[APPLAUSE]. >> WELCOME CLASS OF 2021 FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO BROOKS FIELD AT WALLACE WADE STADIUM. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, STADIUM EXITS ARE LOCATED ABOVE THE SEATING AREAS ON THE CONCOURSE LEVEL ON THE WEST AND NORTH SIDES OF THE STADIUM. PLEASE FOLLOW STADIUM EVENT STAFF INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTE THAT THE CLOSEST EXIT MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU ENTERED. FOR FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, PLEASE VISIT THE DESIGNATED AREAS LOCATED OPT CONCOURSE. -- ON THE CONCOURSE. FOR ASSISTANCE DURING THE CEREMONY PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST STAFF MEMBER OR POLICE OFFICER OR TEXT DUKE TO OF T THE050 -- TO 69050 WITH THE ISSUE AND LOCATION. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES. [MUSIC]. >> WELCOME TO DUKE UNIV UNIVERSITY'S 168TH COMMENCEMENT WELCOME THE DUKE UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2021. [MUSIC]. ♪. [MUSIC]. >> PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING AS WE RECOGNIZE THE DUKE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FOLLOWED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY. [MUSIC]. ♪. [MUSIC]. >> NOW PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. >> O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED HE 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 O SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE. [APPLAUSE]. >> I'M PROUD TO START MY CAREER ALONGSIDE YOU. >> IN THE LONG HISTORY OF D DUKE, THE CLASS OF 2021 IS TRULY REMARKABLE. AMONG YOU ARE THE FIRST YOUTH AMBASSADOR TO THE USDA TASK FORCE ON HUNGER. A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN ARCHERY AND KAYAKING. AND A EUROPEAN CHAMPION CHESS MASTER. >> BEFORE COVID HAPPENED I SAW THE STRENGTH OF THE CLASS OF 2021 ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THEY HAD DONE. PERSEVERE AND >> THERE WERE TIMES WE HAD TO LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE COMMUNITY. AT TIMES (INAUDIBLE). >> LAST YEAR [APPLAUSE]. >> REVEREND BRUCE PUCKETT: LET US PRAY TOGETHER. GOD OF ALL JOY AND GLADNESS. WE DELIGHT IN THE GOODNESS AND THE GLORY OF THIS DAY. WE MARVEL AT THE WONDERS OF YOUR ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE THAT'S WELCOMED US WITH ARMS EXTENDED AS WIDE AS THE SKY WE TREASURE THAT YOUR LOVE'S EMBRACE HOLDS US AS TIGHTLY AS OUR DEAREST FRIEND WHO REFUSES TO STAY SIX FEET AWAY. WITH THE SONG OF THE BREEZE PASSING THROUGH TREES AND THE TUNE OF BIRDS WHISTLING IN THE WIND ALL CREATION JOINS THIS CELEBRATION. WHILE MASKS MAY HIDE THE SMILE ON OUR FACES THEY SURELY DO NOT OBSCURE THE DELIGHT AND GRATITUDE IN OUR EYES. GRACIOUS GOD YOU KNOW THESE YEARS AT DUKE HAVE BEEN UNLIKE ANYTHING WE IMAGINED YET YOU HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS MOMENT THAT COMMENDS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HAVE EARNED DEGREES AND MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO ALUMNI OF DEAR OLD DUKE. SO WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE CELEBRIONS. AND FOR THE SORROWS. ANFOR ALL THAT HAS SHAP US TO BECOME THE PEOPLE WE ARE TODAY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JUST AS OUR TIME AT DUKE HAS BEEFILLED WITH INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIV BREAK-THROUGHS AND DISCOVERIES IT'S ALSO INCLUDED HARDSHIPS AND CHALLENGES FAILED ATMPTS AND FAILURES TO TEMPT. DREAMS ENDED AND DREAMS DEFERRED. CREATE WITH THE COLLEIF THESE EXPERICES SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED. SOMETHING BURGEONING TH HOPE AND POSSIBILITY. SOMETHING BLMING WITH THANKSGIVING FILLS OUR HRTS AND NDS AS WE REMEMBER ALL WHO HD JOY OF TODAY POSSIBLE. WE GIVE YE -- THAT IN UR LOVE FOR US Y HAVE NEVER LEFUS ALONE ON THIS DUKDVENTURE WE THANK YOU FOR ALL O HAVE LOVED US IMPERFECTIONS FOR ALLHO MOSTT VISIBLY SUPPORTED US FAMILY AND MENTORS AND ADVISORSF ALLRS KINDS WE SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE LESS SEEN BUT NEVERTHELESSUPPORTING US, DONORS AND DISHWRS, TRUSTEESND HOUSEKEEPERS, IVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF WORKERS WITH BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND OIT DURHAM COMMUNITYEMBERS D SO MANY MORE FOR THESE WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THOSE HAVE GONE BEFOR US WHOE GONE BEFORE US MARCHED WITH THE TORCH AND RUN WITH IT WE SAY AND BLESSING THAT FILLS USUDE TODAY AS FERTILIZ FOR GROWING THP TED WITHIN US MAY BE WE HONEST WISE COUREOND COMPASONATE JUSTICE PURSUING AND PEACAKING AND AMBASSADORS OFTH AND LOVE OUR W LIVES LONGS AN EXPRESONF OUATITUDE TO YOU. MAKE US EVER BING TOLL OFHOE ENCOUNTER. AS WE STRIVE TO BE PART A HAN MOING.ER THIS NEWEW M THIS NEW BEGINNING. AMEN.COMMENCEMENT DAY. [APPLAUSE]. MORNING.NT NCENT PRICE: OR AOU VERY OWN COMMENCEME SPEAKER SANG IN E OPENING NES OF HIS 200 EVOLVER,OOD MORNG. (CHUS). > PRIDENT VINCENT PRICE: FOE JOHN FORGIVE ME, ALL. WE'RE HERE TOGETHER ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MORNINGO CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY RGRADUATE CLASS OF 2021 [APPLAUSE]. >> ESIDT VINCENT PRICE: AND YOOW HAVE A SPECIA ASEWIRSTEAR STUDENTS. YOU ARRIVED DUK TOGETHER FOUR YEARS . [APPLAUSE]. MEEHEERY FIRST TO SAYRICE: CONGTULATIONS.AN TO YOUR FAMIED OUR HONORARY DEGR AND WCOME. RECIPIENTS AP, LCOMTO DUKE 168 ANNUAL -- WELL, ALMOST AUAL, COENCEMENT EXERCISES. [APPUSE]. PRESIDENT VIENT ICE: NOW TO OUR GRADUAT I SUSPECT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND NDS YOU WILLEMEMR THIS MORNING THE MORNING OF 18TH DAY AS DUKE STUNTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIV AT'S ALREADEN A BUSY DAY GO T ME THAT APPROXIMY 6:21 AND 28 SES SUN ROSE SEWHERE OVERAST MMUNICATIONS. THIS THIS JOYFUL COMNCT. IT'S NCODEE WE HT DUKE COMMENCEMENTSN THE MORNING FONE THING IT'S USUALLY THE COOLEST POFHE DAY. D THE FIRST SUAY IN MAY HE IN NORTH CAROLINA C SOMETIMES BE A SRCHER. TODAY IS FORTUTELY AN EXCEPTION BU I TL Y ANFACULTY CAN TELL Y THESE ROBEDO NOT ECTREHE RE PROFOD REASON FORMEETINGETINE MORNING, COMMENCEMENT, ATH NAME SUGGESTS NOTN END. BUT A BEGINNG. TODAY WE CELEBRATEOT THE END GRADUATION FROM KE, BUT THE BEGINNING OF YR CRS AT DUKE ALUMNI. TO PUT IT ANOTHERAY, TODAY IS NOT THELIGHT OF YOUR LIFE ATUKE. IT'S THE MORNING OF THVERY EXTRRDY LIVES YOU HAVE AHEAD WE GATHER TO CELEBRATEHIE GAT DAY. JOYFUL AS MARK THE SLOWR RETURN OF NORMALIFE AMIDST E ONGOING COVID-19 PMIC. FOR NUER OF YOU THIS COMMENCEMENT IS A LONG AWAITED ART OF A CAREER THAT YOUE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS SINCE YOU RENEWED PURPOSEND PROMISE.H OTHERS ARE HEADED TO GRADUATE SOME WILL GO OFF TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY OR COMMUNI. SO TA WELL DESERVED RT JUST TO TAKE IN THE LAY OF THE LAND BEFORE SETTING OFF ON NEW ADVENTURES. EACH OF YOU WILL CELEBRATE MY COMMENCEMENTS TO COME INNE FORM OR ANOTHER AND LIKELY FD THE TWISTING PATH OF LIFE LEADS THAT EACHEWAWN CAN BREAKINGS OVER WILD AND WONDERFUL NEW LANDSCAPES NOW OF COURSE LIFE WON'T ALWAYS BE A CELEBRATION OF THESNEW BEGINNINGS. AS MUCH YOUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, FACULTY MEMBERS AND I WISHT WERE NOT THE CASE NO MATTES PREPARED YOU FOR WHAT COMES ENCOUNTER DARKER DAYS AND NIGHTS AND THIS CLASS HAS PERHAPD PARTICULARLY IN THE UNCERINTY AND DISTRESS OF THE PANDEMIC AS THE GREAT BARD OF THE BELLE EPOQUEICTOR HUGO PUT IEVEN THDARKEST NIGHT WILL END AND THE SUN WILL RISE SO THE CLASS OF 2021 RISES THIS MORNING TO A NEW DAY. JUST AS YOU'VE RISEN FOR PURPOSE AND PASSION TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES AT DUKE. YOU'VE MADE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEFT YOUR MARK ON EVERY CORNER OF CAMPUS. FROM THE EAST CAMPUS TO THE GARDENS TO THE BRODHEAD CENTER TO THE CHAPEL AND NOW YOU MARK THIS GLORIOUS MORNING WHERE WE GREET YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AS DUKE ALUMNI. WE'RE PROUD TO BE WITH YOU HERE, HERE AT THE BEGINNING. AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE YOU GO FROM HERE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AT DUKE WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF BEGINNING THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES WITH A STUDENT VOICE. EACH SPRING A PANEL OF DUKE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF SELECTS A MEMBER OF YOUR GRADUATING CLASS TO BE OUR STUDENT SPEAKER. AND THIS YEAR IN A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS CONDUCTED BY THE FIRST AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST TIME BY ZOOM THE PANEL SELECTED MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU. [APPLAUSE]. MEGHANA IS GRADUATING FROM TRINITY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES. SHE DESIGNED A PROGRAM TO -- PROGRAM II MAJOR AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOOD AVAILABILITY, NUTRITION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES SHE'S STUDIED THESE VIOLATELY IMPORTANT ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN NEW ORLEANS, BUENOS AIRES, AND SHE SERVED NEIGHBORS IN DUKE'S BACKYARD AS A VOLUNTEER AT THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER HERE IN DURHAM. MEGHANA HAS ALSO TAKEN A KEY INTEREST IN INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC AND HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SANGEET STUDENT GROUP FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. AFTER GRADUATION MEGHANA HOPES TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. IN THE COMING WEEKS SHE WILL JOIN THE STAFF AT THE VASCULAR ANOMALIES CENTER AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AS A CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU, OUR 2021 STUDENT SPEAKER. >> MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU. ALL RIGHT. HERE GOES. I ASKED AND GOT PERMISSION TO DO THAT IF I WAS FEELING NERVOUS SO IF YOU CAN'T TELL, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT WAS FROM MEGA TRON AND MY NAME IS MEGHANA AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE. [APPLAUSE]. >> MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU: THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT DUKE FELT NORMAL I WAS WEARING A KANGAROO SUIT, I WAS WAVING THE STUFFED JOEY OR BABY KANGAROO THAT CAME WITH THE COSTUME AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS AS DUKE BEAT UNC IN CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM. [APPLAUSE]. >> MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU: I WAS TRULY ONLY MICROMETERS AWAY FROM MY OTHER KANGAROO FRIENDS. AS WE CELEBRATED WEEKS OF T TENTING AND A MUCH ANTICIPATED VICTORY. THAT FEELING OF BEING ONE PART OF A COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IS HOW I LIKE TO THINK WE STARTED OFF OUR JOURNEY. IT WAS AUGUST OF 2017 WHEN ALL 1700 STUDENTS OF THE FIRST YEAR UNDERGRADUATE CLASS HAD TO SQUEEZE INTO A PAINTED WHITE OUTLINE OF 2021 ON THE EAST CAMPUS QUAD GRASS. ALL OF US SHOULDER TO SHOULDER EXCHANGING INNUMERABLE MIC MICROBES. MOST DEFINITELY BREATHING, COUGHING AND SNEEZING. ON EACH OTHERS' FACES. IT IS SO CRAZY TO ME THAT IN THAT FIRST MOMENT WHEN WE WERE ALL SO PHYSICALLY CLOSE, WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE STORIES, PERSONALITIES, AND FRIENDSHIPS WAITING FOR US. AND TODAY AFTER FOUR YEARS OF TRYING AND CELEBRATORY MOMENTS, WE SHARE AN EMOTIONAL CL CLOSENESS. ALTHOUGH PHYSICALLY APART. AND I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT HOW WE GOT FROM THERE TO HERE. SO REGARDLESS OF OUR THREE TO SIX FEET DISTANCE, I REALLY HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN MY REMINISCENCE. DO YOU ALL REMEMBER PRICE PALOOZA IN JUST THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS AT DUKE WE WERE SPOILED WITH SHRIMP COCKTAIL ICE SCULPTURES, A FERRIS WHEEL AND STATE WORTHY FRIED OREOS. MY FRIENDS, NOW TURNED BEST FRIENDS. AND I. EVEN GOT MATCHING TEMPORARY TATTOOS OF PRESIDENT PRICE'S FACE. TOGETHER WE MIGRATED TO WEST CAMPUS WE WERE IN TENTED WHEN ABROAD SECURED INTERNSHIPS AND THEN IN MARCH OF 2020 RECEIVED A SLEW OF EMAILS THAT ENDED OUR JUNIOR SPRING AND RESIDENTIAL DUKE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE. AS WE HAD KNOWN IT. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A HEART-FELT SHOUTOUT TO SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS COVID. WE WERE SCATTERED. SPREAD ALL ACROSS THE WORLD. SOME OF US BACK AT HOME. SOME OF US STUCK ON-CAMPUS. SOME OF US UNABLE TO FLY TO OUR FAMILIES. AND OUR TRUSTY COMPANION THROUGH IT ALL, ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, STRUGGLED TO SINGLE HANDEDLY MAINTAIN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, PROJECTS, AND FUTURES WE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD. OUR COMMUNITY, ONCE CATALYZED BY REPEATED EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL PROXIMITY, GREW VIRALLY INSTEAD. AS WE RETURNED TO CLASSES IN THE FALL, WE FACED A SEMESTER LIKE NO OTHER. INSTEAD OF THOSE MYSTERY ILLNESSES CONTRACTED AT SH SHOOTERS WE COLLECTIVELY SUFFERED FROM SCREEN FATIGUE AND SOCIAL DEPRIVATION. LET'S GRAB A MEAL TURNED INTO I WILL SEND YOU MY MEETING LINK AT 12. AND GROUP PROJECTS TURNED INTO NOW JOINING BREAKOUT ROOM 2. AND IT IS QUITE IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT WE, THE CLASS OF 2021, HAD IT WAY HARDER THAN THE CLASS OF 2020. NO MATTER WHAT ZOOM MEMES FOR SELF-QUARANTINES HAD TO SAY. [APPLAUSE]. >> MEGHANA IRAGAVARAPU: I LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS CHANGE IN COURSE INTRODUCED A NEW REQUIRED COURSE. COV-ED. THIS COURSE WAS NOVEL, IF YOU WILL. A CLASS WITH NO DEFINED SYLLABUS, ASSIGNMENTS, SOME DEFINITE TESTING. AND AN ABUNDANCE OF STRESS. COVED PROVIDED A STELLAR EDUCATION. MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY OVER THE TIME QUIZZES OVER SAKAI OR THE CLASSES I KNOW I TURNED MY VIDEO OFF FOR. AND THE COURSE OBJECTIVES WERE NOT CLEAR UNTIL RECENTLY. BUT FOR ME, TURNED OUT TO BE CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY. A FAVORITE QUOTE OF MINE BY SPIRITUAL LEADER SATYA SAI SUMS UP THE FIRST. THE END OF WISDOM IS FREEDOM. THE END OF CULTURE IS PERFECTION. THE END OF KNOWLEDGE IS LOVE. AND THE END OF EDUCATION IS CHARACTER. OVER OUR FOUR YEARS, ESPECIALLY THESE LAST TWO, WE WERE FORCED TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. HOW TO MAKE TRYING SACRIFICES. HOW TO SET BOUNDARIES. HOW TO ASK FOR HELP. AND HOW TO CARE FOR ONE ANO ANOTHER. OVER OUR FOUR YEARS, WE BUILT CHARACTER. AND BY NO MEANS IS OUR EDUCATION COMPLETE. BUT THINKING BACK TO MY FIRST YEAR SELF, I NOW FEEL MORE RESILIENT. MAYBE IT'S THE ANTIBODIES. OR POSSIBLY THE EXPERIENCE THAT DUKE EMBODIES. AND NOW TO COMMUNITY. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT AFTER DELIVERING STERN INSTRUCTIONS AND UPDATES ON COVID VIOL VIOLATIONS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS STILL SIGN EMAILS, GO DUKE! W WHY? BECAUSE THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS, THE GOOD DECISIONS AND THE BAD DECISIONS, WHETHER WE ARE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER OR NOT, WE WILL TRULY ALWAYS BE A DUKE SOMETHING. A DUKE STUDENT. A DUKE ALUM. A DUKE COMMUNITY. A GROUP OF PEOPLE UNITED THROUGH COMMON STRUGGLES WITH SIMILAR STORIES BONDING PEOPLE TOGETHER OVER TIME, NO MATTER THE DISTANCE. I NOW BELIEVE THAT DUKE IS NOT ONLY THE SWARM OF FACTS THAT HELPED US MOVE IN AS FIRST YEARS, THE UNBELIEVABLE OATMEAL AT DUV CAFE OR MY FOREVER FEAR OF ANY SIREN MEANING A TENT CHECK. IT IS THE HIGHER STANDARD OF CHARACTER WE HOLD OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO. CREATING THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND COMMUNITY THAT BLEEDS DEEP B BLUE. TODAY WE MAY NOT BE PACKED LIKE SARDINES ON THE EAST CAMPUS QUAD OR SCREAMING IN CAMERON'S STUDENT SECTION. AND WHILE THE REQUIRED SPACE BETWEEN US HAS GROWN, I LIKE TO THINK IT IS FILLED. AND WILL CONTINUE TO FILL. WITH ALL OF OUR ACCOMPL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, LEARNINGS AND IDENTITIES WE WILL BUILD. CLASS OF 2021, I WOULD HAVE NEVER WANTED TO PAINT MY FACE WHITE AND BLUE, MAKE IT THROUGH THE 1 P.M. LUNCH RUSH IN WU OR STICK WHITE PLASTIC Q-TIPS UP MY NOSE EVERY WEEK WITH ANYONE ELSE. BUT YOU. THANK YOU. AND A HEART-FELT CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: THANK YOU, MEGHANA, FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS. I AM NOW PLEASED TO DECLARE THE 2021 COMMENCEMENT OPEN FOR THE AWARDING OF HONORARY DEGREES. DUKE UNIVERSITY AWARDS HONORARY DEGREES TO RECOGNIZE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AND SERVICE TO THE WORLD. THE CANDIDATES FOR HONORARY DEGREES HAVE BEEN ENTHU ENTHUSIASTICALLY APPROVED BY THE FACULTY AND BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. EACH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A FACULTY OR TRUSTEE SPONSOR. 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'RE PROUD TO CALL YOU DUKIES. I NOW INVITE THAVOLIA GLYMPH, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND LAW, TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM BARBARA ARNWINE, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: ATTORNEY BARBARA ARNWINE, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COALITION, AND AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCHOLAR. SHE'S KNOWN FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO CRITICAL JUSTICE ISSUES, INCLUDING THE PASSAGE OF THE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991 AND THE 2006 REAUTHORIZATION OF PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. SHE IS A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE PRACTICES IN A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS, INCLUDING VOTING RIGHTS, THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND IMMIGRANTS, JUDICIAL DIVERSITY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, RACIAL PROFILING, HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES AND LGBTQIA EQUALITY. MS. ARNWINE HAS FOR DECADES BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCACY FOR DIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND THE PRESERVATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. SHE HAS SERVED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW. A GROUP FOUNDED BY JOHN F. KENNEDY. AND SHE ORGANIZED THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND THE LAW. SHE SERVES AS CO-CHAIR AND FACILITATOR OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR VOTER JUSTICE AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ALLIANCE. AND IS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MOMSRISING AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICY FORUM. MS. ARNWINE EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS FROM SCRIPPS COLLEGE AND A JURIS DOCTOR FROM DUKE, WHERE SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE STUDENTS AT DUKE LAW. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS AWARDS AND HONORS, SHE WAS MOST RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL BAR OF THE SCLC OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR HER WORK ON VOTING RIGHTS. BARBARA, FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY ADVOCACY FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE MARION BROOME, DEAN OF THE DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, RUBY F. WILSON PROFESSOR OF NURSING, AND VICE CHANCELLOR FOR NURSING AFFAIRS TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM, JACQUELINE CAMPBELL, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: JACQUELINE CAMPBELL AN AN AN CHAIR AND PROFESSOR IN THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING IS A RENOWNED SCHOLAR FOR DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. IN HER CAREER, DR. CAMPBELL HAS AUTHORED SEVEN BOOKS AND MORE THAN 300 PUBLICATIONS, SERVED AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR NEARLY 20 MAJOR GRANTS, AND HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSING. DR. CAMPBELL'S PATHBREAKING WORK ON DOMESTIC PARTNER HOMICIDE AND COLLABORATION WITH SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE FAMILY VIOLENCE HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THE ACADEMY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PRESSING PROBLEMS. SHE CO-AUTHORED -- OR CO-CHAIRED RATHER THE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT DESIGNED AND LAUNCHED THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HEALTH STUDY. RECOGNIZING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AS A GLOBAL HEALTH PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME. THESE EFFORTS, AND HER ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HAVE SAVED COUNTLESS OR IMPROVED COUNTLESS LIVES AROUND THE WORLD. DR. CAMPBELL RECEIVED HER BSN FROM DUKE IN 1968. AND WE'RE PROUD TO CALL HER A DUKE ALUMNA. HER SON, DAUGHTER, AND SON-IN-LAW ARE ALSO ALUMNI AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER, GRACE, IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2024. JACKIE, FOR YOUR GROUND BREAKING SCHOLARSHIP AND STEADFAST ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE THE HONORABLE ALLYSON DUNCAN, DUKE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE, TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM EVELYN HIGGINBOTHAM, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: EVELYN HIGGINBOTHAM, THE VICTOR S. THOMAS PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY HASTRONS FORMED THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH HER RESEARCH AND THEORETICAL WORK. AS A THEORETICIAN, DR. HYDROGEN HIGGINBOTHAM COINED THE TERMS METALANGUAGE OF RACE AND POLITICS OF RESPECTABILITY. BOTH OF WHICH HAVE INSPIRED A ROBUST BODY OF SCHOLARSHIP IN HISTORY, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, CULTURAL CRITICISM AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FIELDS. SHE IS ALSO AN ENORMOUSLY INFLUENTIAL AUTHOR. HER GROUNDBREAKING BOOK ON THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN THE BLACK BAPTIST CHURCH, "RIGHTEOUS DISCONTENT", WON PRIZES FROM THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF RELIGION. SHE CO-AUTHORED WITH JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN A REVISED VERSION OF "FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM". AND CO-EDITED THE 12-VOLUME "AFRICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY". SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY AND IN 2015 SHE RECEIVED THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. I'M ALSO DELIGHTED TO SHARE THAT DR. HIGGINBOTHAM IS NOT NEW TO OUR CAMPUS SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY THE VISITING JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY AT DUKE LAW. EVELYN, FOR YOUR PROFOUND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF HISTORY AND AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE TIM PROFETA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE NICHOLAS INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM WILLIAM REILLY, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: BILL REILLY IS AMONG THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED AND COMMITTED ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES IN RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY. MR. REILLY HAS BEEN A TRUSTED ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR TO SEVERAL U.S. PRESIDENTS. HE SERVED AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FROM 1989 TO 1993 DURING WHICH TIME HE LED EFFORTS TO PASS A NEW CLEAN AIR ACT AND HEADED THE U.S. DELEGATION TO THE UN CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. BEFORE JOINING THE EPA, HE WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROCKEFELLER TASK FORCE ON LAND USE AND URBAN GROWTH, PRESIDENT OF THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION AND PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND. HE'S ALSO BEEN A VISITING PROFESSOR AT STANFORD AND YALE UNIVERSITYS AND SENIOR ADVISOR TO TPG CAPITAL. PRESIDENT OBAMA APPOINTED HIM CO-CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE BP DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL AND TO THE PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR WHICH HE HEADED THE WORKING GROUP ON CLIMATE SMART FOOD SECURITY. THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, M MR. REILLY HAS ADVOCATED FOR SUSTAINABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE FORTUNATE THEN THAT HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ADVISORS FOR THE NICHOLAS INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SOLUTIONS. HERE AT DUKE. BILL, FOR YOUR MANY, MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE NICHOLAS INSTITUTE, I AM DELIGHTED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I NOW INVITE JOHN BROWN, PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE OF MUSIC AND VICE PROVOST FOR THE ARTS TO ACCOMPANY TO THE PODIUM JOHN LEGEND, CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. [APPLAUSE]. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND I WILL NOTE THAT JOHN IS SERVING DOUBLE DUTY TODAY, BOTH AS OUR FINAL HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT AND AS OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. DUKE UNIVERSITY HAS HOSTED MANY COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS WHO HAVE MADE TRANSFORMATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO MEDICINE, BUSINESS, POLITICS, SPORTS, CULTURE, AND THE ARTS. BUT I BELIEVE THAT I AM RIGHT IN SAYING THAT JOHN LEGEND IS OUR FIRST EGOT WINNER. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW -- [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THAT'S A BIG DEAL IT MEANS JOHN HAS WON AN EMMY, A GRAMMY, 12 ACTUALLY, AN OSCAR AND A TONY. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND TODAY, JOHN, WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER YOU A DUKE, WHICH WILL MAKE YOU THE FIRST DEGOT. [APPLAUSE].. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 16 AND GRADUATING MAGNA CUM LAUDE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, JOHN WENT ON TO A CAREER AS A PIANO VIRTUOSO AND MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING MUS MUSICIAN. HE HAS RELEASED SEVEN CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALBUMS. AMONG HIS 26 CHARTING SONGS, HIS 2013 SINGLE, ALL OF ME DEDICATED TO HIS WIFE CHRISSY TEIGEN IS TIED FOR THE HIGHEST CERTIFIED TRACK IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA'S HISTORY. IN ADDITION TO HIS GRAMMYS HE WON AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR HIS SONG "GLORY" IN THE MOVIE "SELMA". AN EMMY AWARD FOR HIS LEAD PERFORMANCE IN NBC'S "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR". AND A TONY AWARD FOR BRINGING AUGUST WILSON'S "JITNEY" TO BROADWAY. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: IN 2019 HE JOINED NBC'S "THE VOICE" AS COACH. IN ADDITION TO HIS EXTRAORDINARY CAREER IN MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS, JOHN IS A COMMITTED AND A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND DIVERSITY IN ENTERTAINMENT. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: HE FOUNDED THE NATIONAL #FREEAMERICA CAMPAIGN IN 2015 TO DRIVE THE CONVERSATION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND ADVOCATE FOR AN END TO MASS INCARCERATION. AND AS CO-FOUNDER OF THE GET LIFTED FILM COMPANY, HE HAS PRODUCED A NUMBER OF A AWARD-WINNING FILMS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON INJUSTICES FACED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND GIVING VOICE TO UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: JOHN SERVES ON THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF HARLEM VILLAGE ACADEMIES AND MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP FOR TOMORROW. AND ON THE ADVISORY BOARDS FOR TEACH FOR ALL AND THE QUATTRONE CENTER FOR THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW. JOHN, FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ARTS AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR ALL, I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: GOOD MORNING, DUKE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: OR AS SUNG BY PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE FROM MY 2008 ALBUM EVOLVER. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, DUKE. HOW IS EVERYBODY? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRICE, PROVOST KORNBLUTH, TO THE DEANS, THE FACULTY, TO MY HOST JOHN BROWN. THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING ME AND INCLUDING ME IN THIS VENERABLE CLASS NOT ONLY OF AMAZING GRADUATES OUT HERE BUT INCREDIBLE GROUND-BREAKING HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. TO ALL THE DUKE COMMUNITY, ALUMNI, FRIENDS, FACULTY, FAMILY, WHETHER YOU'RE TUNING IN FROM DURHAM OR ACROSS THE WORLD, WELCOME. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANKFULLY, BLISSFULLY, LET ME EXTEND A BIG IN THE FLESH CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GUESTS OF HONOR, THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: WHAT A DAY! WHAT A YEAR! WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. CONGRATULATIONS. DDMF. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: YOU KNOW I'M FEELING GOOD TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE HEARING LIVE APPLAUSE SINCE LAST FEBRUARY. 14 MONTHS AGO. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: FOR A NEEDY PERFORMER LIKE MYSELF, THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL, IT FEELS VERY NICE. THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE. I NEEDED IT. MY WIFE HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED. BUT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS. WAY BACK IN 2004 I PERFORMED AT LDOC WITH SOMEONE NAMED KANYE WEST, HAVE YOU GUYS HEARD OF HIM? IN THOSE DAYS I WOULD PLAY PIANO AND SING THE HOOKS FOR KANYE AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE ME AND THEN LATER THAT YEAR WE RELEASED MY FIRST ALBUM GET LIFTED AND I'M R REALIZING TODAY THAT MAYBE IT'S THANKS TO DUKE THAT MY CAREER TOOK OFF. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: I WOULDN'T BE AN EGOT WINNER A DEGOT WINNER WITHOUT DUKE AND I'M THRILLED IT'S BROUGHT ME FULL CIRCLE BACK TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THIS VERY MOMENTOUS DAY. SERIOUSLY. THIS IS A SPECIAL MILESTONE FOR ALL OF YOU. AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL IT YET, THAT'S OKAY. WHEN I WAS PREPPING FOR MY OWN GRADUATION WAY BACK IN 1999, WERE YOU GUYS ALIVE THEN? BARELY. BARELY. I REMEMBER FEELING PRETTY INDIFFERENT. BACK THEN I WAS TOO COOL TO CARE ABOUT THIS SILLY CEREMONY. I HAD ALREADY DONE THE WORK. I HAD ALREADY MADE THE FRIENDS. I TURNED IN MY PAPERS AND PASSED MY TEST. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE? BUT DURING THE ACTUAL CEREMONY, I REALIZED THAT BEING TOGETHER IS THE POINT. BEING JOYOUS IS THE POINT. CELEBRATING IS THE POINT. WE HAVE SO FEW MOMENTS TO ENJI ENJOY THESE RITES OF PASSAGE TO REVEL IN THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE PEOPLE WE LOVE. TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. AND OF COURSE, AFTER A YEAR WHEN WE COULD BARELY GATHER IT ALL, IT TAKES ON A SPECIAL MEANING. LET'S JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELEPHANT IN THE STADIUM. ON YOUR WAY TO WALLACE WADE YOUR CLASS LOST A LOT. SOME LOST JOB OFFERS. SOME LOST LOVED ONES. AND ALL OF YOU LOST A WHOLE YEAR OF THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS THAT MAKE COLLEGE SO SPECIAL. THE IN-BETWEEN MOMENTS. THOSE LATE NIGHTS IN PERKINS SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM YOUR DELIRIOUS FRIENDS. THOSE TALKS IN THE COMMON ROOM OR SPONTANEOUS LUNCH DATES. THOSE WEEKS CAMPING OUT IN THE FREEZING COLD FOR TICKETS TO A SPORTS GAME BECAUSE APPARENTLY WE DO THAT HERE. (CHUCKLES). >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: THAT'S NIGHTS DANCING AROUND BURNING BENCHES AFTER YOU WIN BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT'S A THING WE ALSO DO HERE. (CHUCKLES). >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: BUT ALL THIS LOSS IS NO JOKE. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT YOUR SENIOR PERFORMANCES, LOSING THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC FOR ME. ALL OF YOU BAND MEMBERS AND A CAPELLA SINGERS AND DANCERS AND IMPROV OWE FINISH NAT TOES I FEEL YOUR PAIN. YOU HAVE LOST SOMETHING THAT YOU WON'T GET BACK. I WON'T SUGAR COAT THAT. IT SUCKS. BUT FROM WHAT YOU'VE LOST, FROM ALL THIS VAST INCALCULABLE L LOSS, YOU HAVE ALSO GAINED SOMETHING. THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE T TODAY, GRADUATES OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST UNIVERSITIES, MEANS THAT YOU'VE HAD TO APPROACH LIFE WITH A CERTAIN COMPETITIVENESS. I KNOW BECAUSE I DID IT, TOO. I SKIPPED GRADES TO GET AHEAD I WORKED HARD TO GRADUATE SECOND IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS. WENT TO PENN. GRADUATED AND GOT A JOB AS A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT AT BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP. YES, I DID THAT, TOO. AND THAT PATH REQUIRED THIS CONSTANT DRIVE TO PUSH HARDER, REACH HIGHER. DO BETTER. TO TRY TO BE PERFECT OR CLOSE TO IT. I'M SURE THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO A LOT OF YOU. BUT OVER THE PAST YEAR, YOU WERE FORCED TO PAUSE. TO SEE YOURSELVES NOT JUST IN COMPETITION WITH ONE ANOTHER. BUT IN COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER. ANYONE GETTING SICK WAS A RISK TO EVERYONE. WE ALL HAD TO SLOW DOWN. SOCIAL DISTANCE. COVER OUR FACES. STOP FILLING OUR DAYS WITH MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY AND SIMPLY KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE. KEEP EACH OTHER ALIVE. CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND THIS PERSPECTIVE YOU GAINED WILL SERVE US ALL. BECAUSE WHILE THAT COMPETITIVE DRIVE THAT GOT YOU HERE CAN BE AN INCREDIBLE GIFT, IT CAN GET IN THE WAY, TOO. WE ALL KNOW THAT FOR DUKE TO WIN, UNC MUST I THINK WE SAY GTH. IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. (CHUCKLES). >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: OKAY. BUT THAT COMPETITIVENESS CAN BE A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO THINKING FOR ME TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE, FOR ME TO SUCCEED, SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO LOSE OUT. SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER. AND YOU LET THAT COMPE COMPETITIVENESS TAKE OVER YOUR THINKING. AND YOU MIGHT START SEEING LIFE AS A ZERO SUM GAME. THIS KIND OF THINKING HAS POISONED OUR DEMOCRACY FROM THE BEGINNING. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR WAS BY A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED HEALTHY MCGEE IT'S CALLED THE SUM OF US. IN IT HEATHER LAYS OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH THAT ZERO SUM GAME HAS COST US. AMERICA'S STORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN MARRED BY EFFORTS TO EXCLUDE, TO DOMINATE TO SUBJUGATE TO KEEP CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE WITH NO VOICE, NO POWER AND NO OPPORTUNITY. WORKERS. WOMEN. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. BLACK PEOPLE. IMMIGRANTS. THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. ALL BECAUSE OF A FEAR THAT IF THOSE PEOPLE DID BETTER, SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE TO LOSE. BUT THE MIRACLE OF OUR STORY IS THAT AS WE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY IN OUR BEST MOMENTS, WE PROVED THAT THOSE FEARS WERE UNFO UNFOUNDED. WHEN MORE PEOPLE MADE MORE MONEY, RICH BUSINESS OWNERS DIDN'T SUFFER. THEY GOT MORE CUSTOMERS. PROSPERITY INCREASED FOR EVERYBODY. WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN EXCLUDED FINALLY GOT THEIR VOICES HEARD IT DIDN'T MEAN EVERYONE ELSE HAD TO SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP, OUR NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS GOT BETTER, RICHER. TRUER. SMARTER. AND SO DID OUR PUBLIC POLICIES. OUR NATION IS AT ITS BEST WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: YET TODAY WE'RE STILL FIGHTING AGAINST THAT OLD ZERO SUM THINKING THAT'S BEEN HOLDING US BACK SINCE THE BEGINNING. WE SEE IT IN EFFORTS TO DENY PEOPLE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. WE SEE IT IN THE SHAMEFUL RECENT ATTACKS ON TRANS RIGHTS. WE SEE IT AROUND THE WORLD. ACROSS THE GLOBE. NATIVISM. SECTARIANISM. EXPLOITATION. AND AUTHORITARIANISM ARE GAINING GROUND. WE SEE IT IN EFFORTS TO HOARD ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. TODAY THE 26 WEALTHIEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET OWN AS MUCH AS THE 3.5 BILLION POOREST. AND POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY LOBBYING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. AND OF COURSE WE ALSO SEE IT IN OUR POLICING, AND OUR CARCERAL SYSTEMS. IN THE SIMPLE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HEARD BLACK LIVES MATTER AND ASSUMED IT MEANT THAT OTHER LIVES COULDN'T MATTER, ALSO. THAT'S ZERO SUM THINKING IF I'VE EVER SEEN IT. NOW, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY BE THINKING -- YES. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: WHY IS JOHN LEGEND BRINGING US DOWN ON GRADUATION DAY. (CHUCKLES). >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: YOU WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING CALLS TO SHUT UP AND SING FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER. SHUT UP AND SING. OKAY. WELL, AS NORTH CAROLINA NATIVE NINA SIMONE ONCE SAID, IT IS AN ARTIST'S DUTY TO REFLECT THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: AND IT'S ALSO A BANKER'S DUTY A LAWYER'S DUTY A TEACHER'S DUTY AN ENGINEER'S DUTY AN ENTREPRENEUR'S DUTY A PLUMBER'S DUTY A NURSE'S DUTY, A MOM'S, A DAD'S DUTY. CLASS OF 2021, DUKE HAS POURED ALL KINDS OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCES INTO YOU. AND I AM ASKING YOU TODAY TO USE THEM ON BEHALF OF OUR DEMOCRACY. TO REMEMBER JUST HOW INTERDEPENDENT EACH OF US IS ON EACH OTHER. TO BUILD COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HEALTHIER AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE. WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE UP TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT IN PRACTICE? IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I ENTERED A BLACK HISTORY MONTH ESSAY CONTEST SPONSORED BY MCDONALD'S. YES, MCDONALD'S. THE PROMPT WAS, HOW WILL YOU MAKE BLACK HISTORY WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD'S CONFIDENCE I DECLARED THAT I WOULD BECOME A FAMOUS MUSICIAN. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: YES. THIS IN TURN I WROTE AND I'M QUOTING MYSELF HERE WILL PUT ME IN A POSITION OF GREAT INFLUENCE WHICH I WILL UTILIZE IN ORDER TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM OF BLACKS IN AMERICA. [APPLAUSE].. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: I SAID THAT WHEN I WAS 15. BUT HOW DOES ONE DO THAT? THE PROBLEMS ARE ENTRENCHED AND INTERCONNECTED. THERE'S NO CLEAR PATH TO FOLLOW. I KEPT THINKING WHERE DO I EVEN START? DURING THE DECADE SINCE I BECAME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THIS FIGHT I'VE STUMBLED ON THREE ANSWERS THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. FIRST WHILE YOUR SCHOOLING MAY BE OVER FOR AT LEAST SOME OF YOU, THE LEARNING DOES NOT STOP TODAY. IT CANNOT. GROWING UP I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE LIBRARY I READ ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS HEROES FREDERICK DOUGLASS HARRIET TUBMAN IDA B WELLS I WASN'T INTO COMIC BOOKS THAT MUCH THESE WERE MY SUPERHEROES BUT EVEN AS SOMEONE STEEPED IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ALL MY LIFE IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHERE YOU ALL ARE SITTING TODAY I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FRAMED IT AS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUE I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR THOSE OF US WHO SPENT OUR LIVES TRYING TO BE PERFECT. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH INDIVIDUALS. NOT THE SYSTEM. I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS. AND I HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS. NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, WHO WERE LOCKED UP. THEY MESSED UP. AND I FOUND A WAY NOT TO. BUT THEN I LEARNED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY'S MASS INCARCERATION COMPLEX. HOW THE UNITED STATES HAS JUST 5% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION. BUT 25% OF ITS PRISONERS. HOW 1 IN 3 BLACK MEN WILL SERVE PRISON TIME DURING THEIR LIFETIMES HOW MORE BLACK MEN ARE UNDER CORRECTIVE CONTROL TODAY THAN WERE ENSLAVED ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR HOW MUCH OF THIS OVERINCARCERATION IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF INTENTIONAL POLICIES THAT TARGETED PEOPLE OF COLOR. TAKE THE WAR ON DRUGS. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: OUR LEADERS SAID THEY WOULD WAGE WAR ON DRUGS. BUT CRISES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DRUG ADDICTION HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE. INSTEAD THIS WAR DESTROYED COMMUNITIES. IT TORE APART FAMILIES. ALL OF US HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF THAT. ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. WE ALREADY SUFFERED FROM HOUSING AND SCHOOL SEGREGATION, MASSIVE WEALTH DISPARITIES, CHRONIC UNDERINVESTMENT, THEN THESE COMMUNITIES WERE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR ENFORCEMENT. EVEN THOUGH BLACK, WHITE AND BROWN PEOPLE USE DRUGS AT ROUGHLY SIMILAR RATES. AND NOW WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE HAS TURNED INTO AN EXCUSE TO DISAPPEAR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THE MORE I READ ABOUT ALL OF THIS TRAUMA AND TRAGEDY, THE MORE I UNDERSTOOD THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES. THE MORE PASSIONATE I GOT ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TO CHANGE IT. SO I STARTED #FREEAMERICA A CAMPAIGN TO REFORM OUR DEEPLY UNJUST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS LISTEN AND LEARN. I MET WITH PEOPLE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED. I MET WITH THEIR FAMILIES. I MET WITH SURVIVORS OF CRIME. I MET WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. STATE LEGISLATORS AND CIVIL CIVIL RIGHTS ACTISTS THESE FOLKS -- ACTIVISTS THESE FOLKS KNEW A LOT MORE THAN I DID I HAD TO LISTEN TO THEM WITH AN OPEN MIND AND HUMBLE SPIRIT AND THEN FOCUS ON AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES ONLY THEN COULD WE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT CRUCIAL REFORMS LIKE INITIATIVES TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS FIND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS TO FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: IT'S BEEN SOME OF THE MOST GRATIFYING WORK OF MY LIFE. BUT IT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I SIMPLY CONSIDERED MYSELF ALREADY EDUCATED ON THESE ISSUES. AND STOPPED MY LEARNING THERE. SO THAT'S LESSON NO. 1. HERE IS NO. 2. I THINK IT'S NATURAL TO THINK YOU SHOULD START BY TACKLING BIG PROBLEMS IN THE BIGGEST W WAY. THEY SAY GO BIG OR GO HOME. BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE, SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK YOU CAN DO STARTS AT HOME. WHATEVER THAT MEANS FOR YOU. SO OFTEN WE FOCUS ON MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUES AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, THEY MATTER. NATIONAL ELECTIONS MATTER. BUT MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS DETERMINE SO MUCH OF THE EVERYDAY REALITIES OF OUR LIVES. WHO LIVES WHERE? WHO GOES TO SCHOOL WHERE? DO WE ALL FEEL SAFE WALKING DOWN THE STREET? GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER MOBILIZED A NATIONAL AND EVEN GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE. BUT THE TRUTH IS, MOST OF THE TANGIBLE REFORMS WE NEED TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY WILL COME FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS SETTING BUDGETS, THE PROSECUTORS DECIDING HOW JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED AND THAT'S NOT JUST TRUE FOR CING REFORM. LOCAL NONPROFITS, LOCAL ORGANIZERS, KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO FIGHT HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AND VIOLENCE IN THEIR LOCAL AREAS. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE ABOUT TO MOVE TO A NEW COMMUNITY EACH WITH ITS OWN HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SOCIAL FABRIC AND JUST AS MANY OF YOU MOVED TO DURHAM FOUR YEARS AGO AND ADOPTED THIS CITY AS YOUR OWN I HOPE YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT YOUR NEW HOMES PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. FIND ITS CHANGEMAKERS AND BOUNDARY BREAKERS. AND BRING YOUR OWN UNIQUE GIFTS TO THE TABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE REAL TANGIBLE BETTERING OF YOUR COMMUNITY. THERE IS WISDOM, STRENGTH AND POWER IN COMMUNITY. YOU LEARN THAT HERE AT DUKE. BUT DON'T FORGET IT AS YOU BUILD COMMUNITY ELSEWHERE. AND THIRD, WHEN YOU FEEL LOST IN THIS TANGLED WEB OF PRO PROBLEMS, KNOW THAT IN TRUTH THE WAY OUT OF IT IS SIMPLE. IT'S INSTINCTUAL. IT'S CALLED LOVE. LOVE SHOULD BE YOUR NORTH STAR. LET IT GUIDE YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: NOW I LOVE TO SING ABOUT LOVE AS YOU KNOW AND MAYBE THIS SOUNDS LIKE SONG LYRICS THAN A SERIOUS POINT BUT I BELIEVE THAT LOVE IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR PUBLIC LIFE. THINK ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO LET YOURSELF FEEL AND SHOW LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS. IT MEANS BEING CURIOUS ABOUT THEIR LIVES. GENUINELY WANTING THE BEST FOR THEM. INVESTING IN THEIR SUCCESS. AND ONCE WE RECOGNIZE OUR INTERDEPENDENCE, OUR MUTUALITY IT'S CLEAR THAT LOVE IS PRECISELY WHAT OUR SOCIETY NEEDS. TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. THERE ARE NEARLY 8 BILLION PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET. 8 BILLION STRANGERS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE THE PEOPLE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW? IT MEANS LETTING GO OF FEAR AND EMBRACING OUR SHARED HUMANITY. PRACTICALLY IT MEANS THINGS LIKE ENSURING EVERYONE EVERYWHERE CAN ACCESS THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINES. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT UNTIL WE'RE ALL VACCINATED, WE'RE ALL AT RISK. IT MEANS ENSURING EVERYONE IS SAFE FROM THE WORST CONS CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES ALREADY UNDERMINED, UNDERRESOURCED AND UNDER WATER. TO PARAPHRASE THE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN ACTIVIST LILA WATSON LOVE MEANS THAT YOUR LIBERATION IS BOUND UP WITH MINE AND MINE WITH YOURS. PROFESSOR CORNEL WEST HAS A WORD FOR WHAT THIS KIND OF LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN PUBLIC. THAT WORD IS JUSTICE. LOVE IN PUBLIC TAKES THE SHAPE OF JUSTICE. AND I'LL CLOSE WITH ONE FINAL STORY ABOUT JUSTICE. IT'S ABOUT A MAN NAMED DESMOND MEAD. HE GREW UP IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. JOINED THE ARMY. HE SERVED THIS COUNTRY AS A HELICOPTER MECHANIC. DREAMING OF ONE DAY SAILING THE SKIES AS A PILOT. BUT ALONG THE WAY HE STRUGGLED WITH A PAINFUL ADDICTION. AND HE WAS CONVICTED OF FELONY POSSESSION. HE SERVED HIS TIME. CAME OUT COMMITTED TO STAYING CLEAN. BUT WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE REENTERED A WORLD THAT TREATED HIM AS A LOSER IN A ZERO SUM GAME. THAT DIDN'T CARE IF IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO FIND A JOB. OR A HOME. OR A SECOND CHANCE. HE ALSO REENTERED A STATE THAT DENIED HIM THE RIGHT TO VOTE. STATE LAWS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE ARE DIRECT VESTAGES OF JIM CROW. AFTER THE AMENDMENTS GRANTING VOTING RIGHTS AND EQUAL PROTECTION TO BLACK CITIZENS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THE WHITE MAJORITY FEARED THE POWER OF THE BLACK VOTE AND FOUND MANY WAYS TO LIMIT IT. PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. POLL TAXES. RIDICULOUS LITERACY TESTS. AND FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT. THE PLAN WAS TO INCARCERATE BLACK AMERICANS FOR PETTY TH THEFT. LOITERING. VAGRANCY. AND THEN DISENFRANCHISE THEM, OFTEN PERMANENTLY. THIS WAY THEY BARRED MILLIONS FROM THE FULL RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP. TODAY STILL AN ESTIMATED 1 IN 13 BLACK AMERICANS HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE DUE TO PAST CONVICTIONS. NOW, IT'S HARD TO REVERSE THESE LAWS. IT REQUIRES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN A LOT OF PLACES. IN SOME STATES IT REQUIRES A POPULAR REFERENDUM. IN FLORIDA IT WASN'T JUST A BALLOT INITIATIVE REQUIRING 51% OF THE VOTE. YOU NEEDED 60%. AND IN AN EVENLY DIVIDED STATE LIKE FLORIDA, THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE. ONLY LOVE CAN GIVE YOU THE POWER TO TAKE ON THESE KINDS OF ODDS. LOVE OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE FIGHTING WITH. LOVE OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE TRYING TO PERSUADE. THE BASIC BELIEF THAT IF WE CAN HONOR EACH OTHERS' HUMANITY AND DIGNITY, THEN NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCES, WE'LL END UP WANTING THE BEST FOR EACH OT OTHER. DESMOND MEAD GOT SOBER HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND FILLED WITH GREAT LOVE, INDOMITABLE OPTIMISM AND AUDACIOUS HOPE HE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO TAKE ON THOSE ODDS. WE PARTNERED WITH HIM AT #FREEAMERICA. WE SHARED PEOPLES' STORIES. WE ASKED NEIGHBORS TO TALK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. WE KNOCKED ON DOORS. AND WHEN THE TIME CAME, WE DIDN'T WIN 60% OF THE VOTE. WE WON 65% OF THE VOTE. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: WE PASSED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT RESTORED VOTING RIGHTS TO MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION FLORIDIANS. A YEAR LATER I STOOD IN A FLORIDA COURTHOUSE AS A JUDGE MADE IT OFFICIAL FOR A ROOM FULL OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HADN'T VOTED IN DECADES. AND HADN'T REALLY FELT CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AT ALL SINCE THEIR INCARCERATION. BUT MANY SAID THAT THIS ONE MOMENT MADE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY FULLY BELONGED AGAIN. LIKE THEY WERE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER. THEY WERE IN TEARS CELEBRATING AND SO WAS I. AND SO WAS DESMOND. THIS VETERAN. THIS FORMER BODYGUARD. THIS CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED ATTORNEY WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS CHEEKS. DUKE CLASS OF 2021, I WISH YOU LIVES WITH DESMOND'S KIND OF LOVE. LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. AND FOR PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A WORLD APART. LOVE FOR JUSTICE. DEFINED BY A SPIRIT OF EMPATHY. MUTUALITY AND COMMUNITY. LOVE FOR A WORLD WHERE WE DON'T NEED TO WIN AT SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPENSE. EVEN IF THEY ARE TAR HEELS. WHERE WE CAN WIN TOGETHER. WE CAN DO THIS, CLASS OF ' 21 AND WHEN WE LIVE WITH THIS KIND OF LOVE, WHEN WE LEAD WITH THIS KIND OF LOVE, THEN ONE DAY, ONE DAY, ONE DAY WHEN THE GLORY COMES. IT WILL BE OURS. IT WILL BE OURS. OH, ONE DAY. WHEN THE WAR IS WON. WE WILL BE SURE. WE WILL BE SURE. OH, GLORY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DUKE. CONGRATULATIONS. I LOVE YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: THANK Y YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> MR. JOHN LEGEND: THANK Y YOU. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR THOSE THOUGHTFUL, INSPIRING, WONDERFUL REMARKS. WE'RE SO THRILLED THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THE DUKE UNIVERSITY FAMILY. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY WE ARE ALL OFFICIALLY ON TEAM LEGEND. [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY 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 CANDIDATES. I NOW CALL ON MARION BROOME, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING. >> DEAN MARION BROOME: MR. PRESIDENT I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT EXCEPTIONAL CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING. THESE GRADUATES, CANDIDATES, LIKE ALL OTHER STUDENTS AT DUKE PIVOTED LAST MARCH INTO VIRTUAL LEARNING. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO BRAVELY ENTERED CLINICAL AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO COMPLETE THEIR PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION. THEY WILL BE APPROVED BY THEIR FACULTY AS HAVING COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: MARION, AS YOU LOOK AHEAD TO YOUR RETIREMENT THIS SUMMER, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP OF OUR SCHOOL OF NURSING. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND MAY I ASK ALL OF THOSE WHO WILL BE GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND NOW, BY THE AUTHORITY V VESTED IN ME, AND UPON APPROVAL BY THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL, AND UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THESE DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF NURSING. I WELCOME YOU TO THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION TO PROVIDE SKILLFUL CARE. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE SEATED. I NOW CALL ON TODDI STEELMAN, DEAN OF THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT.. >> DEAN TODDI STEELMAN: THANK YOU, PROVOST KORNBLUTH, FOR THIS IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE CANDIDATES FOR BACHELOR'S DEGREES THAT WILL BE AWARDED BY THE PRATT SCHOOL OR THE TRINITY COLLEGE, TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE MAJORED IN COURSES OF STUDY IN THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT. WILL THOSE MAJORS PLEASE STAND? [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN TODDI STEELMAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I AM THRILLED TO PRESENT THESE OCEAN PROTECTING, CLIMATE SAFEGUARDING, ENERGY CONSERVING, HEALTH ENHANCING, WATER SUSTAINING, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SEEKING, WORLD CHANGING CANDIDATES. WHO HAVE COMPLETED MAJORS OFFERED BY THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL. AND IN DOING SO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO UNDERSTANDING, PRESERVING, AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO GRANTING YOUR DEGREES. I WELCOME YOU TO THE WORK OF UNDERSTANDING AND PROTECTING OUR GNARLED WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, YOU MAY BE SEATED. I NOW CALL UPON JUDITH KELLEY, DEAN OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN JUDITH KELLEY: BY THE POWER TOTALLY NOT VESTED IN ME, I WOULD LIKE TO CONFER AN ADDITIONAL HONORARY DOCTORATE NOT TRULY FOR REAL IN PUBLIC POLICY TO JOHN LEGEND. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN JUDITH KELLEY: THANK YOU, PROVOST KORNBLUTH, FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE THE PURPOSEFUL CANDIDATES WHO ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THEIR DEGREES FROM THE PRATT SCHOOL OR THE TRINITY COLLEGE FOR HAVING COMPLETED THEIR DEGREES IN PUBLIC POLICY. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN JUDITH KELLEY: RE RECALLING THE WORDS OF OUR FOUNDER AND DUKE PRESIDENT TERRY SANFORD, WHO URGED ALL DUKE STUDENTS TO STAND FOR SOMETHING EVEN IF IT DEFEATS YOU, HE SAID STAND FOR SOMETHING. WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES IN PUBLIC POLICY PLEASE TAKE A STAND. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN JUDITH KELLEY: MR. PRESIDENT, I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS, DONE ALL OF THEIR DECISION TREES, DONE ALL OF THEIR COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY. AND THEREBY DEMONSTRATED GRIT, COURAGE, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO STAND FOR A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND LOOK TO GRANTING YOUR DEGREES. I WELCOME YOU TO THE COMPANY OF ALL THOSE WHO SEEK TO TRANSFORM IDEAS AND POLICIES FOR OUR GREATER GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, YOU MAY BE SEATED. I NOW CALL UPON RAVI BELLAMKONDA, DEAN OF THE PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN RAVI BELLAMKONDA: IT'S AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR MORE REASONS THAN ONE AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING PLEASE RISE? [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN RAVI BELLAMKONDA: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRESENT THE HARDEST WORKING, THE MOST INVENTIVE CANDIDATES OF THE PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, WHO ARE DESIGNING OUR FUTURE AND SHAPING IT IN THE VERSION THAT YOU JUST INSPIRED TO, MR. LEGEND. AND WHO WILL BE APPROVED BY THE FACULTY AS COMPLETING ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: THANK YOU, RAVI. AND AS YOU MOVE ON TO SERVE AS PROVOST OF EMORY UNIVERSITY, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AS DEAN OF OUR PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND NOW, BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, AND UPON APPROVAL BY THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL AND UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THESE DEGREES FROM THE PRATT SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. I WELCOME YOU AS YOU JOIN THOSE BUILDING OUR FUTURE AND PIONEERING NEW PATHS FOR TECHNOLOGY. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY KORNBLUTH: GRADUATES, PLEASE BE SEATED. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> PROVOST SALLY KORNBLUTH: WELL, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I CALL ON VALERIE ASHBY, DEAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES. [APPLAUSE]. >> DEAN VALERIE ASHBY: THANK YOU, PROVOST KORNBLUTH. WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR TRINITY COLLEGE OF SAERTS PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE]. -- TRINITY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES, PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE].. >> DEAN VALERIE ASHBY: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR TO PRINT THE EXTREMELY EXCITED AND EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED CANDIDATES OF TRINITY COLLEGE WHO WILL BE APPROVED BY THE FACULTY AS HAVING COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, AND UPON APPROVAL BY THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL AND UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THESE DEGREES IN TRINITY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES. I WELCOME YOU AS YOU EMBARK ON CAREERS TO PURSUE KNOWLEDGE AND SERVE THE WORLD. AS JOHN LEGEND HAS ASKED US TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES. I AM SO HONORED TO WELCOME YOU INTO THE COMMUNITY OF DUKE ALUMNI. AND AS DUKE GRADUATES, YOU ARE WELL PREPARED FOR A LIFE OF PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP. AND IN A SOCIETY THAT IS BOTH INCREASINGLY CONNECTED AND SADLY INCREASINGLY DIVIDED, YOU WILL HAVE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY THAN EVER TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE WORLD. BUT REMEMBER, 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 THAT NOW NUMBERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS STRONG. AND WE RELY UPON EACH OTHER FOR INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE, AND FOR FELLOWSHIP AND THE ENCO ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXCEL. WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU FROM HERE, WHETHER NEAR CAMPUS OR A WORLD AWAY, DUKE WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE YOUR HOME. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GREAT CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE]. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. >> PRESIDENT VINCENT PRICE: AND NOW AS WE CLOSE THIS CEREMONY, PLEASE JOIN ME AND OUR STUDENT ENSEMBLE IN SINGING OUR ALMA MATER. DEAR OLD DUKE. >> DEAR OLD DUKE, THY NAME WE'LL SING TO THEE OUR VOICES RAISE WE'LL RAISE TO THEE OUR ANTHEMS RING IN EVERLASTING PRAISE AND THOUGH ON LIFE'S BROAD-SAW OUR FATES MAY FAR US BEAR WE'LL EVER TURN TO THEE OUR ALMA MATER DEAR. [APPLAUSE]. [MUSIC]. ♪.
