check in with me. This security guard was the most kind and empathetic human to ever stumble into my life by chance like this.
Jay would give me advice, be a listening ear, and show up for me, always offering support. In my first semester of college, Jay promised that if I continued, he'd be at graduation, cheering for me in the audience. Things look a bit different than we expected, but hi, Jay, I did it.
As the year progressed, seeing Jay became my favorite part of living at UCCS, and he encouraged and inspired me to keep going. Within the darkness, this incredible human had a flashlight. UCCS felt like a mountain that I needed to climb. Students were hikers, trails were classes, and the peak served as a degree.
With no guide to aid me in my journey or to teach me how to interpret the map, I did a lot of wandering. As I hiked up the steep trail, I came to forks in the road where I changed my degree, and embarked on a new path many times. There were dead ends, places where the trail was overgrown, false summits, and thunderstorms that came out of nowhere that caused me to slip and fall. When I fell, I got angry.
Covered in scrapes and bruises, far offset from where I needed to be, I wondered why there were no warning signs. Why was there nothing to tell me that if I took the first path off to the left, it would be easier? And if I took the winding path that curved off to the right, I'd likely end up wishing I had took the first path. Furthermore, how come nobody was going back to try to fix the problems that were clearly causing issues for hikers on the poorly maintained trails? As the moon began to rise above me, and night covered the terrain, I couldn't see anymore. That's when I met my first flashlight person. They came running down the mountain to help me out when I was lost, and use their steady beam of light to guide me back to where I needed to be. Can I borrow that? I asked.
Instead they gave me my own. I could have used the flashlight to keep progressing uphill towards my degree, but instead I went backwards. I picked up the trash I'd passed on the trail. I arranged rocks in the dirt to serve as warning signs. And I helped find other hikers who got lost, as well. The mountain we climbed had flaws, and all of us hikers know that.
As a transgender student, I couldn't even find a bathroom I felt comfortable in, wondering why there weren't gender neutral restrooms. In fact, many others, many other hikers found that the trails weren't designed for them to reach the top. The amazing thing is that we still made it to the mountain's peak. We made it all the way here despite the battle.
We can look back onto the gruesome trails and say, good riddance, or we can use the flashlight that college gave us to shine light on the issues that need fixing. We are now equipped with powerful skills of being able to conduct research, write persuasive arguments, and educate others, so that we can make the branching and winding trails we come across in life, more accessible and inclusive. These abilities create our flashlights. When we approach our mountains in life, we will shine light on the problems we come across, and do the work to help fix them.
Like Jay, we will be able to spot those who need help and aid them back onto the trails. Look out onto the horizon at the top of your mountain, and watch the sunset with the peace of understanding that you have the tools to face the coming twilight and all the nights to follow. Congratulations on earning your flashlight. Thank you. - Before recognizing today's degree recipients, we're excited to acknowledge a group of students who have reached a milestone in their education. These individuals have completed 54 credits through an inclusive, higher education pilot program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by Senate Bill 196.
We take pleasure in recognizing each of these students. (dramatic orchestral music) - We are honored today to celebrate alumni who graduated 50 years ago, identified as golden graduates. These members of the class of 1971, helped build the foundation of what our university has become today. We are honored to have these golden graduates with us today, virtually. Please join me in honoring these alumni, their achievements, and their contributions to UCCS. - Thank you, Chancellor Reddy.
Today, we also recognize graduating Air Force and Army ROTC students, who commence service to the country upon commissioning. We also recognize graduating active duty students, as well as veterans who have already served the country. Please know how much we appreciate you, and are proud to recognize you all. (dramatic orchestral music) At his time we will begin to confer the spring 2021 earned degrees for the College of Business. We will do this in two groups.
First, master's degrees, then baccalaureate degrees. - Chancellor Reddy, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the College of Business and Administration, I have the honor to present these candidates for the degrees, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science. - Dean Markel, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the graduate school, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Regents, I hereby confer upon these candidates, the degrees, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science. Congratulations.
- Chancellor Reddy, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the College of Business and Administration, I have the honor to present these candidates for the degrees, Bachelor of Innovation and Bachelor of Science. - Dean Markel, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the College of Business and Administration, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Regents, I hereby confer upon these candidates, the degrees, Bachelor of Innovation and Bachelor of Science. Congratulations. (light orchestral music) - This concludes the conferring of undergraduate degrees.
We have three remaining time-honored traditions to complete our ceremony today. To start, Grace Benskin, member of Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow, will speak on behalf of the alumni association. - I want to acknowledge that those graduates who are members of families with multiple generations of alumni, having attended UCCS, have received black, gold, and silver-colored legacy cords, which we hope they will share with pride with their families. We are honored to recognize all alumni who are joining us virtually today.
I now ask that all graduates, please rise wherever you are to be initiated into the Alumni Association. It is my pleasure to officially recognize you as new alumni of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. You join the ranks of more than 53,000 graduates, who have earned a degree at this campus of the University of Colorado. Alumni continue to be an important link to our university. Many of you will remain here providing a connection between our university and the community. Others will leave, but as graduates, you will all share one commonality, a lifelong bond with your alma mater.
We will continue to keep you connected to the university in years to come. In return, we seek your involvement and support, not only to keep your alma mater strong, but to make her stronger. The Alumni and Friends Association is proud to congratulate the class of 2021 on your great achievement, and wish you success in the years to come. - It's an honored tradition at the University of Colorado commencement ceremonies to read the Charge to the Graduates, given first, by the late CU President, George Norlin, to the class of 1935. Doctor Norlin was a Professor of Greek at CU from 1899 to 1942.
For 23 of those years, he served as President of the university, and the library he helped plan during that time, now bears his name on the Boulder campus. While at CU, President Norlin was an eloquent champion of democracy and human equality, during a time of serious threats to those principles across the nation and the world. In 1924, the Governor of Colorado reportedly took daily orders from the KU Klux Klan, which controlled the legislature. One of those orders, was that President Norlin was to rid the faculty of all Catholics and Jews.
Norlin refused, and the university received limited funds that year. In the early 1930s, President Norlin was an early and vocal critic of Hitler's Nazi regime in Germany. He devoted his career to two great causes, the life of the mind, and the love of this university, which he articulated in this charge to CU graduates. - You are now certified to the world at large as alumni of the university. She is your kindly mother, and you her cherished sons and daughters. This exercise denotes not your severance from her, but your union with her.
Commencement does not mean, as many wrongly think, the breaking of ties and the beginning of a life apart. Rather, it marks your initiation in the fullest sense into the fellowship of the university. As bearers of her torch, as centers of her influence, as promoters of her spirit. The university is not the campus, not the buildings on the campus, nor the faculties, nor the students of any one time, not one of these or all of them. The university consists of all who come into and go forth from her halls, who are touched by her influence, and who carry on her spirit. Wherever you go, the university goes with you.
Wherever you are at work, there is the university at work. What the university purposes to be, what it must always strive to be, is represented on its seal, which is stamped on your diplomas, a lamp in the hands of youth. If its light shines not in you and from you, how great is its darkness.
But if it shines in you today, and in the thousands before you, who can measure its power? With hope and faith, I welcome you into the fellowship. I bid you farewell, only in the sense that I pray you may fare well. You go forth, but not from us. We remain, but not separate from you. God go with you and be with you and us.
Go mountain lions. - Welcome to the great extended family of the university. We are continually linked together as you take your place in our society, and the university shapes its own destiny as one of the world's greatest universities. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. Will all of those wearing regalia and receiving bachelor's degrees today, please signify the completion of your studies, by moving the tassels on your caps from the right to the left.
(uptempo instrumental music) Graduates, before we end, we would like those with a cell phone to take a selfie and share it on social media with the hashtag #UCCS2021, or email it to alumni@uccs.edu. Photos we receive will be posted on the Alumni and Friends Association Facebook page, where you can tag yourself to share with friends and family. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the graduates of the UCCS College of Business. This concludes our 2021 Virtual Spring Commencement Exercises.
Congratulations to you all. (dramatic vocal music) - I'm Rashell McCann. I'm the Director of Academic Programs for the College of Business. And I have one thing to say to you today, and it comes from the immortal words of Doctor Seuss.
"Congratulations, today is your day. Kid, go move mountains." Congratulations. - Congratulations, class of 2021.
I know this is not how you imagined the end of your college career going, but you have persevered through so much, and everyone here in the College of Business is so excited to see what's in store for you. Just think, you've made it through an unprecedented junior and senior year of college. So what's gonna stop you moving forward? We all hope that you take the time to celebrate your graduation with your family and friends, as this a huge accomplishment.
Congratulations. - My name is Doctor Meghan Stidd. I'm the Assistant Dean for External Relations in the UCCS College of Business. I'm also an alum from the class of 2004. I am so proud of your accomplishments this semester.
We appreciate the fact that you chose to be a part of the mountain lion family. And we know you will represent UCCS well in all of your future endeavors. We hope that you remain engaged through our alumni association. We would love to celebrate your continued accomplishments with you as you progress through your career, and we offer a wide variety of events to help you with your career development and progression. We hope to see you at an alumni event in the future. Congratulations, mountain lines.
- Hi, I'm Amanda Garcia, Academic Advisor for business students. I have loved being your advisor and walking this path with you. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance brought you to today.
Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." My advice to you today is to find your way to give to this world. You each have so much to contribute. You can find your way by finding what you can give.
I send you off today with all my love and hope for a bright future. - Hi, I'm David Neis, an Academic Advisor in the College of Business. And I want to say congrats to all of you worthy graduates this spring 2021. You have persevered through a lot to reach this goal, and deserve all the credit in the world.
Your ability to adapt to maintain focus will help you continue achieving your goals in whatever career you pursue. There is no doubt that you are prepared for whatever ups and downs may be in front of you yet, and I hope you can enjoy this moment, and remember later how you got here. I look forward to hearing what you will accomplish next. Congrats again, all you 2021 graduates. - Hey everyone.
I just want to say a huge congratulations to everyone who's graduating this semester. I know that it took a lot of hard work to get here, but all of that hard work has finally paid off. I know that great things are in store for you after graduation, and I wish you all best, congrats. - Hey, College of Business students, congratulations, you did it, and today is a wonderful day to celebrate. Good luck on whatever is next in your journey. And again, congratulations.
- Congratulations to our class of 2021 graduates. - Our UCCS Sport Management Program congratulates you on your accomplishment. - You've made it through your degree and done so during a pandemic. - We wish you the best as you go out and begin your careers. - And don't forget that your mountain lion family will always be here for you.
- Congratulations. - Hey guys, it's John from the PGA program. I'm also a 2015 graduate out of the program as well. So, you know, we know that this semester didn't quite go the way you expected, but we're still look forward to seeing all the accomplishments you do moving forward, and really looking forward to seeing what everyone does in the future. So good luck to everyone.
And can't wait to cross paths with you again. - Hey guys, I'm Mark Bacheldor, Director of the PGA Golf Management Program at UCCS. Also a 2008 graduate from UCCS in the PGA program. We just want to wish you the very best.
I know this end of the senior year didn't end exactly the way you probably had thought it would, but sometimes adversity makes us stronger, and I'm sure that you'll be resilient and strong going forward in your career. So we wish you the very best, and proud to call you mountain lion alumni. - Good luck, everyone take care. - Greetings, my name is Don Warrick and I'm a Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change. Congratulations on graduating from one of the best business schools in the world.
I'd like to share seven very quick guidelines for living a successful, personal and professional life in your exciting future. Number one, right now commit to making your life count in both your personal life and your professional life. Number two, start by writing yourself a mission statement, and a list of core values, so you will live your life with a sense of purpose and values that you can keep. Number three, develop a reputation for giving your best and being your best, for being uplifting to be around, for having a great attitude, and for bringing out the best in others.
Number four, treat everyone with respect and value whether they deserve it or not. Number five, use the trials you will face in life as opportunities for learning and growth. Number six, smile a lot.
It is good for you and for others. And number seven, if you will own responsibility for your behavior, you can change almost anything you're willing to change. Thank you for listening. Do well, and live well. - Greetings. I'm Doctor Eric Olsen, Director of the Sport Management Program.
I'd like to send a congratulations out to all of our graduating seniors. This certainly isn't the senior year you were expecting, or we were expecting, but at the end of the day, you've earned a bachelor's degree from an AACSB accredited business school. That's the same accreditation standard as Stanford, Wharton, Northwestern, Michigan, UCLA, the top business schools in the world. And while we don't have all of their resources, the debits and credits line up just the same here as they do at Stanford. And the four P's of marketing are just the same here as they are at Wharton.
And the five forces that Porter talks about, are just the same here as they are Harvard. And if you'd taken my strategy class, you would have had three forces thrown in for free. Well, expect that you will do great things out in the world. Your career starts may be a little bit stunted at this point, but you will come back, and the economy will come back, and opportunities will open themselves up. Please take advantage of those opportunities, and don't stay a stranger, remain in contact with us and let us know about how well you're proceeding.
We wish you the best. Again congratulations. - Hey Class of 2021, congratulations you guys. Ian Ratz here with the College of Business Sport Management Program, and I'm also a 2020 MBA alum, So welcome to the club you guys.
Make sure whatever you guys do in the future you work hard and you play just as hard. - Hi, my name is Katie Burns, and I am the Principal Program Coordinator for Alumni Relations and Mentorship in the College of Business. I would like to welcome you to the Alumni Association.
We will be offering many ways for you to continue to stay engaged with the college as an alumni, and we hope you will stay in touch. Our alumni leadership team would like to say- - Congratulations graduates. - First off, I just want to say congratulations on this new chapter in your life. You know it's a big deal. This is Kelly, also congratulating you as well. She's sleeping right now.
If you don't know me, my name is Alexandria Monson. I'm a graduate from the 2019 class, and I graduated with an emphasis in finance. So I just want to start off by saying, I'm really really happy for each and every one of you. I know it was not easy to get here. Trust me, I went through it as well, but you finally did it, you finally made it, and this is a time to celebrate yourself and all that you have accomplished.
And so, really relish in that idea, and take this time for yourself. And I personally look forward to seeing some of you in the workforce in Colorado Springs, and hopefully we'll be working together in the future. This is Alex and Kelly signing off. - Hello, class of 2021.
My name is Emily and I am a 2017 alumni of the College of Business, and the College of Business has opened up so many doors and opportunities for me. I know it'll do the same for you. Congratulations, you did it. - Congratulations, Class of 2021. My name's Sami Krause.
- And I'm Matt Krause, and we're from the class of 2017. - This is Murphy. But we just want to say that we're so proud of you guys for accomplishing this incredible milestone, and we absolutely cannot wait to see what you guys do next. Congratulations. - Good luck. - Hello, UCCS Sport Management graduates.
My name is Dalia Regev. I am a 2019 graduate of the program, and wanted to take a moment to congratulate you, not only on the tremendous accomplishment of graduating from college, but especially graduating from a program that I hold near and dear to my heart, and truly believe has prepared me for the next chapter of my life in the sport industry. So, I know this probably isn't the graduation you'd envisioned or hoped to have, but again, wanted to take the opportunity to commend you on the grit and determination it's taken to get you this far. And again, super proud of you guys. I know it's a crazy time, but hang in there, things will turn around. And again, don't forget to take a moment to really celebrate this momentous accomplishment for you guys.
So wishing you all the best, and who knows? Maybe I will be in touch with some of you soon. All right, bye. - Hey everyone, this is Dylan Gannon, Sport Management class of 2014.
Just wanted to send you a big congrats on your graduation. I know this isn't exactly how you would have envisioned it, you know, being in a global pandemic, being from home. But when you think about it, times may not get any tougher than this, right now. Things are only gonna get up from here.
If you can get through this, you can truly get through anything. You should be incredibly proud of what you have accomplished, both right now and what you've done in the past, and for what's lying ahead of you in the future. The Sport Management Program was a huge asset for me in helping me land the career I have now. And I know it's only going to do the same for you. If there's anything I can do to help you all along the way, please reach out. More than happy to help.
And again, congratulations. And I'm truly excited to see what's next for you all. - On behalf of the UCCS College of Business, I want to extend a sincere congratulations to our graduates in the Class of 2021. Achieving a business degree is an incredible accomplishment, and earning one from an AACSB accredited college is an even greater accomplishment.
Please know that while we won't be able to share your graduation with you in person, we are with you virtually, as you take the next step in your professional careers. I want you to cherish this significant milestone in your life. You're now joining an elite group of professionals who have earned college degrees. Only one in four people in the US have earned undergraduate degrees, and of those only 19% have earned a business degree. If you're receiving a graduate degree, you are now among 13% of the population with advanced education, and only 20% of graduate degree seekers earn a master's in business.
Earning a business degree is no easy feat, so you should feel proud of yourselves for being a part of this exceptional group of degree-holding professionals in the US. If this past year has taught us anything, it is that you never know what the future holds and where it may take you. I encourage you to explore every opportunity, take chances, and use your degree to break boundaries and seek out new adventures. I hope you move forward with a spirit of lifelong learning, and continue to grow both professionally and personally throughout your lives.
This certainly isn't the graduation ceremony any of us would have hoped for, but this in no way diminishes your accomplishments. You have worked tirelessly in the pursuit of knowledge and education. In earning this degree, you have applied business concepts to real world cases, made principle-based ethical decisions, analyzed and interpreted data, demonstrated critical thinking skills, communicated professionally and effectively, and you have worked collaboratively in team environments. Many of you have participated in student clubs and organizations, won case and athletic competitions, participated in internships, served in the military, cared for parents or children, or worked full or part-time throughout your degree. Some of you even started your own business while in college. Your ability to manage competing responsibilities is admirable, and your intellectual contributions and engagement across the university will leave a lasting legacy on our students and programs.
As you begin your professional careers, please stay connected. You are now among a network of over 10,000 UCCS College of Business alumni. Please share your successes and achievements with us, as you progress through your professional and personal lives. Your engagement as alumni will help drive the future of our business school.
We encourage you to remain connected through our College of Business LinkedIn page. I'm confident that as you progress through your professional careers, you will continue to define and embody what it means to be a UCCS business graduate. Our vision statement continues to ring true.
We are in the business of building successful futures. We're rooting for your successful future, and wish you all the best in this next chapter in your lives. Congratulations, class of 2021. - Today marks the end of one journey, and the beginning of another, and a transition that more than 53,000 mountain lions I've experienced. You have spent the last few years working to this moment.
And while it wasn't in the format that we wish we could have celebrated, know that we are proud of what you accomplished, and how you adapted in your final semester. At a time when there is uncertainty in the business world, know that you are starting your career at the perfect time, a time when many are seeking your knowledge, bright ideas, and strong leadership. On behalf of all the faculty and staff at UCCS, congratulations and stay mountain lion strong. (uptempo instrumental music)
2021-05-18 08:27
