WELCOME TO DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SOUTH END ABELE QUAD AND WELCOME DUKE UNIVESITY'S CLASS OF 2020. >> [MUSIC] >> [MUSIC] >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> [MUSIC] >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ABELE QUAD >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> >> [MUSIC] >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> [MUSIC] >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY>> >> >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] VJ >> >> >> >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> >> >> PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING AS WE RECOGNIZE THE FACULTIES OF DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE DUKE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE TRUSTEES OF DUKE UNIVERSITY, FOLLOWED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY. >> >> [PROCESSIONAL] >> >> DUKE UNIVERSITY'S 169TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY >> >> [MUSIC] >> >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. >> STUDENT ENSEMBLE: >> [NATIONAL ANTHEM] >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> REV. POWERY: LET US PRAY. OHGOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST OUR HOPE FOR AGES TO COME WITH PRAISE YOU, AND WE BASK IN THE GLORY OF THE SUN AND RAIN AND WITH STAN ILLUMINATES AWE BECAUSE WE MADE IT TO THIS DAY EVEN THOUGH SOME PARENTS MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE PAYING TUITION FOREVER. DESPITE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WE PRAISE. DESPITE THE DISAPPOINTMENT WE HAVE HAD, THE LOSSES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, THE QUESTIONS WE RAISED THE IRRESOLUTION WE ARE STILL HAVING, THE TEARS WE HAVE SHED. THE DOUBTS THAT THIS DAY WOULD COME, WE STAND WITH OUR FEET FIRMLY PLANTED WITH COURAGE AND 2021 TO CELEBRATE 2020 IN THE FACE OF THE GREAT TOWERING CHURCH THAT WAS THE LAST BILLING TO BE COMPLETED IN 1932. YOUR TIME IS ALWAYS ON TIME. AND THOUGH THIS COMMENCEMENT IS NOT AT THE USUAL TIME IT IS OUR TIME, AND OUR TEARS TODAY ARE TEARS OF JOY. ARE SHOTS TODAY ARE SHOUTS OF CELEBRATION WHILE WE DANCE IN OUR HEARTS WITH AN ELECTRIC SLIDE OF HAPPINESS WE BRING IT ALL, OUR FULL SELVES, OUR WHOLE HEARTS TO THE HEART OF HIS GLORIOUS CAMPUS. TODAY WE GIVE THANKS NOT AS WE REFLECT ON THE LOSSES OF THE LOVES OF OUR LIVES WHO HAVE SUSTAINED AND CHERISHED US. ALL OF THOSE GRAY CLOUDS OF WITNESSES WHO SURROUNDED US DURING THIS UNUSUAL SEASON OF GROWTH TO LET US KNOW THAT WE WERE NOT ALONE ALL ALONG. THE FACULTY, STAFF, AND TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATORS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ENCOURAGED US WHEN WE CANNOT ENCOURAGE OURSELVES AND AS WE SIT ON ABELE QUAD WITH THE JAMES. B. DUKE STATUE IN FRONT AND FLOWERS AND WE REMEMBER ALL OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS UNIVERSITY AND THE LITANY OF KNOWN AND UNKNOWN NAMES MADE DUKE UNIVERSITY WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WE PRAISE FOR ALL OF THEM AND FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE GAINED HERE AT DUKE. AND EVEN AS WE TRAVEL THIS UNFORESEEN JOURNEY LET US EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED JOY, AND IN THE DAYS AHEAD MAY WE RISE HIGHER THAN THE CHAPEL TOWEL SO THAT WE NOT ONLY MAKE A LIVING BUT MAKE A LIFE, A LIFE THAT IS TRUTH TELLING, JUSTICE SEEKING, LOVE BREATHING, JOY INSTIGATING AND HOPE STARING WHILE BEING BRAVE ENOUGH NOT TO LIE, WISE ENOUGH NOT TO BE UNKIND, AND STRONG ENOUGH NOT TO HATE. LET EVEN OUR WOUNDS BE THE PORTAL WHERE YOUR LIGHT ENTERS US SO THAT YOU MAY SHINE A LIGHT OVER THE HORIZON OF OUR FUTURE FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD. SHOW US HOW TO NOT ONLY GO TO SPACE BUT TO MAKE SPACE FOR EACH OTHER, AND BY DOING SO BE A BLESSING TO ALL WHOM WE ENCOUNTER AND WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF THIS NEW MORNING AND THE CLASS OF 2020, WE SAY AMEN. PLEASE BE SEATED. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> GOOD MORNING, CLASS OF 2020! I AM THRILLED TO
JOIN DUKE'S FACULTY AND YOUR CLASSMATES, FAMILIES, AND MANY FRIENDS IN
CONGRATULATING YOU FOR REACHING THIS EXTRAORDINARY
MILESTONE. CONGRATULATIONS! >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: YOU DID
IT. YOU PASSED YOUR EXAMS AND
FINISHED YOUR REQUIREMENTS. YOU EARNED YOUR
DEGREES. AND THEN YOU
WAITED. AND WAITED. AND WAITED
SOME MORE. ND 2020, TODAY IS A DAY THAT HAS FOR TOO
LONG BEEN DELAYED YOUR TIME
HAS COME. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: LET ME BEGIN BY GIVING A
SHOUT-OUT TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BROUGHT
YOU TO THIS MOMENT. CLASS OF
2020, PLEASE RISE, TURN AROUND, AND GIVE THEM A HUGE
ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: MEMBERS OF THE
CLASS OF 2020, YOU ARRIVE BACK ON CAMPUS AS
THE FIRST GRADUATES WHO HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED. OVER THE COURSE OF
THE PAST YEAR, LIFE HAS TAKEN YOU IN
INNUMERABLE DIRECTIONS, TO NEW JOBS AND UNFAMILIAR
CITIES, TO MEET FRIENDS AND FORGE
RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUE ON TOWARD AN EVEN MORE
EXTRAORDINARY FUTURE. BUT TODAY, I REMIND YOU THAT WHEREVER
LIFE TAKES YOU, LUEYS YOU ARE ALWAYS
DEVILS FIRST. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: AS WE WELCOME BACK THESE
EXTRAORDINARY DEVILS, IT IS PERHAPS FITTING THAT DUKE
LIBRARIES IS HOSTING AN EXHIBITION THIS FALL ON DANTE
ALIGHIERI'S FAMED INFERNO, THE EPIC ALLEGORY COMPOSED IN
FOURTEENTH CENTURY FLORENCE. EVEN FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVEN'T READ IT, ARTICULARLY AFTER THE THE PLOT MAY SOUND
FAMILIAR PAST YEAR. A LONE SCHOLAR MAKES HIS WAY
THROUGH AN UNCERTAIN WORLD, ONE THAT IS SIMULTANEOUSLY
FAMILIAR AND WILDLY CHANGED, AS THOUGH FLIPPED
ON ITS HEAD. THE STORIES HE
HEARS ARE BLEAK, DISCOURAGING. PEOPLE HE KNOWS AND LOVES
SUFFER PAIN AND GREAT MISFORTUNE. AND AT EACH
POINT, WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE IT
CAN'T GET ANY WORSE, IT DOES. NOW, YOU MAY BE
THINKING, WAIT A
SECOND, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO
BE A CELEBRATION. IS THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO BUM
US OUT ON THE MORNING OF OUR COMMENCEMENT? HROUGH ALL THE BUT THAT'S JUST THE
THING UNCERTAINTY AND
BLEAKNESS, THE INFERNO OFFERS US A MOMENT
OF EXTRAORDINARY HOPE. IN THE FINAL
LINES, AFTER LITERALLY TRAVERSING
THE NINE CIRCLES OF HELL, DANTE FINDS
A WAY OUT. A WAY
FORWARD. THROUGH THE
CAVERN, HE WRITES, HE FOLLOWED A LIGHT AND “E
QUINDI USCIMMO A RIVEDER LE STELLE,” EH QUÍNDI USHÍMMO/ A
RIVEDÉRLE STELLE OR IN LONGFELLOW'S FAMOUS
TRANSLATION, HE “EMERGED ONCE MORE TO
RE-BEHOLD THE STARS.” THIS LINE HAS IMMEDIATE
RESONANCE TO OUR SHARED JOURNEY TODAY, ON THIS GLORIOUS
MORNING. THROUGH THE TUMULT AND
UNCERTAINTY OF THE PAST 18 MONTHS, WE EMERGE TOGETHER TO THIS
MOMENT OF CELEBRATION. AND THE LONGFELLOW
TRANSLATION'S STRIKING COMPOUND ERTAINLYOLD VERB
CAPTURES YOUR EXPERIENCE THIS WEEKEND. YOU HAVE REBEHELD
FAMILIAR PLACES, FROM THE TOWERING TREES OF THIS
QUAD TO THE FALL BLOOMS OF THE GARDENS TO A VICTORY
IN WALLACE WADE. ROM A GREATER YOU HAVE REBEHELD OLD
FRIENDS DISTANCE, PERHAPS, BUT WITH UNDIMINISHED
LOVE AND AFFECTION. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO UNDERTOOK
THE FIRST-EVER EVENING CHAPEL CLIMBS HAVE REBEHELD THE
FIRMAMENT OF STARS, THE SAME LIGHT THAT GUIDED
DANTE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE INFERNO. IN THIS
REBEHOLDING, THERE IS A SENSE
THAT WE, THE BEHOLDER, HAVE CHANGED. HROUGH A VIRTUAL END TO YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOME
STUFF YOUR SENIOR
YEAR, THROUGH QUARANTINE, THROUGH VACCINES AND MASKING
AND CANCELLATIONS AND UNCERTAINTY. AND TO
BE SURE, WE ARE NOT OUT OF
THE WOODS YET. JUST AS DANTE STILL HAD TO PASS
THROUGH PURGATORY AFTER THE INFERNO, WE HAVE SOME UNCERTAIN
DAYS AHEAD. BUT HERE WE
ARE HERE, TOGETHER, ON THIS JOYFUL
DAY. S ONE POET SAID, WE ARE EMERGING TOWARD THE
LIGHT “AS THOUGH AWAKENING
TO MUSIC.” WE ARE RE-BEHOLDING AGAIN THE
UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE BEFORE
US. ERTAIN HAT AND I AM CERTAIN
THERE ARE EXTRAORDINARY DAYS AHEAD FOR
ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF
2020! >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: AT DUKE, WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF
BEGINNING THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES WITH
A STUDENT VOICE. EACH YEAR, A PANEL OF DUKE
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS A MEMBER
OF THE GRADUATING CLASS TO BE OUR STUDENT
SPEAKER. THIS YEAR, THE PANEL SELECTED SABRINA
MACIARIELLO, TRINITY COLLEGE
CLASS OF 2020. AS AN
UNDERGRADUATE, SABRINA WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED
ACTRESS AND ADVOCATE FOR WELLNESS AND COLLECTIVE
HEALING, SERVING AS AN INTERN AT DUWELL
AND AS EXECUTIVE THEATRICAL CO-DIRECTOR OF THE
ME TOO MONOLOGUES. SHE RECEIVED THE COSTANZO
TEACHING FELLOWSHIP FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO
PSYCHOLOGY 101. SINCE GRADUATING
FROM DUKE, SABRINA HAS HELPED TO LEAD A
NATIONAL TELEPHONE-BASED PROJECT THAT ASSISTS MILITARY
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WORKED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL
ORGANIZATION KALEIDOSCOPE ON DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A
NEW HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
SABRINA MACIARIELLO, OUR STUDENT
SPEAKER. >> [APPLAUSE] >> SABRINA MACIARIELLO: OUR STUDENT
SPEAKER. OUR STUDENT
SPEAKER. ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS
IS NAMED ANDREW ANABI. THE WEEK I DECIDED TO WRITE
THIS SPEECH, SOMEONE NAMED ANNA ASKED HIM TO WRITE ON HOW HOPE
CAN HELP US HEAL ON A COLLECTIVE LEVEL. HE RESPONDED: “DEAR ANNA, TRUE
HOPE IS TO BE AT PEACE WITH THE REALITY THAT WE WILL NEVER
KNOW WHAT IS NEXT. IT ALLOWS US TO COME TO TERMS
WITH THE WAY OUR LIVES ALREADY ARE AND TO APPRECIATE WHAT
WE HAVE WHILE WE HAVE IT.” MY NAME IS
SABRINA. AND POST-SPRING BREAK SECOND
SEMESTER WENT THE SAME FOR ME AS IT LIKELY DID FOR SOME
OF YOU: REALLY CRAPPY. LIKE MANY OF YOU, I GRIEVED ALL
OF THE MEMORIES I DIDN'T GET TO HAVE: THE PEOPLE I DIDN'T
GET TO SAY GOODBYE TO. DO YOU REMEMBER GETTING THAT
EMAIL? THE ONE THAT SAID, IN ESSENCE, THAT OUR TIME ON THIS
BREATHTAKING GOTHIC CAMPUS WAS UP? I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER
SITTING WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS MOMENTS LATER, HUGGING
HER AS WE CRIED ON HER BATHROOM FLOOR. IT WAS DURING THOSE MOMENTS OF
SADNESS THAT THE OLD CLICHE BECAME ALMOST MOCKINGLY
OBVIOUS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE
GOT UNTIL IT'S GONE. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME AT THE TIME:
THAT PLATITUDE STRONGLY FORESHADOWED ANOTHER
UNPRECEDENTED LOSS I WAS TO EXPERIENCE
IN 2021. BUT MORE ON
THAT LATER. WHEN YOU START AT DUKE YOUR
FRESHMAN YEAR, YOU OFTEN HEAR ADVICE FROM PROFESSORS AND
ADVISORS THAT YOU STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO TAKE, BUT ALMOST
ALWAYS END UP BEING TRUE. THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO
MIND FOR ME IS “QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. ” LIKE WHEN DEAN SUE REPEATEDLY
TOLD US TO USE OUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE OUR
INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITIES, AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT COMPLETING
TWO MAJORS AND A MINOR AND A CERTIFICATE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY:
NONE OF IT MATTERED AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, AND WE
WOULDN'T GET THIS CHANCE AGAIN. WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES AND LOOK
BACK ON MYSELF FIVE YEARS AGO, I SEE A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS
CONSTANTLY OVERCOME WITH THE NEED TO DO MORE: TO DO THE
WORK-STUDY, AND THE OVERLOADING, AND THE
EXTRACURRICULARS, AND THE FELLOWSHIP. I WAS LIVING IN ANTICIPATION OF
THIS VERY MOMENT, WALKING OUT OF HERE WITH MY DIPLOMA IN
HAND, READY TO RATTLE OFF MY LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER
BEING ASKED: “WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GO TO DUKE
UNIVERSITY?” AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SITTING IN
QUARANTINE, I REALIZED: BY LIVING IN ANTICIPATION OF
ANSWERING THAT QUESTION, I NEGLECTED TO GIVE THE SMALLER
MOMENTS THE APPRECIATION THEY DESERVED. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THAT
DREADED ANNOUNCEMENT, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO NEXT. THE IDEA OF REPRESSING IT ALL
AND BURYING MYSELF IN JOB APPLICATIONS WAS INCREDIBLY
TEMPTING, BUT INSTEAD I TURNED TO SOCIAL
MEDIA. AND ONE MORNING, MY MINDLESS
SCROLLING WAS INTERRUPTED BY A QUOTE THAT CAUGHT
MY EYE. “GRIEF IS REALLY JUST LOVE
WITH NO PLACE TO GO.” AND JUST LIKE THAT, I HAD
DECIDED: LET ME GIVE IT SOMEWHERE
TO GO. EVERY EVENING AT SUNSET, I
WALKED ALONG THE EAST CAMPUS TRAIL. I ALLOWED THE MEMORIES OF MY
UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE TO FLOW FREELY, BRINGING ALONG
WHATEVER EMOTIONS OF HAPPINESS, ANGER, OR NOSTALGIA THAT
ACCOMPANIED THEM. THE LONG NIGHTS SPENT
UNSUCCESSFULLY SWEARING OFF MY PROCRASTINATORY TENDENCIES IN
THE GOTHIC READING ROOM. THE DISTANT MEMORY
OF QUENCHERS. THE COLLECTIVE GROAN AFTER
HEARING “CLOSER” BY THE CHAINSMOKERS PLAY AT ANY
SOCIAL GATHERING. THE BREATHLESSNESS THAT
ACCOMPANIED EACH TIME THE C1 CIRCLED THE ROUNDABOUT AND
CRUISED ONTO CHAPEL DRIVE, REVEALING THE CHAPEL IN ALL
OF HER MAJESTIC SPLENDOR. I MOURNED THE LOSS OF THE
MOMENTS I TOOK FOR GRANTED, YES, BUT I ALSO SMILED AT THEIR
REFLECTIONS AS I LOOKED BACK AT THEM IN MY REAR-VIEW
MIRROR. AND SO... LIFE CONTINUED. I STAYED IN DURHAM, I GOT A
JOB, I HEALED, AND I MOVED ON. THEN, ON MARCH 26, 2021,
MY LITTLE BROTHER DIED UNEXPECTEDLY AT
THE AGE OF 18. THERE'S AN OLD SAYING THAT AT
EACH NEW STAGE OF YOUR LIFE, THE UNIVERSE WILL CYCLICALLY
GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVE TO YOURSELF THAT YOU'VE TRULY
LEARNED, INTERNALIZED, AND MASTERED THE LESSONS FROM
THE PREVIOUS ONES. THE LOSS OF MY BROTHER
PRECIPITATED AN EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF THAT DEFIES DESCRIPTION
ALTOGETHER. I KICKED MYSELF FOR WEEKS
THINKING OF HOW MUCH QUARANTINE TIME I SPENT IN DURHAM GRIEVING
DUKE, STUBBORNLY REFUSING TO FLY HOME TO MY FAMILY BECAUSE I
DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE DURHAM BEHIND. I THOUGHT OF ALL THE MEMORIES I
COULD HAVE HAD WITH HIM DURING THOSE MONTHS: TIME I'D
NEVER GET BACK. BUT TO MY OWN SURPRISE, THERE
WERE ALSO MANY MOMENTS OF GRATITUDE. WHERE THERE IS GRIEF,
THERE IS DEEP LOVE. I LEARNED THAT LESSON
THE FIRST TIME. IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF,
WE HAVE ALL COLLECTIVELY EXPERIENCED CONFUSION,
FRUSTRATION, GRIEF, AND LOSS. WE TAUGHT OURSELVES HOW TO COPE
IN THE MIDST OF INSTABILITY, AND HOW TO CREATE OUR OWN
SENSES OF CLOSURE. AND THAT SHARED EXPERIENCE OF
OVERCOMING PERSONAL DIFFICULTY IS BUT ANOTHER WAY THAT DUKE
HAS BONDED US TOGETHER. THE BEST WAY TO APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU HAVE IS BY TRULY AND DEEPLY APPRECIATING ITS
IMPERMANENCE. EVERY TIME YOU SHARE SPACE WITH
SOMEONE SPECIAL TO YOU, TODAY ESPECIALLY, HOLD
THEM TIGHTLY. BUT WITH LOVE AND APPRECIATION,
NOT FEAR. BECAUSE IF THIS PANDEMIC HAS
TAUGHT US NOTHING ELSE, IT'S TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE
OF LIVING OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY AS WE SAT INSIDE AND SAW
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOSE THEIRS. TO THE RESILIENT CLASS OF 2020:
RECALL THAT, FOR MANY MONTHS, WE DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET
THIS MOMENT BACK. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
TRULY RELISH IN THE FULL GLORY OF WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FINALLY
WALK OUT OF HERE IN A I CAP AND
GOWN. TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE ALL
OF THE ADVERSITIES YOU'VE PREVAILED THROUGH TO MAKE IT
TO THIS POINT HERE, TODAY. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, REFLECT
ON YOUR EXPERIENCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN PRIDE: THE
ACCUMULATION OF A MILLION TINY MOMENTS THAT HAVE FORTIFIED
THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY. CLASS OF 2020: IT IS TRULY SUCH
AN HONOR TO BE SHARING THIS TIME WITH
YOU. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU,
AND OF COURSE: A HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: THANK YOU SO MUCH SABRINA FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS AND I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME THE DUKE UNIVERSITY CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BOARD CHAIR LAURENE SPERLING, THE FORMALLY OPEN THIS COMMENCEMENT. >> CHAIR SPERLING: I AM NOW PLEASED TO DECLARE
THIS COMMENCEMENT OPEN FOR THE AWARDING OF UNIVERSITY MEDALS
AND HONORARY DEGREES. THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL IS OUR
HIGHEST HONOR FOR SERVICE TO DUKE, RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MAKE
TRANSFORMATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
UNIVERSITY. THESE MEDALS ARE AWARDED
ON FOUNDERS' DAY, WHICH WE CELEBRATE THIS WEEKEND
ALONGSIDE THIS COMMENCEMENT. DUKE UNIVERSITY AWARDS HONORARY
DEGREES TO RECOGNIZE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT
AND SERVICE TO THE WORLD. THE CANDIDATES FOR HONORARY
DEGREES HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY APPROVED BY
THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY AND BY THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES. EACH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY A FACULTY SPONSOR. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I AM PLEASED TODAY TO RECOGNIZE
THREE TRULY EXTRAORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE DUKE COMMUNITY
WITH THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL. I AM, FIRST, PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE
LATE MARYANN BLACK. ACCEPTING THE AWARD ON HER BEHALF IS HER SON, JONATHAN BLACK. >> MARYANN BLACK SERVED FOR MANY
YEARS AS ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNITY
RELATIONS FOR THE DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH
SYSTEM, A ROLE IN WHICH SHE FORGED
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE CITY
AND REGION WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. IN ADDITION TO HER
ROLE AT DUKE, MARYANN ALSO SERVED HER
COMMUNITY AS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, A DURHAM COUNTY
COMMISSIONER, AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS. SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE
DURHAM DOWNTOWN ROTARY AND WAS THE FIRST FEMALE CHAIR OF THE
GREATER DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD. MARYANN PASSED
AWAY, SADLY,
IN 2020. FOR HER LEADERSHIP AT DUKE AND
THE VITAL RELATIONSHIPS SHE FOSTERED BETWEEN OUR UNIVERSITY
AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE
UNIVERSITY MEDAL TO MARYANN BLACK. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I AM NOW PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE
PETE NICHOLAS, DUKE CLASS
OF 1964. UNFORTUNATELY, PETE CAN'T BE WITH
US THIS MORNING. ACCEPTING THE MEDAL ON HIS
BEHALF IS HIS SON J.K. THE CO-FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, AND LONGTIME CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION, PETE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE
DUKE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR
TWELVE YEARS, INCLUDING TWO
YEARS AS CHAIR. HE AND HIS WIFE GINNY SERVED AS
THE CO-CHAIRS FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CAMPAIGN
FOR DUKE, AND HIS FAMILY HAS PROVIDED
MAJOR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO OUR UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE NAMING GIFT FOR
THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT. AN EMERITUS MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF ADVISORS FOR THE NICHOLAS INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY SOLUTIONS, HE RECEIVED THE JOSEPH WHARTON
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE WHARTON SCHOOL AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. HE HAS ALSO BEEN A FRIEND AND
TRUSTED ADVISER TO SEVERAL DUKE PRESIDENTS, INCLUDING ME. FOR HIS TRANSFORMATIONAL
LEADERSHIP AND HIS SUPPORT OF OUR CAMPUS CLIMATE
INITIATIVES, I AM DELIGHTED TO AWARD THE
UNIVERSITY MEDAL TO PETE NICHOLAS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I AM NOW PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE
RICK WAGONER, DUKE CLASS
OF 1975. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: CAREER THAT RETIRED AFTER 32 YEARS AT
GENERAL MOTORS SAW HIM SERVE AS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER, ICK HAS BEEN A AND CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER COMMITTED AND VISIONARY LEADER
AT HIS ALMA MATER. HE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE
DUKE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR
TWELVE YEARS, INCLUDING TWO
YEARS AS CHAIR. HE CONTINUES TO SERVE DUKE AS A
MEMBER OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, AND AS CHAIR OF THE DUKE
KUNSHAN UNIVERSITY ADVISORY BOARD. NCLUDING CHAIRING RICK HAS TRANSFORMED DUKE IN SO
MANY AREAS SEARCHES FOR KEY
SENIOR LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR CHANCELLOR FOR
HEALTH AFFAIRS AND OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS AND
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO
HIM FOR HIS ADVICE AND COUNSEL THROUGHOUT MY
TIME AT DUKE. IN RECOGNITION OF THE MANY WAYS
THAT RICK WAGONER HAS LEFT HIS MARK AT
DUKE, I AM DELIGHTED TO AWARD HIM
THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I AM NOW PLEASED
TO CONFER, BY THE POWER
VESTED IN ME, HONORARY DEGREES UPON FOUR
EXTRAORDINARY CANDIDATES. TO TODAY'S
RECIPIENTS, WE KNOW THAT YOUR EXAMPLE WILL
INSPIRE OUR GRADUATES TO PURSUE CAREERS OF EQUAL PRINCIPLE
AND PURPOSE. WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE PROUD TO
CALL YOU DUKIES. I INVITE PAULA
MCCLAIN, JAMES B. DUKE DISTINGUISHED
PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, DEAN OF THE GRADUATE
SCHOOL, AND VICE PROVOST FOR
GRADUATE EDUCATION, TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM
MARY SCHMIDT CAMPBELL, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> A RENOWNED ART
HISTORIAN, DR. MARY SCHMIDT CAMPBELL HAS
SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF SPELMAN COLLEGE
SINCE 2015. UNDER HER
LEADERSHIP, SPELMAN HAS DEVELOPED A
STRATEGIC VISION FOR EDUCATING BLACK WOMEN FOR THE
21ST CENTURY, THROUGH EXPANDING
PARTNERSHIPS, DEEPENING THE COLLEGE'S
EXCELLENCE IN STEM, BROADENING ITS SIGNATURE
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AND COMPLETING THE LARGEST
COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN IN ITS HISTORY. BEFORE HER ARRIVAL
AT SPELMAN, DR. CAMPBELL WAS A MAJOR FORCE
IN THE CULTURAL LIFE OF NEW YORK CITY, SERVING AS THE CITY'S CULTURAL
AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM, AND DEAN OF NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY'S TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FOR MORE
THAN 20 YEARS. A FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN
ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SHE SERVES AS A TRUSTEE OF THE
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART IN ATLANTA, THE J. PAUL
GETTY TRUST, AND THE DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE
FOUNDATION. IN 2009, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
APPOINTED HER VICE-CHAIR OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON
THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, WHERE SHE SPEARHEADED A
NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT MADE USE OF THE ARTS TO TURN AROUND
FAILING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. MARY, FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY
LEADERSHIP AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON
YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE
LETTERS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE SUE
JINKS-ROBERTSON, JAMES B. DUKE DISTINGUISHED
PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR GENETICS AND MICROBIOLOGY TO ACCOMPANY
TO THE PODIUM KATALIN KARIKÓ, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I ALSO INVITE
KEVIN SAUNDERS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN SURGERY
AND MEMBER OF THE DUKE HUMAN VACCINE INSTITUTE, TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM
DREW WEISSMAN, ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR THE
HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: PERHAPS MANY
OF YOU FELT, AS I
DID, A DEEP SENSE OF RELIEF WHEN YOU
RECEIVED THE COVID VACCINE. TODAY, I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF
RECOGNIZING TWO HONORANDS WHO PLAYED CRITICAL ROLES
IN ITS DEVELOPMENT. DR. KATALIN
KARIKÓ, IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT
BIONTECH AND AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE PERELMAN
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA. DR. DREW WEISSMAN IS THE
ROBERTS FAMILY PROFESSOR OF VACCINE RESEARCH AT THE
PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. TOGETHER, THEY DISCOVERED WAYS TO
SUPPRESS UNWANTED IMMUNOGENICITY
OF RNA, ENABLING IT TO SERVE AS THE
GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW CLASS OF VACCINES. IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE PANDEMIC, THIS COLLABORATIVE WORK WAS
FOUNDATIONAL TO THE RNA-BASED COVID VACCINES. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: DR. KARIKÓ HAS 14 MRNA-RELATED
PATENTS IN HER MORE THAN 40-YEAR RESEARCH
CAREER. SHE CURRENTLY LEADS THE
MRNA-BASED PROTEIN-REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR
BIONTECH SE, AND WAS THE CO-FOUNDER
WITH DR. WEISSMAN AND SERVED
AS CEO OF RNARX, WHICH PIONEERED THE FIELD OF
MRNA PROTEIN REPLACEMENT IN ANIMALS. FOR HER SCIENTIFIC
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, SHE HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS
AND RECOGNITIONS, INCLUDING THE ROSENSTIEL
AWARD, THE HORWITZ
PRIZE, AND THE BREAKTHROUGH
PRIZE. SHE HAS ALSO RECEIVED THE
SZÉCHENYI PRIZE AND SEMMELWEIS
AWARDS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE BESTOWED BY
THE GOVERNMENT OF HUNGARY, WHERE SHE WAS BORN AND
COMPLETED HER EDUCATION. DR. WEISSMAN DEVELOPS OTHER
MRNA VACCINES THAT INDUCE POTENT ANTIBODY AND
T-CELL RESPONSES. AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA, HE ALSO RESEARCHES METHODS TO
REPLACE GENETICALLY DEFICIENT PROTEINS, EDIT THE
GENOME, AND SPECIFICALLY TARGET
CELLS AND ORGANS. HIS RESEARCH HAS BEEN
SUPPORTED BY THE NIH, DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH
PROJECTS AGENCY, OR DARPA, THE GATES
FOUNDATION, AMFAR, AND BIONTECH. AMONG MANY OTHER
ACCOLADES, DR. WEISSMAN HAS RECEIVED
THE NORMAN L. LETVIN DUKE CHAVI-ID
SCHOLAR AWARD, THE ROSENSTIEL AWARD FOR
DISTINGUISHED WORK IN MEDICAL SCIENCE, AND THE BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD. AND WE LEARNED THAT THEY RECEIVED THE -- AWARD FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: KATALIN
AND DREW, FOR YOUR GROUNDBREAKING
AND LIFESAVING WORK, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON
EACH OF YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR
OF SCIENCE, AND TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE
OF ALL OF US, THE WORLD
OVER, WHO HAVE BENEFITTED
FROM YOUR EFFORTS. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE ESTHER
KIM LEE, PROFESSOR OF THEATER STUDIES
AND DIRECTOR OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND DIASPORA
STUDIES, TO ACCOMPANY TO THE
PODIUM KEN JEONG, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE OUR FINAL HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT AND THIS
YEAR'S COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, DR. KEN
JEONG. >> [APPLAUSE] >> LIKE MANY
OF YOU, I FIRST MET KEN WHEN HE JUMPED
OUT OF THE TRUNK OF A CAR. AND WHILE THAT MOMENT
OF COMIC BRILLIANCE, FROM THE
HANGOVER, F YOU KNOW, WILL BE FOREVER ETCHED INTO
OUR MEMORIES HAT SCENE DOES NOT YOU KNOW
BEGIN TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF KEN. KEN, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, IS A DUKE
GRADUATE, ND CLASS OF 1990
NOW, HONORARY MEMBER OF
THE CLASS OF 2020. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: HOUGH WE WON'T HOLD HE WENT ON FROM DUKE TO EARN AN
MD AT UNC IT AGAINST
HIM, SINCE HIS LIFELONG DEVOTION TO
DUKE BASKETBALL DEMONSTRATES THAT HE WAS NOT SWAYED TO THE
LIGHT-BLUE SIDE IN CHAPEL HILL. >> [APPLAUSE] >> WHILE PRACTICING MEDICINE
IN LOS ANGELES, KEN BEGAN PURSUING A CAREER IN
COMEDY AND ACTING ON THE SIDE. ND HE HIS BREAKTHROUGH ROLE CAME IN
JUDD APATOW'S KNOCKED UP HAS SINCE GONE ON TO STAR IN
THE ACCLAIMED SERIES COMMUNITY AND IN THE HANGOVER
TRILOGY. HE ALSO APPEARED IN
CRAZY RICH ASIANS, SHARING THE NOMINATIONS FOR A
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD AND A GOLDEN GLOBE FOR
BEST PICTURE. HIS RECENT TELEVISION CREDITS
INCLUDE ABC'S DR. KEN, WHICH HE
WROTE, PRODUCED, AND STARRED IN; HIS NETFLIX
COMEDY SPECIAL; THE MASKED SINGER, WHERE HE SERVES AS A
JUDGE AND PANELIST, AND I CAN SEE
YOUR VOICE, WHICH HE HOSTS AND EXECUTIVE
PRODUCES. THAT IS, I THINK YOU
WILL AGREE, NE AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER
THAT HAS MADE KEN AN ICON OF COMEDY AND ACTING OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PAST DECADES. BUT KEN IS SO MUCH MORE THAN
THE ACTOR WE SEE ON THE SCREEN. INSPIRED BY
HIS WIFE, EN HAS BEEN AR TRAN HO
SURVIVOR COMMITTED SUPPORTER OF
STAND UP TO CANCER, HELPING TO RAISE HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR CANCER RESEARCH AS A HOST OF
THE ANNUAL TELECAST. HE IS A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR
ASIANS AND ASIAN AMERICANS IN THE PERFORMING
ARTS, HAVING RECEIVED WIDE
RECOGNITION FOR HIS EFFORTS TO ND HE HAS BEEN RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF THE
AAPI COMMUNITY A LEADING VOICE IN CONDEMNING
VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS. DURING THE COVID
PANDEMIC, HE HAS ALSO LED EFFORTS IN
HOLLYWOOD TO SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES AND
VACCINATIONS. VER THE LET ME ALSO SHARE MY PERSONAL
GRATITUDE TO KEN COURSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY
OF THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS BEEN SO FLEXIBLE IN
WORKING WITH US TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. ND IN HE IS TRULY A MEMBER OF THE
CLASS OF 2020 CELEBRATION, I SIGNED HIS HONORARY DEGREE
WITH BLUE-HEART EMOJIS! >> >> [LAUGHTER] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: FOR ALL OF THESE MANY
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON
KEN JEONG THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE
LETTERS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: IS NOT A PLEASURE TO CEDE THE PODIUM TO OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER DR. JEONG. >> DEAN KELLEY: SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SABRINA. THERE IS A LINE I AM TRYING TO PARAPHRASE IN THE HEIGHTS WERE JIMMY SMITH SAYS TO HER DAUGHTER I DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU SEE THE WORLD THAT WE DO NOT SEE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING AND THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING. THAT WAS OUTSTANDING. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN KELLEY: >> DEAN KELLEY: >> DR.JEONG: WORTH THE WAIT TO THE CLASS OF 2020, THANK YOU WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. >> DR. JEONG: HE REACHED OUT TO ME LAST YEAR, AND I TOLD HIM WHATEVER YOU NEED. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART -- I'M SORRY -- I AM LOOKING AT EACH ONE OF YOU RIGHT NOW AND SAYING FROM ME TO YOU THE CLASS OF 2020, WHATEVER YOU NEED I AM ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DR. JEONG: BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER AND WE HAVE SURVIVED THIS TOGETHER AND MY LOVE, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO TO ALL OF US WHO HAVE LOST DURING THIS AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE. THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE, TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE COLLECTIVELY ARE DUKE. AND -- UF! -- A SPECIAL OUT TO MY SISTER WHO IS A -- SCHOLAR AND SMARTER THAN ME AND MY FATHER WHO IS A RETIRED PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS WHOSE DREAM WAS TO HAVE HIS KIDS GO TO DUKE, PERSONALLY FOR ME JUST TO BE A STUDENT HERE I HAD ALREADY WON. THAT WAS MY WHOLE GOAL AS A KID. I GREW UP IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA JUST AN HOUR FROM HERE AND ALL MY FORMATIVE YEARS IN GREENSBORO, AND WHEN I GOT HERE I WAS A SNOT-NOSED TREE FROM TRENT TOO. AND NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS DID I THINK IT WOULD BE LOOKING AT YOU HERE TODAY, THERE ARE SO MANY MEMORIES. WE WERE K-VILLE BEFORE IT WAS A THING IN BACK IN '86, WE HAD TRANSCENDED WAS NOT LEGAL, WITH SKIP SCHOOL, WITHIN SHIFTWORK MY GRADES SUFFERED AND -- WAS A SENIOR AND DANNY FERRY WAS THE STAR AND WE LOST AND WE LOVED IT. GOING BY CAMERON YESTERDAY I FORGOT I STARTED LIKE MY OWN CHANT AT CAMERON MY SOPHOMORE YEAR IN '88. THE DUKE/ CAROLYN AGAIN THERE WAS A PLAYER FOR UNC COMING OFF THE BENCH AND I WAS LIKE OH NO! NOT RICE. AND THEN EVERYONE, OH NO, NOT RICE! AND WE WON, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF ME, AND I GIVE MYSELF CREDIT ABSOLUTELY, GRANTED HE CAME BACK THE NEXT YEAR AND SCORED 30 POINTS AND WE LOST BUT THAT IS BESIDE THE POINT. --- IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY RIGHT NOW EXCEPT THAT, AH! I LOOK AT YOU BECAUSE I WAS YOU. I AM YOU. AND THIS -- (SIGHING) -- THIS TO ME IS HARD TO SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE BEFORE ME HAVE SAID THIS. I WAS AN AVERAGE KID; I WAS AN AVERAGE DUKE STUDENT. I WAS JUST AN EVERYDAY DUKE STUDENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY LEGACY THAT MY FELLOW HONOREES HAVE ALL I HAVE IS MY LIFE AND I'M OFFERING TO YOU THAT NOW AND ALL I HAVE IS LOVE, AND IF THAT IS ALL YOU GET OUT OF THIS, TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FIND YOUR IDENTITY, TO FIND YOUR FLOW IN LIFE, THAT IS ALL WE NEED. FIND OURSELVES. OOF! >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> DR. JEONG: AND WHAT I MEAN BY FINDING MYSELF, I DID NOT WANT TO BE AN ACTOR. I WAS HERE TO BE PREMED. AND PROBABLY WANTING TO BE PREMED. AND IN MY SECOND YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER, I TOOK AN INTRO TO ACTING CLASS, AND IT JUST CHANGED MY LIFE. I NEVER DID THEATER IN HIGH SCHOOL; I JUST WAS OVERCOME WITH THIS PASSION AND EMOTION TO PERFORM THAT HAS NOT BEEN EXTINGUISHED SINCE, I DID DRAMA, HOFF AND HORN, KISS ME KATE WAS THE FIRST MUSICAL I HAD EVER DONE IN MY LIFE AND I GOT MY FIRST REVIEW FROM THE SPECTATOR. ANNA SPECTATOR SAID, I KNOW THIS FROM MEMORY, HAVE I MENTIONED KEN JEONG, A POPULAR MEMBER OF THE CHORUS WHO KEEPS UPSTAGING THE PRINCIPLES. THAT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY GOOD REVIEW OF MY CAREER AND I AUDITION TO GET INTO DRAMA AT THE END OF MY SOPHOMORE YEAR AND DAVID BALL WITH THE HEAD OF DRAMA AT THE TIME AND I STILL REMEMBER THE ADDITION. IT WAS SO HEARTBREAKING, BECAUSE I HAD A COME TO JESUS TAUGHT NOT WITH THE PARENTS BUT WITH MYSELF.. I DID NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT I COULD PERFORM, THAT I COULD ACT AND I COULD DO COMEDY. I KNEW I HAD AN APTITUDE BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO ON MY WAY. THIS IS A PREPROFESSIONAL SCHOOL. I WILL BE A DOCTOR, I WILL BE THE GUY "OH HE COULD HAVE BEEN," AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL WITH THIS AND DUKE DRAMA WAS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. WE BELIEVE IN YOUR TALENT IN WE BELIEVE YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO HANDLE BOTH CURRICULUMS, YOU CAN THE DRAMA AND DO ZOOLOGY. I CAN'T. I AM A HARD-WORKING GUY. I WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, BUT IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIOD IN MY LIFE DURING DUKE TRYING TO DISCOVER MY IDENTITY AND WENT FROM AN A TO A C-, AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL BUT AWAY SHOUT OUT TO COACH GOTT (SOUNDS LIKE), GREAT GAME. I MET HIM A FEW YEARS AGO AND HE TOLD THE RECRUITER, HE GOES, KEN WENT TO UNC MED SCHOOL WHICH IS WHY HE BECAME A COMEDIAN. GOD BLESS HIM. IT IS KIND OF TRUE. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT ULTIMATELY FOUND MY PASSION AND IDENTITY. I FOUND THAT EXACTLY WHO I WAS AT DUKE. AND IT IS SAFE TO SAY, THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE THE FAME, FORTUNE, HAPPINESS, LIVELIHOOD AND FAMILY THAT I HAVE, THE VALUE SYSTEMS THAT I CHERISH IN MY LIFE IF I HAD NOT GONE TO DUKE. I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, I WOULD NOT BE ACTING, I WOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING THAT I LOVE TO DO AND IT IS BECAUSE OF DUKE. I OWE YOU EVERYTHING. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DR. JEONG: WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DUKE IN ADDITION TO MY PASSION TO FIND MY IDENTITY IS I GOT TO HANG OUT, AND OCCASIONALLY GET DRUNK WITH THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS AND IT WAS SO INSPIRING, MEETING A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH DUKE THAT HAVE PROVIDED SOMEBODY GIFTS TO THE WORLD AND THAT GOES BACK TO MY DUKE SPRINGS WHERE I MET THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS MOVED ONTO DUKE TO DO THE MOST AMAZING THINGS. I ALWAYS SAY GENERICALLY DO NOT DENY THE SCIENCE. LET SCIENCE DICTATE POLICY. AND TO THE CLASS OF 2020, DON'T DENY YOUR POTENTIAL. I AM LIVING PROOF OF WHAT YOUR POTENTIAL CAN BE. IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, FOLLOW IT. FIND YOUR FLOW, THAT HAS BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE'S MISSION, FIND MY FLOW. ANY GOOD IDEA IS A GOOD IDEA. FIND YOUR FLOW. YOU GET TO SCORE POTENTIAL AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AT THE HIGHEST RATE OF WORK ETHIC IN THE MOST WONDERFULLY INTENSE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT; NEVER SELL YOURSELF SHORT LIKE I INITIALLY DID IN MY LIFE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE. I WENT WITH THE FLOW; I HAD AN OPEN MIND AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THEN, THIS IS HOW I LIVE MY LIFE NOW AND I AM NOW THE FATHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY AND THIS IS HOW A CHILD HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIFE AND EVEN IN THE AREA OF MEDICINE, PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR OUTSIDE OF THE BOX CREATIVE MINDS LIKE OUR HONOREES TO INVOLVE OUR VACCINES, ANTIVIRALS AND TREATMENTS AND AS DUKE GRADUATES WE CAN ALL OFFER SOMETHING TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT PROFESSION YOU CHOOSING YOUR LIFE, NEVER DENY YOUR POTENTIAL. FIND YOUR FLOW. IT IS IMPORTANT WHILE YOU ARE AT DUKE, MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAT WE HAVE LEFT DUKE, AND IF YOU GO WITHOUT FEELING WHICH WE WERE ALL ABLE TO CULTIVATE IN EARLY AGE, NEVER LET GO OF. EVERYBODY WHO GRADUATES FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY CAN GO FOR TRUE SUCCESS WHICH IS CAPITALIZING ON YOUR OWN UNIQUENESS; FIND YOUR INTEGRATIVE SELF. EVEN WHEN I WAS A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, WANTING TO DO COMEDY, I REALIZED MEDICINE, SCIENCE CAN ALSO BE MY ART AND I LEARNED THE VOCABULARY IN CLINICAL ALGORITHMS AS AN INTERNIST AND EVEN WITH MY COMEDY BACKGROUND, EVEN IF THAT WAS WHERE I WAS DESTINED TO BE ON MADE MY JOB AND MY SCIENCE MY ART. LISTENING TO THE PATIENT. LISTENING TO THE SYMPTOMATOLOGY, READING THE RESULTS OF THE TEST WITH CRITICAL THINKING AND MAKING DECISIONS OFF OF THAT INFORMATION THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED. CRITICAL THINKING. INTEGRATION OF OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE AND PASSION AND ABSORBING THAT INTO ONE BLEND; FIND YOUR FLOW AND INTEGRATE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING INTO YOUR ART BECAUSE THE BEST CRITICAL THINKERS ARE THE BEST LEADERS. YOU ARE ALL -- ANYONE WHO GOES TO COLLEGE IS BEING PUT IN A POSITION TO SUCCEED BUT AS DUKE GRADUATE YOU ARE BEING PUT IN THE POSITION TO SUCCEED. FIND YOUR PASSION AND YOUR IDENTITY AND USE BOTH TO LEAD. IT IS AMAZING IN LA IN HOLLYWOOD WHERE EVERYONE IS LAZY. EVERYBODY SAYS YOU ARE HAVEAN AMAZING WORK ETHIC. NO I DON'T. I HAVE A DUKE ETHIC. I CULTIVATED MY WORK ETHIC AT DUKE AND THERE IS ALWAYS A PART OF ME OF DUKE NO MATTER WHERE I GO AND I CULTIVATED THAT, EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAME OR FORTUNE. I NEVER STOP LEARNING. I HAVE ALWAYS EVOLVED, ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT KNOWING THAT I DON'T HAVE LIFE ALL FIGURED OUT BECAUSE THE MOMENT YOU THINK YOU HAVE LIFE ALL FIGURED OUT YOU HAVE A PANDEMIC IN FRONT OF YOU AND THEN BUT YOU DO? YOU KEEP SEARCHING AND THEN YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE EVENTUALLY YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT A TRUE DUKE GRADUATE DOES AND I AM STILL LEARNING, EVEN IN MY OWN SMALL CORNER OF THE WORLD STILL EVOLVING AND MOVING BEYOND COMEDY AND OVERACTING. I DIRECTED MY FIRST FILM MY FIRST SHORT FILM A MONTH AGO AND ONE OF THE BEST SPACES. NEVER WENT TO FILM SCHOOL BUT I AM LEARNING NOW AND HONESTLY BECAUSE WHAT I CULTIVATED HERE WITH THE ASIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION TO BEING INVOLVED IN THE STOP ASIAN HATE MOVEMENT, FINDING MY OWN IDENTITY. AND IN THE COVID FRONT RAISE AWARENESS, AND DOING AN INSTAGRAM WIDE WITH THE SURGEON GENERAL, AT KENJEONG, FOLLOW ME. --- I AM ALWAYS EVOLVING. THERE IS A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES AND WE ARE ALL RESETTING OURSELVES NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RESET TOO. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I AM GOING TO DO TOMORROW BUT I KNOW WHAT I WILL ALWAYS DO IS KEEP LEARNING. NEVER STOPPED EVOLVING BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW AND IN MY OWN WORLD I HAD AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE AND I FOUND A WAY TO EMBRACE IT NOT KNOWING WHERE THE END POINT IS. I AM 52, I KNOW, I LOOK DAMNED GOOD! AND STILL EXCITED ABOUT WHERE MY ENDPOINT WILL BE AND I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, DUKE CLASS OF 2020 TO HAVE THE SAME PASSION AND EXCITEMENT AND THAT IS THE TRUE VALUE OF A DUKE DEGREE, IT TRULY IS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2020, AND I LOVE YOU. GO DUKE! >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PRESIDENT PRICE: KEN, THANK YOU FOR THOSE
THOUGHTFUL REMARKS. WISH YOU COULD HAVE PUNCHED UP A LITTLE BIT MORE. >> DR. JEONG: HOW DARE YOU! >> PRESIDENT PRICE: CALLING TO THE PODIUM OUR PROVOST. >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: MR. PRESIDENT, AS CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
OF THE UNIVERSITY, I HAVE THE HONOR OF DECLARING
THIS CONVOCATION NOW OPEN FOR THE RECOGNITION OF
OUR GRADUATES. AS THEY ARE
CALLED, I INVITE THE DEANS OF THE
SCHOOLS AND THE COLLEGE TO PRESENT THE
GRADUATES. I NOW CALL UPON
PAULA MCCLAIN, DEAN OF THE GRADUATE
SCHOOL. >> DEAN
MCLAIN: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
GRADUATE SCHOOL PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> DEAN
MCLAIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THE
TALENTED GRADUATES OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL WHO HAVE
COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF DOCTOR
OF PHILOSOPHY, OUR HIGHEST ACADEMIC
HONOR, MASTER
OF ARTS, MASTER OF ARTS
IN TEACHING, MASTER OF
FINE ARTS, AND MASTER
OF SCIENCE. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE
THESE DEGREES IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL AND WELCOME YOU TO THE
COMPANY OF THOSE ENGAGED IN THE CONTINUING SEARCH
FOR KNOWLEDGE. CONGRATULATIONS! >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST KORNBLUTH: PROVOST KORNBLUTH:
GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON
COLIN DUCKETT, VICE DEAN FOR BASIC SCIENCE
OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. DEAN DUCKETT: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PLEASE RISE? >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN DUCKETT:
MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
DEDICATED GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WHO HAVE
COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF DOCTOR
OF MEDICINE, DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL
THERAPY, MASTER OF
BIOSTATISTICS, MASTER OF HEALTH
SCIENCES, MASTER OF HEALTH SCIENCES
IN CLINICAL RESEARCH, MASTER OF MANAGEMENT IN
CLINICAL INFORMATICS, AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND WELCOME YOU TO THE
COMPANY OF THOSE DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF HUMAN
LIFE AND HEALTH. CONGRATULATIONS! >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON
KERRY ABRAMS, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL
OF LAW. >> DEAN
ABRAMS: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
SCHOOL OF LAW PLEASE RISE? >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> DEAN
ABRAMS: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL OF LAW WHO HAVE
COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF DOCTOR
OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE, JURIS DOCTOR, MASTER
OF LAWS, MASTER OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL
AND COMPARATIVE LAW, MASTER OF LAWS IN LAW
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE
THESE DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF LAW AND WELCOME YOU TO THE
COMPANY OF THOSE COMMITTED TO THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH
AND JUSTICE. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON EDGARDO
COLÓN-EMERIC, INTERIM DEAN OF THE
DIVINITY SCHOOL. >> DEAN
COLON-EMERIC: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
DIVINITY SCHOOL PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> DEAN
COLON-EMERIC: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
WISE AND
SPIRITED GRADUATES OF THE DIVINITY SCHOOL, WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF DOCTOR OF
MINISTRY, DOCTOR OF
THEOLOGY, MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN
PRACTICE, MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN
STUDIES, MASTER OF
DIVINITY, MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL
STUDIES, AND MASTER
OF THEOLOGY. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND SALUTE YOU AS YOU EMBARK ON
VOCATIONS IN SERVICE TO YOUR HIGH CALLING. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON VINCENT
GUILAMO-RAMOS, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL
OF NURSING. >> DEAN
GUILAMO-RAMOS: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
SCHOOL OF THE NURSING PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> >> DEAN
GUILAMO-RAMOS: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING WHO HAVE
COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF DOCTOR
OF NURSING PRACTICE, MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN NURSING, AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN NURSING. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE
THESE DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND WELCOME YOU TO THE
COMPANY OF THOSE WHO APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION
TO PROVIDE SKILLFUL CARE. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON
BILL BOULDING, DEAN OF THE FUQUA SCHOOL
OF BUSINESS. >> DEAN
BOULDING: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE FUQUA
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN
BOULDING: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
INDUSTRIOUS AND DECENT GRADUATES
OF THE FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WHO
HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF MASTER OF
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF MANAGEMENT
STUDIES, AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND WELCOME YOU TO THE
WORK OF BUILDING OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE THROUGH THOUGHTFUL AND
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS. >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL ON
TODDI STEELMAN, DEAN OF THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL
OF THE ENVIRONMENT. >> DEAN
STEELMAN: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE
NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT
PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN
STEELMAN: THANK YOU PRESIDENT PRICE, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE
RESOURCEFUL GRADUATES OF THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE
ENVIRONMENT WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT. ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREES OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, MASTER OF
FORESTRY, AND THE INTERNATIONAL MASTER
OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, THE JOINT PROGRAM BETWEEN THE
NICHOLAS SCHOOL AND SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
POLICY. OUR ESTEEMED SISTER SCHOOL. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WELCOME
YOU TO THE VITAL WORK OF UNDERSTANDING AND PROTECTING
THE NATURAL WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, YOU MAY BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL UPON
JUDITH KELLEY, DEAN OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC POLICY. >> DEAN
KELLEY: IN THE WORDS OF FORMER UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TERRY SANFORD WHO 15 YEARS AGO ESTABLISHED THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, I AM ASKING THE GRADUATES IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY TO TAKE A STAND. >> [APPLAUSE]. MR. PRESIDENT REPRESENTING NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BUT THEIR MANY CLASSMATES WHO COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY, I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF PRESENTING YOU WITH THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE AND PASSIONATE; AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND THEN SOME, FOR THE DEGREE AND MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY, AND MASTER OF
PUBLIC POLICY. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND WELCOME
YOU TO THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO
POLICIES FOR OUR GREATER GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, YOU MAY BE
SEATED. I NOW CALL UPON
JEFF GLASS, INTERIM DEAN OF THE PRATT
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. >> DEAN
GLASS: WILL THE GRADUATES OF THE PRATT
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN GLASS: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE INGENIOUS, INSPIRING AND ENTREPRENEUR PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING WHO
HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF MASTER
OF ENGINEERING, MASTER OF ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT, AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN ENGINEERING. GRADUATES >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THESE
DEGREES IN THE PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND WELCOME YOU AS
YOU JOIN THOSE BUILDING THE FUTURE AND PIONEERING NEW
PATHS FOR TECHNOLOGY. CONGRATULATIONS ENGINEERS. >> [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST
KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE
SEATED. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, I CALL ON VALERIE
ASHBY, DEAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE
OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN
ASHBY: WILL THE GRADUATES FOR TRINITY
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES PLEASE RISE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> DEAN KELLEY: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED AND INCREDIBLY RESILIENT GRADUATES OF TRINITY WHO COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE. >> PRESIDENT PRICE: I AM THRILLED TO CONGRATULATE
YOU ON RECEIVING THESE DEGREES IN TRINITY COLLEGE OF
ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND I WISH YOU LUCK AS YOU
CONTINUE CAREERS TO PURSUE KNOWLEDGE AND SERVE
THE WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES. YOU HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED
THAT YOU ARE WELL-PREPARED FOR A LIFE OF PRINCIPLED
LEADERSHIP. AND IN A SOCIETY THAT IS
INCREASINGLY CONNECTED, YOU WILL HAVE A GREATER
OPPORTUNITY THAN EVER BEFORE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE
IN THE WORLD. BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE
NOT GOING IT ALONE. WE ARE ALL FORTUNATE TO BE PART
OF A COMMUNITY OF EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
AND PURPOSE, CONNECTED BY OUR
SHARED VALUES, A GLOBAL DUKE FAMILY NOW
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS STRONG. AND WE RELY ON EACH OTHER
FOR HELP AND SUPPORT, FOR INTELLECTUAL
CHALLENGE, AND FOR FELLOWSHIP AND
ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXCEL. WHEREVER LIFE TAKES
YOU FROM HERE, WHETHER NEAR TO CAMPUS
OR A WORLD AWAY, DUKE WILL ALWAYS ALWAYS
BE YOUR HOME. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
GREAT CLASS OF 2020. >> [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT PRICE: NOW AS WE CLOSE
THE CEREMONY, PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME AND OUR
STUDENT ENSEMBLE IN SINGING THE ALMA MATER, DEAR OLD
DUKE. >> [SINGING ALMA MATER] >> [APPLAUSE] >> [CHEERS] >> [MUSIC] >> [RECESSIONAL]
