Education opens lives. Creates new ways of thinking and has impact for generations to come. Over 20 years ago, a visionary group of governors saw a new pathway to educational opportunity through technology and a different learning model. This is the story of Western Governors University. University that started with an idea has grown to become one of the nations largest universities. >> We had to reinvent an alternative process. Not to replace traditional higher education but to supplement, to serve populations not properly served by the existing system. >> Somewhere in the early 1997, I heard about WGU as a wild idea in the West. It was immediately fascinating to me. >> This is a university, a group of people willing to take on a really big challenge without a lot of resources. >> The governors had this incredible idea. It was married by Mike Leavitt's vision of utilizing technology for higher education. The World Wide Web as it was called, the consortium that came in 1993, here we are discussing technology in 95. If you haven't lived through that, you can't grasp how far we've come. We had this strange new tool called Internet and there's a way people could be educated online which was a new word. These were revolutionary concepts and what a beauty to watch these great men gather to form a revolution to change society. We believed this new, more innovative approach to higher education needed to include both new technology and a fundamental shift in what we measure. >> In January 1997, WGU's articles of incorporation were signed and Western Governors University was born. With initial financial support of government foundations and private industry, WGU was on its way. >> There were 12 of us and we had Christmas dinner of the staff and spouses. That was the entire operation. It was this thing we were going to build from scratch. >> It is competency-based and student oriented. >> What was truly radical was the notion that students could progress toward their degrees by demonstrating competence. It meant if you really have the knowledge and experience, and could demonstrate that effectively, you can proceed toward your degree as rapidly as you were able. That was truly unusual. >> Key leaders in higher education were instrumental in the development and acceptance of WGU. These included then-President of Northern Arizona University and Sam Smith, then-President of Washington state university. Two years later, WGU opened its virtual doors. >> Overcoming thousands of years of tradition is no small task. Higher education has essentially thought the same way about the learning process for a long time. >> There are many hurdles and misunderstandings about what technology could do to help with teacher education. >> There's a negative reaction that this was going to threaten everything that higher education had stood for. >> A needed credibility. Most universities bought this concept of not having a bricks and mortar building with the University President, 200 year history. >> WGU is a very critical moment. We are facing at least two or three more years before we were accredited. We are running out of money and had lots of skip next. We needed a new leader. >> My messages, it's possible to have high quality, affordable, higher education. It will require new models. Not just tweaking the existing system. >> I was connected to Bob who at the time had just left IBM as a global leader education. As we spoke, it became evident this was the right person. >> Bob Mendenhall joined WGU in 1999. By the end of that year, the first programs in I.T. and education were launched. One year later, WGU celebrated its first graduate. >> A couple years of great planning had taken place in the foundation for educational model was already in place. We had a calendars challenge to get accreditation. To get four regions to agree WGU met standards for accreditation was a first in her education. It was a wonderful experience. >> The day we were granted that, we all celebrated. It was just party time. >> With regional accreditation and enrollments began to climb. >> We all knew that growth would be there if the model was working right. And if the students were set aside the success. >> At the same time, WGU launched its teachers college with a grant from the Department of Education. And Romans took off. The addition of the College of health professions in 2008 sent it soaring. >> Tightly introduce you to a university aimed at adult students don't have time for traditional bricks and mortar schools. It turns out, that's what many Americans find they need as they rush to reinvent themselves. >> WGU's quality, affordability and learning model soon began to attract a new generation of governors. In 2010, WGU launched its first estate based University, WGU Indiana. Over the next few years, seven more states partnered with WGU. >> They all immediately got the vision of what the governors were trying to accomplish. >> April of 2016 ushered in a new era of leadership with the arrival of WGU's current president. >> The thing that struck me most was the obsession about focusing on designing an institution that exists entirely to serve students. >> Before coming to WGU, he had 20 years of leadership experience in technology-based customer focused businesses. Scott's extensive business background is balanced by an intense focus on impacting the lives of individuals and families. >> We believe talent is universal. Opportunity is not necessarily universal. Education is the single biggest catalyst for people to change their lives. Why because it is that bridge from talent opportunity. >> In 2010, the president was selected by the White House to serve on the American workforce policy advisory board. >> We see a very exciting and has the future as WGU itself not only continues to grow the number of students we serve directly but becomes a catalyst for transforming the entire system of higher education for the better. >> WGU is young for university. It is brief history so far we have pioneered a new learning model, can continue to innovate to improve the student experience and student outcomes, and it helped change the lives of more than 135,000 individuals and their families. We are just getting started. >> How long does it take to earn a degree from WGU. That's up to you on average they earned their degrees and 2.5 years. We value mastery of skills and material. If you work hard, learn faster have our knowledge, you can graduate faster. Get on the fast track to a degree at WGU. Visit our website to learn more. >> Dear Robert, dear Yolanda, dear Teresa. Dear Ashley. Like you, 21 million Americans are struggling to maintain Internet access at home. >> The fact that you are pursuing a new location despite these difficulties speaks to your dedication and ambition. >> Sings has you had to take on multiple jobs to manager loans, you had to leave your job due to your health concerns, he moved to Texas with your growing family, we know having reliable access to Internet has become a challenge. >> That's why we are thrilled to offer you a WGU online access scholarship. >> Are you serious? >> Mama. >> Your scholarship will cover the ongoing cost of broadband Internet in your home so you can follow your dream of becoming a teacher. >> Of one day becoming a school principal. >> We shoo a warm and well- deserved congratulations. >> Congratulations. We won't rest until Everett has access to higher education. >> And the tools to make it possible. >> Sincerely, Western Governors University. >> I got my MBA in I.T. management at WGU. My dad had an Associates, my mom had completed her bachelors, my brother never went to college. And I thought at least I got my undergrad, that should be enough. I consider thinking about where wanted to go professionally and what my career goals were. I never saw someone at the level I aspired to get to without a Masters degree. When I found the WGU program , I said cool, if I know what I can prove it and knocked the class out. Once I started that, I said this is something that is attainable. A lot of the program, you can get into a ton of debt or you just won't do it and that's where WGU was great because you can accelerate and don't pay as much. I worked hard to get my MBA and three months later I got my dream job at Nintendo of America. I am applying almost everything I learned in my MBA to what I'm doing on my day-to-day at Nintendo. The experience and the program, all those resources are available and just made me successful. I never felt like I didn't have support. For advice, just pull the trigger go hit submit before you change your mind, let the application go through and take it from there. I love my job. It was a great opportunity and ability to really reach that next step in my career. >> I grope in a nice town, not too far from here. There was a steak at one time that there's nothing nice and nice town. >> You have a whole bunch of people who offer you drugs, guns and just the way to go back to jail or die on the streets. >> Growing up around here on the other side of the bridge, we didn't see a lot of people doing the right thing. >> We hadn't really seen many other people in our family or community that we knew of that were college graduates. >> When I was in elementary school, my mother told my brother and I we were going to college. I did very well in high school. I actually got a scholarship for local university four years into the five-year program, I had gathered experience through my co-op and I was offered a great job. >> When I started working, time did not allow for me to complete the degree. I am grateful I found out about WGU where I can take classes that fit my schedule. Not only did I walk away with a degree, I also walked away with a lot of certifications. >> Shane runs our information technology division which is a really complex and challenging set of activities. >> I am vice president of information technology at a company that drives growth to every corner of Philadelphia. It's rewarding every day to know I am making a difference. >> I heard if you hang around wolves, you learn how to howl, if you hang around eagles, you will learn to soar. Shane is an eagle. >> Even at a young age, he is always trying to figure out how he can help others. >> He is truly an inspiration to everybody and now through this mural, he'll have the opportunity to be an inspiration to everyone in his community. >> It is my hope people will take a look at this, learn about Shane's story be inspired. >> Also good to see him up there and to think about the road he has traveled. I am so proud. >> He turned out pretty good. >> You cannot drive around Philly without seeing hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of murals. They tell a story. It's a neighborhood story. >> They are important because they tell the story of Philadelphia. They tell the story of the community. What it shows to the people that they can do as well. >> Future generation will see someone just like them can make it. Someone just like them has a story to tell. Maybe it will spark something in them to say, that is his story. So now I will write mine. >> There are a few things I would hope I would find here today. First of all, we would all be wearing the traditional WGU uniform, jammies and slippers instead of cap and gown. >> I grope in the southeastern inter partes out of and a part of San Diego were gangs and violence were common site and broken homes a part of the norm. Being the first to change the history of my family was my way to break the cycle and show it can be done. You don't have to be a product of your environment or house the past dictate your future. >> I told everyone that I was going to Western Governors University, the biggest nonprofit fully accredited online university you probably never heard of. I love to tell WGU's story but I soon began to realize, it was not just WGU's story. It is my story. It is your story. It's our store. >> Visio said hey, in turn, you're pretty good at solving these business problems. How about a career? She said, how about a career as a business manager at our medical practice? I said yes. I need a career. [ Laughter ] I have been looking for one of those for very long time.'s like I have finally mustered up the courage to admit to everyone here that many years, I was an undocumented immigrant. Because of this and for too long, I believe my dream of becoming a teacher would have to be forgotten. As an update to that story, I stand in front of you today I brought a U.S. citizen and a teacher. >> The most important lesson my father taught me growing up was about self accountability. He told me everything in his might, as long as you live, don't you ever care cry or complain about somebody didn't do for you. If you want something bad enough, you to work as hard as you can and go get yourself. The only one who can stop you is you. You have the power to be as great as you want to be, believe in yourself and remember successes waiting on you. A WGU, let's go. >> Once you have experienced the benefits of WGU's affordable personalized approach to getting a degree online, it's natural to tell it when you meet and now there's an easier way to let rents and family know about WGU. Refer friend is a platform that makes it easy to tell and some family about the benefits of WGU and earn rewards. 's item just wants to get a personalized link you can share with as many people as you want on blogs, emails, forms, and your favorite social media platforms. You can track how many people have checked out WGU from your link and earn cool gear and the process. More referrals, more rewards, more convenient. Sign up today to refer friend and help us change people's lives through education. >> Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to WGU's 2021 one virtual commencement. I'm Allison Bell, regional vice president. Graduates, families, friends and loved ones, you played an important role in helping a graduate reach this incredible milestone. We thank you for the support and we are thrilled to have you join our celebration. I now have the honor of introducing Tyler Carter from Eagle Mountain Utah who will sing our national anthem. >> Tyler earned his master business initiation degree in 2020, he shares his wife and his mentor regiment of all in history. He currently works as a senior project manager congratulations Tyler and thank you for joining us today. >> If you're able, we ask you please rise for our national anthem. >> >> >> [ SINGING ] >> 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 FIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING. AND THE ROCKET'S 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! >> Thank you. That was wonderful. Is my honor to convene WGU's first winter virtual commencement. I want to welcome our graduates friends and family by your side who have supported you through your journey. Many of you are watching from WGU Facebook or the WGU YouTube platform. Please take a moment to let us know where you are online in the chat. That's awesome, seeing places like Seattle and Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Indianapolis. Is truly remarkable how our technology today can allow so many of us to convene across this country. Graduates today marks significant milestone in your lives. It represents a dream achieved but also countless challenges faced and obstacles overcome. Including a pandemic. WGU was founded to serve night owls, those who work through the night, earning their degrees while they keep their commitments to family and jobs. For all of you, graduating in the midst of a pandemic, season that has caused each of us to adapt and grow in so many ways, this milestone represents an unprecedented level of dedication, persistence, creativity and resilience. This hardened achievement will move your lives forward. It will move your families four. It will also move for your communities, the organizations at which you serve and work and our nation as a whole. In ways both measurable and immeasurable. >> Today's commencement celebrates you, our graduates for setting and accomplishing a significant goal and moving to a new stage of your life. Many of your graduating with a family member. We offer a special congratulations to those of you who are sharing this accomplishment with a loved one. >> WGU is grateful to be recognized year after year as a military friendly university. We are proud to honor the military members were graduating and we thank you for your service to our country. [ Applause ] >> Also, joining us virtually are many of our WGU faculty and staff. If you have been a beneficiary of the time and dedication they put into their work, please put your hands together and give them a round of applause. [ Applause ] >> Since our first graduate in 2000, WGU has awarded more than 215,000 degrees including more than 47,000 and 2020 alone. I would like to share some facts about today's graduating class. 42% of you are the first and your families to earn a college degree. We extend a special congratulations to you. Your average age is 39 years old, the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 66. 70% of you are women. The average time to graduation for those of you earning a bachelor's degree was two years, seven months. As I always like to joke, what took you so long? And the average time for those earning a Masters degree was one year five months. You worked diligently to reach an educational milestone that will change the course of your own history and influence future generations. You have aspired to greater things. Thank you for allowing all of us at WGU to play a part in the fulfillment of your dream. Has truly been our privilege. >> Now we have the honor of hearing from two of your fellow graduates. >> Diamond I am delighted to introduce Sarah master of nursing leadership management from Ohio. She will speak first and then we will hear from our next feature, bachelor of science in accounting from Georgia. Please join me in welcoming our speakers. >> We are here, we made it. We graduated during a global pandemic. Through personal trials and Jeep relations, victory and despair, we made it. To get to this moment, I followed a long and winding road. I made a few questionable turns along the way, but I still made it to this beautiful and victorious destination. I'm willing to bet your journey was interesting to. We also have a story to tell. Without further ado, here is my story. I graduated from high school over 20 years ago. It feels like it was meant to be. After graduation, I went off to a traditional brick-and-mortar university I enjoy the experience, making many friends, joining a sorority and testing the limits of my newfound independence. Then, I took a semester off to save up some money and became a state tested nursing assistant working in a nursing home. During that time, had a beautiful baby boy. After the birth of my son, Renate returning to school sing the possible. I was a single mother working two jobs trying to keep it alal together. universisi fororninit coursess. 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I had worked since I was still in school and I never stop setting goals and working to accomplish them. I tried to find a job with my resume but guess what, I was always an over qualified candidate for any of the jobs I applied for. I ended up working as an assistant teacher which wasn't a good fit for me. I am an economist. After I had my son, I fell into depression. I felt like I was living the life of someone else. >> One day, I was watching a YouTube video and I heard this sentence, do something for yourself. This was like an awakening alarm to me. I decided to pursue a new path in accounting. I worked on my GED at home with a six-month-old baby. Because at the time, I couldn't transfer any of my school credit in Syria. That I enrolled in a technical school to get an associate degree in accounting and I completed my first year with great success and I got an internship. At that time, my husband had graduated from WGU with a Masters degree in information technology. So I decided to waste no more time and give it a shot at WGU. I transferred my credit and started a bachelors in accounting. I finished my degree and for terms benefiting from my previous experience. >> That took a lot of hard work. And education. By the way, besides my husband and me, we have other family members and friends were proud WGU graduates or current students. >> This is only one step toward my goal of becoming a successful forensic accountant. My next step is going to be earning my Master's degree from WGU. Has guess what, this school is for us. The ones who know what we want and we know how to get there. We have a plan. Remember, no matter how hard it sounds, you never know until you try to do it. Only then, you reveal your real abilities and discover new aspects of yourself. Congratulations to everyone and a very big thank you to my family who supported me. I program mentor and all the faculty who were always there for us along the way making sure we are getting the help we need to accomplish our goals. Finally, a word to my father who passed away recently. I didn't get to see him after I left Syria more than seven years ago. I did add one more accomplishment to that list. I know you are happy looking down at me and are very proud of me. Thank you. >> Thank you for sharing your stories. Your path to get here today was far from easy but your drive and determination carried you through. You truly embody resilience and Sarah, I love the raptor story with the wise words of Albert Einstein. A day without learning is a day wasted. There's so much to learn and so little time to learn them. Your determination and eagerness to learn will take you far. Congratulations to you both on your success. Both of your stories are a reminder that even though at times the vision of our aspiration may be obscured or even dimmed by life's challenges, is always there. It never goes away. Just as the clouds that obscure a peak of a mountain with the brightness of a new day, it's once again revealed to argue. I'm so grateful for your stories and inspiration provides to me and to every single one of us. Congratulations to this incredible milestone and thank you again for your inspiring stories. >> Now I am pleased to introduce our commencement speaker. Going up in a single-parent home with the father who inspire perseverance and fairness, Marcus learned how to divide his values and cycles. He attended Howard University from 1998-2002 where he played Division I football. In 2003, Marcus was drafted into the NFL as an offensive lineman where he played with the Titans, bills, ravens and Jaguars. After five years in the Lee, he retired to pursue a career in construction and contracting. At the age of 27, Marcus found a construction company experience fast growth. In 2010 he was recognized as the African-American subcontractor of the year for the state of Maryland. Then, the unexpected happens. His business went and crept losing nearly $2 million on one project in a matter of 90 days. After much debate, Marcus got a part-time job as a custodian and was more determined hard work, became an inspirational speaker, executive coach and best-selling author. Helping to build the success of others. Please welcome Marcus Ogden. >> Thank you so much. Hello graduates of WGU Night Owls. I'm so excited to be here today to give you the commencement speech for your graduation. Before I get into my speech which is titled the power of pivoting to help you create a legacy, I want you to understand something. What you all have done is achieve a huge milestone. I'm going to talk to these ladies that spoke tee off your graduating class. You all have faced adversity. You persevere through. You faced hardship, you kept going. You faced struggles and you are here today still standing. This is a huge accomplishment. Be proud of yourselves. You have earned that right. Now, in life, it's so important for you to pivot. Pivot is the arts of changing your strategy without changing your vision or final destination. In life, you will face adversity, hard times, struggles. The people who are successful in life, they don't give up. They pivot ago they make a detour, they change the road. They make a tweak and an adjustment. >> Whatever is necessary, they get it done. Just like you Night Owls. You all have hardships you face. You all have endured struggles. All of you have pivoted to get the degree you earn today. I will talk you about how he now you can have it and take the degree you have and elevate to a high level of success for yourself and your family to create that legacy you always dreamed up. >> Now, here are a couple of tips I'll give you before I tell you my story. Number 1, lien on your WGU inner circle. You have earned that right. You are here, you have graduated. Your network is your net worth. Again, your network is your net worth. Lien on your inner circle. That's how you can grow, expand and get opportunities. >> Number 2, don't be afraid to make mistakes. It builds resiliency. If I had not made mistakes in my life, I wouldn't be here today talking to you amazing graduates about my story. The third thing, I heard this several times from other speakers earlier, be sure to learn daily and learn from your mentors. Your mentors want to see you do great things. Use them, call them, email them. Now that you have graduated, don't go dark. They are driven to help you be the best version of yourself. Again, lien and learn from your WGU mentors. >>> I will tell you my personal story, give you a little bit of background of who I am. From a very early age in life, I faced a pivot situation. When I was eight years old, her parents divorced. Let's go a step further. Our mother left us on Christmas morning I woke up eight years old, I asked her brother, where is mommy and for six months, I was told she's at the store. Christmas morning, our mother left us. My father pivoted. He became a mother and a father. Raised two boys to do three things in life. Respect women, respect ourselves, and education over sports. The way he raised me allowed me to get a scholarship to go to to university and play for the Howard University bison. >> From Howard, I pivoted again. I went to school to become an attorney and also potentially a financial planner. I ended up getting drafted to the National Football League by the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was my first pivot. From there, I had a great career in the NFL for almost six years. Again, in my life, I had to what? I had to pivot. I wasn't prepared to enter my NFL career when it happens. For about six months, I struggled immensely. An alcoholic, I was depressed, I had anxiety. I had a lot of bad habits. Eventually, I found my construction company Caton premier Enterprises. I grew it to be the largest African-American subcontracting business, minority owned in the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Unfortunately, as the company grew, so did my ego. I wasn't grounded. I did not listen to any mentors in my life. I thought I knew everything. I had a fixed negative mindset. Because of that, and that making a really big mistake, spent about $2.5 million of my money in less than 90 days, was denied a change order and I had to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. >> In 2013, I lost everything. I lost my home, I lost both my cars in the same day. When I moved to Raleigh from Baltimore, I had $400 to my name. That's it. I was one week away from being homeless. Thank God the NFL helped me. I did not go homeless. I was working for Merrill Lynch in Durham, got fired after two months. All my fault. >> The next day, I got hired to a construction company, fired five days later. They shut down the sale, sold his company, I'm out of a job. The only job I could get, I was a custodian working from 10 PM- 5 AM. What I hear the word Night Owls, I get excited . Like you all, I worked, I pivoted I did whatever I had to do to take care of my family. From 10 PM-5 AM, for six months straight, I made a dose of five cents an hour. >> Is my wake-up moment as a custodian to turn my life around to the final pivot where I am today. I was taking out someone's trash as I normally did on my shift. The traffic, the trash fell on my bare skin, I didn't see the rip. All that came back on my body. Spoiled milk, rotten meat, all that nasty trash and that's my told myself, Marcus, you need to wake up, you need to start listening to people, take accountability, get your life back on track and that's what I did. I made the decision, I'm going to pivot and become a speaker. I start speaking in September 2013 for 2.5 years. Did not get one paid job. All you have been through to graduate, to be here today, the adversity, hardship, the sleepless nights, being night owls, doing whatever you had to take care of your family, my hat is off to you. I know exactly what that feels like. >> Finally, I got my first paid job in April 2016. I have not looked back since. I worked for many Fortune 500 companies as a speaker. Written two best-selling books, turn my life around. I have pivoted. I have a question for you. Are you going to be willing to listen to what I have to tell you on action step part of this key note to help you elevate success you already have and be prepared to pivot to get the best out of your life for you and your family? Is a big thing in life I always tell people, the number 1 enemy we have to overcome on our journey is ourselves. Again, the number 1 enemy we have to overcome on our journey is ourselves. I will give you a check. Is something called an unbreakable mindset. There are three big keys to a breakable mindset. Number 1, have good theology. Move with energy. Be passionate, be excited, give life. Be energetic. When you have good physiology, it radiates to others. Number 2, control your mental focus. You can fix it for yourself, address it. If is not about you you can't do anything about it, don't focus on it. Focus on what you can control and control your mental focus. In the third, believe you deserve to succeed believe you deserve to succeed. You have graduated today. He worked hard and you are night owl graduate of WGU. That mean something. If you don't believe it, why would anybody else? Again, good physiology, control back on mental focus. Believe in you. >> I have a process to help you pivot. Number 1, be poised. When you are pivoting in life, going to a new journey, making a new tweak in the road, be confident. Be assured of yourself. The radiating energy and positivity. We are poised in life, it helps you track people to follow you where you are going. Be inspirational. Breathe life into people. Don't be motivated for external gain. Money, notoriety, fame. Your graduating speakers before said they were inspired to make a change in life. I was bankrupt, broke, almost homeless seven and half years ago. I'm here today talking to you all. If I can do it, you can do it. Have a victory mindset. A fixed mindset is that you know everything. Don't be like that. I was set, became bankrupt. Growth mind says good but a victory mind, you care about your growth, your families growth, your employees growth, your mentors growth. Everybody around you. Have a victory mindset and you can achieve great things. >> Observe. Whatever you want to do in life, observe the industry. Look around, have your eyes open, have your ears open. We have two eyes, two ears, one out. Observe what's going on. And T, be a tactician. If you have a strategy in life, plan to make a move, be a tactician, execute. I say this all the time, Bill Belichick, an amazing strategist. Tom Brady, the best execution I've ever seen on a National Football League level. >> Again, you have earned this achievement. It is a monumental gain for you and your family. In life, you have adversity, you have hardship, you have struggles, he prepared to pivot. The poised, be inspirational, have a victory mindset, observe, be a tactician. Doing those things can give you the best chance to achieve success for you. Your family and create that legacy. >> >>> Thank you the inspirational message. Particularly this notion of ensuring you lean and to that circle, network of friends and the simple phrase you will get what you give. The more you can contribute to your family, community, the network and the alumni network you are now a part of, it will also come back and help you as you continue to journey. I also love the notion simply that mistakes are not to be feared. They present opportunities for learning. The other great example you give us, the accountability for one's own life and one's own self and making sure you leverage that ownership and truly pivot. Thank you so much for that inspirational message. Now we will hear from Dr. Marty Baker, Provost and chief academic officer who will confer degrees. >> >> We will not recognize each of our master's degree graduates. Although you are not physically here with us, with the candidates for Masters degrees in educator endorsements, please rise. If you're able wherever you are. Upon the favorable recommendation of our faculty and the authority vested in me, why the Board of Trustees and member governors of Night Owls , I hereby confer upon you the master's degree or endorsement you have earned to include the master of arts, Master of arts in teaching, Master of business administration, Master of education, master of science or educator endorsements with all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining. >> Congratulations and welcome to our community of innovative, bold and resilience professionals. >> Standby for your moment in the spotlight and congratulatory messages from your college leaders. >> Hello, I am Sean Akin senior vice president and executive Dean of the College of business. On behalf of all of us, including program mentors and course instructors and faculty, we can congratulate you on earning your degree. We are proud of your accomplishment and wish you all the best. >> >> [ Reading of Names ] >> >> Congratulations to the college of business. >> Hello, I am Dr. senior vice president and executive Dean of the College of health professions. What an amazing accomplishment. You did it. Congratulations on cupping your degree and joining our family. We are all incredibly proud to be part of your professional journey. On behalf of all of us at WGU, your program mentors, course instructors and evaluators, we wish you happiness and success in all of your endeavors. And please, stay in touch. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratulations to the graduates of the College of health professions. >> Hello, I am Dr. Elke leads, Dean of academic vice president for the College of health technology and you did it. What an incredible accomplishment of reaching your goal to earn your degree. On behalf of all of us here, our associate deans, program chair, program mentors, course instructors and evaluators, congratulations. We wish you the very best. Congratulations. >> [ Reading of Names ]. >> Congratulations to the graduates of the College of information technology. >> Hello, I Dean an academic vice president of the teachers college. We are so proud of you and your competence. Graduations on reaching this goal, and earning your degree in graduating from WGU. From all of your program mentors, course instructors, and evaluators, and the rest of the WGU Night Owls family, we wish you the very best . May your career as an educator bring you great joy and satisfaction as you impact the lives of the K-12 students you will be privileged to serve. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratulations to the graduates of the teachers college. >> With the candidates for Masters degrees and postbaccalaureate teacher preparation endorsements please rise if you are able, wherever you are. Upon the favorable recommendation of faculty in the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees and member governors of Western Governors University, I hereby confer upon you the bachelors degree or endorsement you have earned to include the bachelor of arts, the bachelor of science, or the postbaccalaureate teacher preparation endorsements with all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining. You may now move the tassels from the right to the left side of your mortarboard. Congratulations on this important milestone in your lives. Standby for your moment in the spotlight. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratulations to the graduates of the College of business. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratulations to the graduates of the College of health professionals. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratulations to the graduates of the College of I.T. >> [ Reading of Names ] >> Congratutulaons s t t gradua . YoYou w join neneork k 25000 umum wororldde. lcomom t ts azazg communitity. 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I am moved by their resilience and their courage to carry on in the face of adversity. I'm forever thankful for their lives and impact in bringing about a world that is better than before. >> As we close today, hope you take a moment to reflect on the pride you felt during the ceremony. Although we can't be physically together, we invite you to join us at a future in person commencement. Maggie for letting us be a part of your educational journey and celebrate with you. As you celebrate, please share your excitement on social media and remember to use the hashtag WGU grad. This concludes our winter virtual commencement ceremony, stay tuned for congratulatory messages from faculty and staff and thank you for joining us. >> [ Event Concluded ]
