>> TEST. TESTING. THIS IS A TEST. [MUSIC] TESTING. THIS IS A TEST. TEST. [MUSIC] >> Dr. Funhouser: WELCOME TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF ALL OUR GRADUATES. WE ARE DELIGHTED THAU HAVE JOINED US FOR THIS MONUMENTAL OCCASION. THE PROCESSIONAL FOR THE 2021 FALL COMMENCEMENT WILL NOW BEGIN. THE AUDIENCE IS REQUESTED TO REMAIN SEATED DURING THE PROCESSIONAL. CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL DEGREES. THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY. [MUSIC] >> Dr. Funkhouser: THE DULY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. CANDIDATES FOR MASTER'S DEGREES. [MUSIC] >> Dr. Funkhouser: THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN. [MUSIC] THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. >> Dr. Funkhouser: THE COLLEGE OF TEXTILES. THE POOLE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT. [MUSIC] COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. [MUSIC] THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES. [MUSIC] THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES. [MUSIC] THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. [MUSIC] COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CHAIR3 OF THE FACULTY, THE SENIOR VICE PROVOST, DEANS OF THE COLLEGES, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND HONORED GUESTS. [MUSIC] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE NC STATE COMBINED COLOR GUARD AND OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM LED BY CHORDINATION. [SINGING] OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING, WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THRU THE PERILOUS FIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING. AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. OH, SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE? [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> Dr. Funhouser: WILL THE AUDIENCE PLEASE BE SEATED? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME DR. RANDOLPH WOODSON, CHLLOR OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. [APPLAUSE] >> Chancellor Woodson: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! WELCOME TO THE PNC ARENA FOR NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY'S FALL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE NC STATE BOARD OF TEES, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNC SYSTEM BOARD OF GOVERNORS, ESTEEMED GUESTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US AS WE CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2021. YEAH, YEAH, GIVE IT UP FOR THEM. ERING AND APPLAUSE] NC STATE IS PROUD TO BE THE PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY, A SIGNIFICANT FORCE IN NORTH CAROLINA'S ECONOMIC VITALITY AND DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS THROUGH OUR TEACHING, RESEARCH, EXTENSION, ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS NATIONALLY RENOWNED THANKS TO EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS, EXCELLENT FACULTY AND STAFF, AND THE CRITICAL FUNDING OUR STATE LEADERSHIP PROVIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND THANK THEM FOR THE ROLE THEY HAVE PLAYED IN MAKING NC STATE SUCH AN OUTSTANDING PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN AND TO, YEAH, WORK. WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR TIME AT NC STATE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE LAST 20 MONTHS IS NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY. LIFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST. AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE EMAILED ME WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, I COULDN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AS I TOLD EVERYONE AS YOU WRITE ME, IT IS MY FIRST PANDEMIC. I WASN'T HERE IN 1819, I KNOW IT IS A SHOCK TO THE STUDENTS. BUT YOU HAVE WORKED THROUGH EVERY OBSTACLE AND OVERCOME EVERY DIFFICULTY. WE HAVE A LOT OF CELEBRATING TO GET TO, BUT FIRST, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO HEAR FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR, MR. STAN HOPE KELLY, AND MR. TERRY HUTCHENS WHO WILL BRING GREETINGS FROM OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS. [VIDEO] >> Chair Kelly: AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2021 AND TO BE HERE WITH YOU. ALL OF YOU HAVE EXHIBITED GREAT STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILI THROUGHOUT THE CHALLENGES OF THE LAST 21 MONTHS, AND WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF EVERYTHING YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED. TO THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ARE HERE TODAY AS WELL, THANK YOU. YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT WERE VITAL TO OUR GRADUATES' JOURNEY HERE AT NC STATE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO THEIR SUCCESS. GRADUATES, I HOPE YOUR TIME AT NC STATE HAS GIVEN YOU STRENGTH, KNOWLEDGE, AND ADAPTABILITY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU WELL AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF LIFE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY CONNECTED WITH NC STATE AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AROUND YOU AS ALUMNI OF THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED AND THANK YOR HELPING MAKE THE NC STATE COMMUNITY SUCH AN OUTSTANDING ONE. GO PACK! [VIDEO] >> Terry Hutchens: ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND AS AN ALUMNUS OF NC STATE, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE CLASS OF 2021! I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS TO TODAY'S GRADUATES. ON THIS SPECIAL DAY, WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE BEGINNING OF AN AMAZING NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE. TODAY'S CELEBRATION ALSO ALLOWS US TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE GRADUATING IN THE FACE OF REMARKABLE CHALLENGES. YOU PERSEVERED THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND MORE TO JOIN US HERE TODAY. I AM CONFIDENT THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM. GRADUATES, BE PROUD OF ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED, AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME HERE, AS PART HE WOLFPACK. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2021 AND GO P [APPLAUSE] >> Chancellor Woodson: THANK YOU STAN AND TERRY. EACH YEAR, ONE OF MY GREATEST JOYS IS SCOURING FOR OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, MARK TEMPLETON. MARK IS A BOARD DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP MENTOR AND SOFTWARE INDUSTRY VETERAN. BEFORE RETIRING IN 2015, HE WAS CITRIX SYSTEMS, A LEADER IN OF SOFTWARE FOR ENABLING A DIGITAL, VIRTUAL AND COLLABORATIVE WORKPLACE. BOY, AVE THEY BEEN BUSY DURING THE PANDEM IN HIS TWO DECADES AT CITRIX, TEMPLETON INSPIRED THE COMPANY'S VIRTUAL WORKPLACE VISION AND LED CITRIX'S GROWTH FROM A $15 MILLION BUSINESS WITH ONE PRODUCT TO A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE WITH ANNUAL REVENUES OF OVER $3 BILLION, 100 MILLION USERS WORLDWIDE AND 10,000 EMPLOYEES. MANY OF YOU KNOW THIS COMPANY IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. TODAY, TEMPLETON IS AN ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMPANIES, ADVISING ENTREPRENEURIAL TEAMS FROM START UP TO SCALE UP. HE HOLDS A BA IN PRODUCT DESIGN FROM NC STATE AND AN MBA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. MARK, YOU HONOR US WITH YOUR PRESENCE TODAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REMARKS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. MARK TEMPLETON. [APPLAUSE] >> WOW. FANTASTIC TO BE HERE TODAY. GOOD MORNING. CHANCELLOR WOODSON, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE TALKING TO GRADUATESES AT MY ALMA MATER. I CAN'T EXPRESS WHAT A SPECIAL HONOR AND PRIVILEGE IT IS TO B TALKING TO GRADUATES AT MY ALMA MATER. I'M STILL PINCHING MYSELF AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE AND FIRE UP THIS WOLFPACK CLASS OF 2021! GRADUATING IS A TEAM SPORT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO GO AROUND. THANK YOU BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PROVOST ARDEN, CHAIR KELLY, DEANS AND FACULTY, PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. A HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU, GUIDING YOUR STUDENTS TO THIS EXCITING MILESTONE IS AN ACT OF LOVE, YOU'VE GIVEN THEM WINGS! SO,' PACK CLASS OF 2021 CONGRATULATIONS! LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE. YOU'VE DONE IT! YOU DID IT! 55 YEARS AGO, I KNOW I LOOK A LOT YOUNGER THAN THAT. 55 YEARS AGO, I WAS SITTING IN YOUR CHAIR, RECEIVING MY HARD-EARNED DEGREE IN PRODUCT DESIGN, AND READY TO FORGE AHEAD. IT WAS A REALLY PROUD LITTLE DID I KNOW AT THE TIME, THREE PERSONAL TRAITS WOULD BE MORE VALUABLE THAN MY DIPLOMA. THOSE TRAITS TURNED OUT TO E PASSION, PERSISTENCE, AND HUMILITY. I BELIEVE THEY ARE THE MAG INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS AND FEW MILLMENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS MATTER IN LIFE. NO MATTER WHAT PATH YOU CHOOSE HERE, FOR ME, THOSE THREE TRAITS WERE ESSENTIAL AS AN CEO OF AN S&P SOFTWARE COMPANY. WHERE I STARTED AS EMPLOYEE NUMBER 52. WHEN I RETIRED, THAT LITTLE SOFTWARE COMPANY HAD GROWN TO ALMOST 10,000 EMPLOYEES SPANNI 100 COUNTRIES, AND FROM $15M IN REVENUE TO OVER $3 BILLION. WHEN WE WENT INTO THE DISTRICT IN RALEIGH, THAT'S ONE OF THE LAST AREAS TO BE REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN AND PUT UP A SUPPLY BUILDING INTO A REALLY REMARKABLE OFFICE AND COLLABORATION SPACE AND INSPIRING YOUNG ENGINEERS AND YOUNG MARKETING MANAGERS TO INNOVATE AND RENOVATE THE FUTURE. OTHER THAN THESE THREE TRAITS, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THERE IS ALWAYS A MAGIC IN SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THAT'S THE MAGIC OF FAMILY. THE MAGIC OF FRIENDS. GETTING YOU HERE TOOK A LOT OF MAGIC AND CERTAINLY, MY JOURNEY, IT TOOK A HECK OF A LOT OF MAGIC AFFORD TO SEND ME TO SCHOOL. BUT YOUR FAMILY REALLY, REALLY MATTERS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO MY WIFE, RIDE OF 41 YEARS, MY THREE CHILDREN, ALL MAKE MY JOURNEY POSSIBLE. THAT SORT OF PIECE OF MAGIC THAT ALLO ME TO TAP INTO THESE TRAITS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT HELPED TO MAKE MY JOURNEY POSSIBLE. FIRST, IS PASSION. CRAZY, HEART POUNDING PASSION FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND MINE. IN 1970, I STARTED TO STUDY ENGINEERING RIGHT HERE AT NC STATE. AT THE TIME, IT SEEMED LIKE A REALLY PRACTICAL THING TO DO. AND AT THE TIME, IT MADE MY DAD PROUD. BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT MY HEART WASN'T IN IT AND MY GRADE POINT AVERAGE PROVED IT. EVERY DAY, WHILE WALKING TO MY ENGINEERING CLASSES, I WOULD PASS THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN, I'D SEE STUDENTS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP, CARRYING PORTFOLIOS OF WORK, SKETCHING IDEAS, BUILDING PROTOTYPES, CREATING, INNOVATING AND IMAGINING, WORKING WITH THEIR HANDS. AND FRANKLY, I WAS GREEN WITH ENVY. INTUITIVELY, I WANTED TO BE ONE OF THEM, I COULDN'T REALLY EXPLAIN WHY, I JUST KNEW. SOMETIMES YOUR ANALOG BRAIN THAT LIVES RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BODY, IT WILL TALK TO YOU AND TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE THE GRADES TO TRANSFER INTO DESIGN. SO, I MADE A BIG DECISION. I DROPPED OUT ALL TOGETHER. MY PARENTS WERE COMPLETELY DEVASTATED. LIKE 20% OF YOU, I WAS A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. SO, THERE I WAS, FIRST TEMPLETON COLLEGE STUDENT AND I WAS THE FIRST TEMPLETON DROP OUT. WITH MY ITALIAN MOM SHOUTING “MAMA MIA” IN THE BACKGROUND, MY DAD SIMPLY SAID “BE THE BEST AT SOMETHING YOU LOVE, YOU'LL MAKE ALL THE MONEY YOU NEED, AND YOU'LL NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE!” WELL, IT SOUNDED GREAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO WORK. I WANTED TO HAVE FUN. SO, DOING SOMETHING I LOVED WAS REALLY MY GOAL. SO, I KNEW AT THAT TIME, I WANTED TO BE A DESIGN-NO. SO I SPENT A YEAR, JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS, KNEELING IN PRAYER AND BEGGING DEAN KAMPHOEFNER TO ADMIT ME TO THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN. HE FINALLY GOT SICK OF HEARING FROM ME AND HE ADMITTED ME. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK, I HAD TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS LIKE PUMPING GAS. 20 HOURS A WEEK AT COLLEGE EXXON, PLAYED VARSITY SOCCER AND CLUB LACROSSE, AND MADE LIFE-LONG FRIENDS AS A MEMBER OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA FRATERNITY. IN 1975, I GRADUATED WITH TOP HONORS IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND LITTLE DID I KNOW, Y STUDIES HAD GIVEN ME SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE. THEY HAD GIVEN ME SKILLS IN WHAT I CALL DESIGN THINKING. I SPENT THE FIRST PART OF MY CAREER IN THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, DESIGNING AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MANUFACTURING WOOD MOULDINGS. ONE DAY MY PARTNER AND I DECIDED WE NEEDED SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY, AND INCREASE OUR PROFIT. OUR SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION CAME UP BLANK. MY PARTNER SAID “NOW WHAT DO WE DO?” I SAID, “I'LL JUST CODE THE SOFTWARE MYSELF!” THEN HE ASKED, “DO YOU KNOW HOW?” I SAID "NO! BUT HOW HARD CAN IT BE?” FOR YOU ENGINEERS OUT THERE, I ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A SYSTEM CALLED MUMPS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF MUMPS, OTHER THAN THE DISEASE? SO, I TAUGHT MYSELF TO CODE. IT WAS INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING. IT STIMULATED MY IMAGINATION. BUT MOST OF ALL, IT TOUCHED MY HEART, BECAUSE DAMN, IT WAS FUN! AND IT HAD REAL IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS. AND SO, OON I RZED MY PASSION FOR SOFTWARE WAS MUCH GREATER THAN FOR HARDWOOD MOULDING, SO I MADE THE LEAP! I MADE THE LEAP HERE FROM ENGINEERING TO DESIGN. AND IN MY CAREER, I MADE THE LEAP FROM WOOD MOULDING TO SOFTWARE. IT SOUNDS LIKE A CRAZY ZIG ZAG I NOW REALIZE I WAS LEARNING TO “CONNECT DOTS,” AND MY CAREER WOULD NOT BE A PAINT-BY-NUMBER PROCESS. PAINT OR CONNECT, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS. PAINT-BY-NUMBERS IS MORE DISCREET, YOU CAN VISUALIZE YOUR LIFE AHEAD, RISKS AND REWARDS ARE PRETTY MUCH UNDERSTOOD UP FRONT. SO, YOU FILL IN YOUR JOURNEY NUMBER BY NUMBER. CONNECT-THE-DOTS IS ABOUT UNIQUE CISIONS, RANDOM EVENTS, CHANCE MEETINGS OR JUST GOOD KARMA. OR IN MY CASE, REWARD INTERVENTION. RISK AND REWARD HAPPENS, AS YOU DRAW YOUR JOURNEY, DOT BY DOT. EITHER APPROWORKS. FOR ME? I'M ABOUT “CONNECT-THE-DOTS” , QUESTION IS, WHICH ARE YOU? TRY AND DECIDE. IT'S ENORMOUSLY POWERFUL WHEN YOU KNOW. FOR ME, PASSION WAS LIKE A WHITEBOARD MARKER, FOR CONNECTING THE DOTS OF LIFE. I LEARNED TO TRUST MY HEART. SO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRUST YOURS. WHEN YOU FEEL THAT JOY, FOLLOW IT, TO WHATEVER CRAZY PLACET MIGHT TAKE YOU. IT WILL NOT STEER YOU WRONG. YOUR EYES MAY ALREADY BE OPEN TO THAT PASSION. IF NOT, KEEP LOOKING UNTIL YOU FIND IT. OR, MORE LIKELY, UNTIL IT FINDS YOU. PERSISTENCE THE SECOND PERSONAL TRAIT IS PERSISTENCE. PERSISTENCE DEMONSTRATES THE DEPTH OF YOUR PASSION. IT WAS JANUARY 1999, I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. I WAS APPOINTED THE NEW CEO OF CITRIX - REPLACING MY RETIRING MENTOR. CITRIX LED THE NASDAQ 100 IN PROFITABILITY WITH 47% OPERATING INCOME - AN INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE RESULT, EVEN BY TODAY‘S STANDARDS! WE WERE GROWING LIKE MAD, SETTING RECORDS, AND AMONG WALL STREET'S GREAT DARLINGS. IN JUST SIX QUARTERS AS A TOTALLY GREEN, FIRST-TIME PUBLIC COMPANY CEO, I MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE, AND IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS, THE MEDIA HEADLINES WENT FROM “INDUSTRY HIGH-FLIER” TO “MAJOR SOFTWARE COMPANY AT A CROSSROADS”. ON JUNE 122000, WE ISSUED A 3 PRESS RELEASE THAT MORNING. IT SAID THAT I DID NOT SEE A MARKETNGE THAT QUICKLY EMERGED AND SLOWED OUR BUSINESS GROWTH DRAMATICALLY. AT 6:00 P.M. THAT DAY, THE CNN SATELLITE TRUCK PULLED UP INTO OUR PARKING LOT. PALE AS A GHOST, I APPEARED ON CNN'S MONEYLINE WITH STUART VARNEY. OUR CRASH WAS THE LEAD STORY , SENDING THE NASDAQ MARKET DOWN 106 POINTS, AND IN AN INSTANT, I WENT FROM HERO TO ZERO. THE CITRIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONVENED, EVALUATED MY ORMANCE, DECIDED TO REPLACE ME, AND I DEMOTED FROM CEO TO SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THAT HURT REALLY BAD. IT STILL HURTS THIS DAY. AFTER LOSING MY FIVE-STAR GENERAL EPAULETS, I MADE A VERY SHORT SPEECH. I TOLD THE BOARD, "I LOVE CITRIX. I DROVE US INTO THIS DITCH AND I'M GOING TO GET US OUT. I'M NOT A QUITTER!” MANY TRUSTED FRIENDS ADVISED ME TO RESIGN AFTER THAT UNFAIR, VERY PUBLIC AND VERY HUMILIATING DEMOTION. ACTUALLY, I DISAGREED. I KNEW I WAS ACCOUNTABLE. I STAYED IN THE GAME. CONFRONTED OUR CHALLENGES. IN A FEW QUARTERS WE WERE BACK ON TRACK, AND THE CITRIX BOARD OFFERED MY EPAULETS BACK. I HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT, FOR THREE MILLISECONDS. AND BECAME CEO ONCE AGAIN. PERSISTENCE WON THE DAY. SETBACKS ALWAYS HAPPEN, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT ACCUMULATING SCARS THAT HURT, WHY? BECAUSE THEY MAKE YOU STRONGER , BUT ONLY IF YOU SEIZE THEM AS OPPORTUNITIES TO PERSIST! SO, WHEN YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN AND YOU WILL. WHEN CONVENTIONAL THINKERS ARE AGAINST YOU, AND I PROMISE YO THEY WILL BE. CONSIDER IT A TEST OF YOUR PASSION. IF IT'S REAL, YOU'LL PERSIST. AND YOU'LL WIN. HUMILITY THAT BRINGS ME TO THE FINAL STORY, AND IT'S ABOUT HUMILITY. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE “AWW-SHUCKS” TYPE - I'M TALKING ABOUT “THE PUTTING OTHERS FIRS”" TYPE OF HUMILITY. I LEARNED THAT FROM MY DAD, A LINEMAN WHO NEVER FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WORKED WITH HIS HANDS AND EVENTUALLY OWNED A SMALL FACTORY. MY DAD IS THE HUMBLEST MAN OF ALL MEN I KNOW. HE WASN'T A VERBAL TEACHER, HE WAS A TEACHER BY SHOWING YOU BY EXAMPLE. BY EXAMPLE, HE SHOWED ME HUMILITY IN THREE WAYS: I WATCHED MY DAD DOLE OUT ASSIGNMENTS TO EACH FACTORY WORKER ON THE SHOP FLOOR, AND THEN GIVE HIMSELF AN ASSIGNMENT USUALLY SAVING THE TOUGHEST WORK FOR HIMSELF. HUMILITY IS UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NO SHAME IN ANY WORK. SECONDLY, HUMILITY IS THE ESSENCE OF RESPECT - DAD NEVER LET THE HIERARCHY OF JOB TITLES DEFINE THE RESPECT HE GAVE TO OTHERS. INSTEAD, HE ACCEPTED HIERARCHY AS A MEANS OF MANAGING BUSINESS COMPLEXITY, AND HE REJECTED HIERARCHY AS A PROXY FOR HUMAN RESPECT. HE BELIEVED THAT EVERYONE DESERVED EQUAL RESPECT AND A VOICE. I SAW THAT PLAYED OUT EVERY SINGAY. AND, THIRD HE TAUGHT THAT HUMILITY IS ABOUT INTROSPECTION IT MEANS LOOKING IN THE MIRROR REGULARLY. I LIKE TO SAY, WHEN YOU SEE A PROBLEM, I WANT YOU TO GET UP AS FAST AS YOU CAN AND UN TO THE BATHROOM. AND PEOPLE SAY, "WHY RUN TO THE BATHROOM? BECAUSE THERE IS A MIRROR. YOU HAVE TO LOOK IN THAT MIRROR ON A REGULAR BASIS AND DECIDE, AM I T PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION? BECAUSE ASKING THAT QUESTION STARTS WITH BEING VULNERABLE, WILLING TO BE WRONG, AND IT FUELS YOUR ABILITY TO BE BR BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF. IN THE END, TRUE HUMILITY IS ABOUT BEING A SERVANT, PUTTING “OBLIGATION BEFORE OPPORTUNITY”. SO, SITTING HERE TODAY, YOU HAVE TO BE PONDERING THE FUTURE. I CERTAINLY WAS 55 YEARS AGO. WHAT'S AHEAD? WHAT'S NEXT? HOW DO I NAVIGATE SUCH AN AMBIGUOUS WORLD? AS STEVE JOBS SAID SO ELOQUENTLY, “YOU CAN'T CONNECT THE DOTS LOOKING FORWARD; YOU CAN ONLY CONNECT THEM LOOKING BACKWARDS. SO, I SAY HAVE THE COURAGE TO TRUST YOUR HEART AND LET THESE THREE TRAITS CONNECT IN YOUR HEARTS. YOU HAVE TO TRUST IN SOMETHING, YOUR GUT, DESTINY, LIFE, KARMA, WHATEVER.” I SAY, “HAVE THE COURAGE TO TRUST YOUR HEART” AND LET THESE THREE TRAITS CONNECT YOUR DOTS. PASSION, YOUR PASSION WILL REVEAL YOUR NEXT MOVE. IT MAY SURPRISE YOU. JUST GO WITH IT! PERSISTENCE, YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED, ADVISED AND ARGUED WITH - PERSISTENCE WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH. HUMILITY, BE A HUMBLE SERVANT TO OTHERS, FOR HUMILITY IS THE TRUE MARK OF A LEADER. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2021! LET THE POWER OF THE ‘PACK BE WITH YOU - ALWAYS! THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Chancellor Woodson: THANK YOU, MARK, FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS OF INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT . PERSISTENCE DOES PAY OFF AND IT CERTAINLY HAS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. SO, NOW LET'S PAUSE AND ENJOY A SPECIAL MUSICAL PRESENTATION FROM CHORDINATION. [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [VIDEO] [APPLAUSE] >> Chancellor Woodson: HOW ABOUT CHORDINATION? WE MAY NOT HAVE A MUSIC TEAM, BUT WE HAVE GREAT MUSIC. THOSE STATS ARE INCREDIBLE, AREN'T THEY? SUCH A DIVERSE AND IMPACTFUL GROUP. AND NOW, THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR HAS ARRIVED: THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES. TO BEGIN THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES, PLEASE WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST, DR. WARWICK ARDEN. [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: DEAN PETER HARRIES WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION DEGREES. >> THANK YOU. THESE DEGREES SCAN THE GAMUT. YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR DEGREE, DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION TO YOUR CLASSES, YOUR RESEARCH ENDEAVORS AND YOUR LIVES. I'M CONVINCED THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE OVERCOME RE GOING TO BE REFLECTIVE IN YOUR LIVES. WILL THE MARSHALS PLEASE CONDUCT THE DOCTORAL CANDIDATES TO THE RIGHT OF THE STAGE? WILL THE AUDIENCE PLEASE HOLD ITS APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL THE CANDIDATES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS. [ READING NAMES ] >> CHANCELLOR WOODSON, UPON THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION. DR. ED FUNKHOUSER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND DR. DUDLEY MARCHI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES WILL NOW ANNOUNCE THE CANDIDATES: >> Dean Harries: WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR ALL MASTER'S DEGREES INCLUDING THE PROFESSIONAL MASTER'S DEGREE, THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE, THE MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE, THE MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE AND THE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PLEASE STAS I MENTION YOUR COLLEGE AND REMAIN STANDING: COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES. COLLEGE OF DESIGN. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. POOLE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT. COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. COLLEGE OF SCIENCES. WILSON COLLEGE OF TEXTILES. CHANCELLOR WOODSON, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL AND THE GRADUATE FACULTY, I PRESENT THESE NDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THEIR APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. >> Chancellor Woodson: UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF DEAN HARRIES, THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, AND THE GRADUATE FACULTY OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I HEREBY CONFER UPON YOU INDIVIDUALLY THE MASTER'S DEGREE, WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HONORS PERTAINING THERETO. CONGRATULATIONS! [APPLAUSE] >> Dean Harries: WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. >> Chancellor Woodson: PROVOST ARDEN WILL RECOGNIZE SEVERAL GROUPS OF SPECIAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS HERE WITH US TODAY. >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU CHANCELLOR WOODSON. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING WITH ACADEMIC HONORS. THESE STUDENTS MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY THE COLOR DESIGNATED "HONOR SASHES" THAT THEY ARE WEARING. I WILL FIRST ASK THOSE DESIGNATED WITH A GOLD SASH GRADUATING SUMMA CAUDE WITH A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.75 AND ABOVE TO STAND AND REMAIN STANDING. [APPLAUSE] WILL THOSE DESIGNATED WITH A SILVER SASH GRADUATING MAGNA CUM LAUDE, WITH A GRADE POINT AVERAGE FROM 3.5 THROUGH 3.74, STAND AND REMAIN STANDING. WILL THOSE DESIGNATED WITH A WHITE SASH GRADUATING CUM LAUDE, WITH GRADE POINT AVERAGE FROM 3.25 TO 3.49 PLEASE STAND. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON YOUR WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS! [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE SEATED. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DERTAKEN AND COMPLETED THE SPECIAL DEMANDS OF THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM, THE GOODNIGHT SCHOLARS PROGRAM, THE PARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM, THE CALDWELL FELLOWS, OR THEIR COLLEGE OR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS PROGRAM TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE SEATED. THE DEANS WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLEGES. ONCE ALL THE COLLEGES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, CHANCELLOR WOODSON WILL CONFER THEIR DEGREES. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK DEAN RICH LINTON TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES PLEASE STAND. AND NOW, IT IS TIME FOR THE GRADUATESES, THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO HOOT AND HOLLER. LET'S HEAR FROM YOU. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] THESE NEW LEADERS WILL HELP FIFEED THE WORLD, PROTECT OUR VALUABLE RESOURCES AND PLANET. PROVOST ARDEN, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN LINTON. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN MARK HOVERSTEN WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN PLEASE STAND. ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE THESE CANDIDATES, FEW BUT NT MIGHTY, WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. THEIR DESIGN THINKING WILL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE A THUS, DESIGN OUR FUTURE. I RECOMMEND THEM WITHOUT RESERVATION. WILL THE CANDIDATES PLEASE BE SEATED? [APPLAUS >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN HOVERSTEN. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. INTERIM DEAN PAOLA SZTAJN WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] I PROUDLY PRESENT TO YOU THESE CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE IN NORTH CAROLINA'S MOST EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE COAST. THEY WILL TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION TO READ AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. THEY WILL INSPIRE OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY WILL CHANGE LIVES. AND THEY WILL CHANGE OUR WORLD. SENIOR VICE PROVOST, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU INTERIM DEAN SZTAJN. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN LOUIS MARTIN-VEGA WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING PLEASE STAND. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. WILL THE FACULTY WHO ARE ACCOMPANYING THESE TUDENTS PLEASE STAND WITH THEM? SENIOR VICE PROVOST, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, I AM HONORED AND PROUD TO PRESENT TO YOU THE COHORT OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GRADUATES IN THE COUNTRY. HUMILITY IN THE PAST 20 CE, - MONTHS, THEIR PERSEVERANCE AND THEY W PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL AND SOCIETIAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES AND CONTRIBUTE IN VERY SIGNIFICANT WAYS THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND ALL OF OUR NATION. ALL OF THE CANDIDATES HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND I RECOMMEND THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN MARTIN-VEGA. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN MYRON FLOYD WPRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES PLEASE STAND. SENIOR VICE PROVOST, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO WILL MANAGE OUR PARKS, FORESTS AND ENSURE THAT THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND CONTINUES TO THRIVE. THEY HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR COLLEGE AND I RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN FLOYD. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN FRANK BUCKLESS WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE POOLE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE POOLE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE POOLE COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF OUR WORLD AND TIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE WELCOME THEM AS THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR WOLFPACK COMMUNITY WHO DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING IN ALL THEY DO. WE PROUDLY PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE EGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN BUCKLESS. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN DEANNA DANNELS WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PLEASE STAND. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF THE FAC OF THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, WHERE WE ARE PROUD TO JOIN TODAY OUTSTANDING COLLEGES THAT MAKE UP THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY ND INVITE ALL NC STATE STUDENTS IN ADDITION O OUR MAJORS, TO BUILD MORE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES, CREATE 3 JUSTICE, AND IMPROVE LIVES.OCIAL I PRESENT TODAY OUR CANDIDATES, WHO O PUT IT SIMPLY, BUT POWERFULLY, WHO WILL AND CAN WORK FOR GROAT. -- GOOD. MARK MY WORDS, THESE CANDIDATES WILL CHANGE THE WORLD. SENIOR VICE PROVOST, ON BEHALF OF THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN DANNELS. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. DEAN CHRIS MCGAHAN WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES PLEASE STAND. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OF OUR WORLD THROUGH PARTICLES OF AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE. I WISH THE BEST FOR ALL OF YOU. AND I'M STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW I GOT HERE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. SENIOR VICE PROVOST, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN MCGAHAN. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE . DEAN DAVID HINKS WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM THE WILSON COLLEGE OF TEXTILES. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE WILSON COLLEGE OF TEXTILES PLEASE STAND. GIVE IT UP. [APPLAUSE] SENIOR VICE PROVOST, ON BEHALF OF THE PROUD FACULTY OF THE WILSON COLLEGE OF TEXTILES, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO WILL TAKE ACTION IN ACTION AND INCLUSION. THEY WILL EVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILTERS THAT PROTECT OUR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS BY PURIFYING THE AIR THAT WE NEED. AND WILL GIVE A HELPING HAND TO THEIR FELLOW ALUMNI AND STUDENTS WHO FOLLOW THEM. THESE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT CONFERRED.RIATE DEGREES BE - [APPLAUSE] >> Provost Arden: THANK YOU DEAN HINKS. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE BE SEATED. WILL THENS OF ALL THE COLLEGES AND ALL THE FACULTY PLEASE STAND FOR THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES. WILL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLEASE JOIN THE DEANS AND FACULTY IN STANDING. WILL ALL CANDIDATES FOR THE ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES FROM NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY PLEASE STAND. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] CHANCELLOR WOODSON, IT IS MY PLEASURE ON BEHALF OF THE PROVOST AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, I PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FULFILLED THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND THAT THE APPROPRIATE DEGREES BE CONFERRED. >> Chancellor Woodson: AS YOUR CHANCELLOR, I AM SO PROUD OF ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND CHALLENGE YOU TO MEET THE EXCITING DEMANDS THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER AND MEET THEM HEAD ON. BE PROUD OF YOUR NC STATE HERITAGE AND AS YOU VENTURE IN LIFE GIVE BACK TO THE PLACE THAT PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. COME BACK. STAY INVOLVED. UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROVOST, THE DEANS AND THE NC STATE FACULTY, AND BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I HEREBY CONFER ON YOU INDIVIDUALLY YOUR DEGREE, WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HONORS PERTAINING THERETO. CONGRATULATIONS! [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] YOU MAY BE SEATED. THE FINAL GROUP OF STUDENTS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY ARE OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STA MILITARY. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN MADE THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT DURING THEIR TIME AT NC STATE TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE CHARACTER, SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES NECESSARY TO EARN THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE OUR NATION AS ARMY, MARINE CORPS, NAVY AND AIR FORCE OFFICERS. LET'S GIVE THESE OFFICERS, OUR VETERAN GRADUATES, THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. YOU MAY ALL BE SEATED. EVERYBODY! EACH SEMESTER, THE COMMENCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH CONDUCTING A SEARCH TO SELECT A GRADUATING STUDENT TO DELIVER A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE GRADUATING CLASS. AT THIS MORNING'S COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE WITH US COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE, SHANNON FULLER. SHANNON FULLER STARTED HER UNDERGRADUATE CAREER MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO AT LAS POSITAS COLLEGE IN LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, WHERE SHE EARNED AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE. IN 2019, SHANNON CONTINUED PURSUING HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AT NC STATE, AND TODAY, SHE GRADUATES MAGNA CUM LAUDE WITH A BLOR OF ARTS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, FOLLOWED BY HER DAUGHTERS CAMRYN AND CLAIRE FULLER. SHE COMPLETED HER DEGREE WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME AT CISCO SYSTEMS SUPPORTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. PLEASE WELCOME OUR STUDENT SPEAKER, MS. SHANNON FULLER. [APPLAUSE] >> Shannon Fuller: THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME FAMILY, FRIENDS, FACULTY AND GRADUATES. WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THIS IS NOT A BAD WAY TO START A DAY! TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE A GRADUATE, WE THANK YOU. AND TO MY FELLOW GRADUATES, IT IS WITH GREAT HUMILITY AND PRIDE THAT I PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT HONORING YOU, THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY'S FALL CLASS OF 2021! CONGRATULATIONS! [APPLAUSE] BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN MOST OF YOU. AND YOU MIGHT EVEN BE WONDERING, WHAT IS MY MOM DOING ON STAGE GIVING THE STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEECH? KIND OF AWKWARD, I KNOW. IT IS FOR ME TOO. YES, I AM A 51-YEAR-OLD MOM. [APPLAUSE] BUT I'M ALSO AN NC STATE STUDENT AND SOON TO BE NC STATE ALUM, JUST LIKE YOU. [APPLAUSE] IN FULL TRANSPARENCY I HAD TO GOOGLE “HOW DO YOU WRITE A COMMENCEMENT SPEECH?” I MEAN I DID APPLY TO BE THE STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, BUT I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS THOUGHT THEY WOULD PICK ME! I GUESS I WAS WRONG. SO, NOW I CAN ONLY HOPE I DON'T EMBARRASS MY CHILDREN OR HAVE A HOT FLASH. IT HAPPENED. ANYWAY, GOOGLE SAID, I'M SUPPOSED TO INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE YOU. AN FIRST THOUGHT WAS “WELL THAT'S OBNOXIOUS!” AND THEN, “ARE YOU CRAZY? I CAN'T DO THAT!” BUT THEN I JUST STARTED TO WRITE. AND WHAT CAME OUT WAS A STORY. MY STORY. A VERY PERSONAL STORY THAT ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD. A STORY ABOUT NAVIGATING THE BUMPY ROAD OF . A STORY ABOUT SHAME AND INSECURITY. A STORY ABOUT RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. A STORY ABOUT SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND EMPOWERMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO INSPIRE OR CHALLENGE YOU. BUT MY HOPE IS THAT YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY FEELING LIKE THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO AND THAT YOU'RE NEVER ALONE. SO HERE IT GOES! MY NAME IS SHANNON FULLER AND I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. AT THE AGE OF 15, I GOT INTO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 10TH GRADE. I'VE BEEN ON MY OWN EVER SINCE. AT ONE POINT I WAS HOMELESS SLEEPING IN MY CAR IN A WALMART PARKING LOT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT MYE WOULD BE LIKE TODAY IF I HAD MADE BETTER CHOICES. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THE PATH I TOOK TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY WAS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE. THERE WERE LOTS OF CURVES AND STARTS AND STOPS. BUT I HAVE NO REGRETS BECAUSE I LEARNED A LOT ALONG THE WAY. WHEN I WAS 19, I TOOK THE GED EXAM AND GOT MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. WHEN I WAS 20, I ENROLLED IN A 6-MONTH COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTING PROGRAM AND I QUICKLY REALIZED I HAD A KNACK FOR COMPUTERS. I SHOULD MENTION THIS WAS IN PREHISTORIC TIME RATHER BEFORE THE INTERNET. SO, JUST LET THAT SOAK IN A MINUTE. ANYWAY, AFTER I COMPLETED THAT PROGRAM, I GOT A JOB AT A SMALL START-UP COMPANY. OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS I'VE BUILT A CAREER IN IT DOING EVERYTHING FROM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TO PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TO LEADING ENGINEERING TEAMS TO MY CURRENT ROLE AS A CUSTOMER SUCCESS EXECUTIVE SUPPORTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. [APPLAUSE] SOUNDS GOOD, RIGHT? DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER. WORK SAVED MY LIFE. WORK IS WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO TALK, AND DRESS, AND ACT. WORK IS WHERWHAT I WAS GOOD AT AND THAT IT WAS OKAY TO FAIL. IT'S WHERE I GREW UP. BUT I ALWAYS HAD THIS FEAR AND INSECURITY IN THE BACK OF MY MIND BECAUSE I WASN'T EDUCATED LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH. I WASN'T “NORMAL.” I DREADED WORK SOCIAL EVENTS WHERE A COLLEAGUE WOULD SAY “SO WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?” WHAT DO YOU SAY? I'M A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT. NO, THEY'LL THINK I'M NOT SMART. THEY WON'T TRUST ME TO DO A GOOD JOB. THEY'LL THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME. I LIVED EVERY DAY IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT I WOULD BE FOUND OUT. CLASSIC IMPOSTER SYNDROME. AND AS I GOT OLDER AND PROGRESSED IN MY CAREER THE WORSE IT GOT. MOST PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME WOULD PROBABLY SAY THEY COULDN'T SEE IT. BUT IT WAS ALWAYS THERE. AND SOMETIMES, STILL IS. REGARDLESS OF WHERE I WAS IN MY CAREER, I ALWAYS HAD A GOAL TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. SO, WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY TWENTIES, I WENT TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GOT AN AA DEGREE AND MET THE MOST AMAZING MAN, MY HUSBAND. THROUGHOUT MY MARRIAGE, RAISING A FAMILY, AND WORKING FULL TIME, I ATTEMPTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT LIFE ALWAYS GOT IN THE WAY. IN 2019, WHEN BOTH OF OUR DAUGHTERS WERE IN COLLEGE AND WE WERE EMPTY NESTERS, I ENROLLED AT NC STATE. THAT WAS TWO VERY LOOOOONG YEARS AGO. AND IT WAS NOT EASY. BUT I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. JUGGLING SCHOOL AND WORK AND FAMILY AND SPORTS AND OUR SOCIAL LIVES IS STRESSFUL. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU WANT TO VE UP. YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT. YOU QUESTION IF THE EFFORT IS WORTH THE REWARD. BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IT'S THE DIFFICULT THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE THE ONES MOST WORTH DOING. GETTING HERE WAS DIFFICULT. BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW WE GOT HERE, WE ARE ALL HERE. THE PATHS WE TAKE AND HAVE TAKEN MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT, BUT BEING DIFFERENT IS GOOD. IT'S THOSE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE US SPECIAL AND GIVE US DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES THAT ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTS, AND COMMUNITIES NEED. WE NEED PEOPLE AT THE TABLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT, THINK DIFFERENT, BELIEVE DIFFERENT, AND KNOW DIFFERENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS DEGREE MEANS TO YOU. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO ME. SO, WHAT I HOPE YOU TAKE AWAY FROM MY STORY IS THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME SECOUESSING MYSELF, THINKING I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS AND FEELING LESS THAN. ONLY TO FIND OUT LATER IN LIFE THAT I AM AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AN INTELLIGENT, CAPABLE, WORTHY HUMAN BEING AND ON OCCASION, A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH! [APPLAUSE] SO, TAKE TIME TO REVEL IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT. CELEBRATE THIS AMAZING MILESTONE. ENJOY YOUR TIME IN THE SUN. YOU EARNED IT. AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE, SET YOUR SIGHTS ON YOUR NEXT MISSION. YOUR NEXT GOAL. THE NEXT HILL TO CLIMB. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? WHAT DO YOU LOVE? AT?- SPEND TIME AND THINK ABOUT IT. AND THEN, SET A GOAL. A BIG BOLD ONE. AND THEN GO GET IT AND DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU DO. MAYBE IT'S GETTING YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE, RUNNING A MARATHON, WRITING A BOOK OR STARTING YOUR OWN COMPANY. WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE, TODAY IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A NEW AND EXCITING JOURNEY. YOUR PATH MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE OTHERS, IT MIGHT BE CURVY LIKE MINE, BUT IT'S YOURS. SO, OWN IT. OWN THE SUCCESSES AND THE FAILURES. THE GOOD CHOICES AND THE BAD. LEARN FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A BETTER VERSION OF YOU. AND FROM THIS DAY FORWARD WHEN YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN, HIT A ROADBLOCK, FAIL AT SOMETHING, LOSE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF. REMEMBER THIS DAY, THIS FEELING, THIS MOMENT. REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING. YOU CAN CONQUER ANYTHING, AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE HARD WORK. WOLVES ARE TERRITORIAL ANIMALS WHO FIERCELY PROTECT THEIR OWN AND TRAVEL IN PACKS. SO, NO MATTER WHERE LIFE TAKES YOU, YOU WILL NEVER BE ALONE BECAUSE WALKING BESIDE YOU IS THIS NC STATE COMMUNITY. WE ARE A WOLFPACK FAMILY FOREVER BONDED BY THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE. WITH THAT I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH MY FAVORITE QUOTE BY JOHN MLL “I'M NEVER DOWN. I'M EITHER UP OR GETTING UP.” THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2021! GO PACK! [APPLAUSE] >> Chancellor Woodson: SANNON, THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS ARENA THAT IS SURPRISED THAT YOU WERE SELECTED TO GIVE THE STUDENT COMMENCEMENT PEECH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. THOSE ARE INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING WORDS. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE YOUR STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT TO THE PODIUM, McKENZY HEAVLIN. >> McKenzy Heavlin: MY NAME IS McKENZY HEAVLIN AND I'VE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON GRADUATING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE OF NC STATE, IT'S CREATED SO MANY FANTASTIC MEMORIES FOR ALL OF US. LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK ON SOME OF THOSE MEMORABLE MTS. [VIDEO] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Chancelloodson: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SEVENTH INNING STRETCH. SO, ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, FRIENDS AND FAMILY, PLEASE STAND. WOULD YOU PLEASE THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE] I THINK THEY MEANT IT. YOU MAY BE SEATED. THE TURNING OF THE TASSEL IS SYMBOLIC OF TURNING ANOTHER PAGE IN ONE'S LIFE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR STUDENT SPEAKER TO COME TO THE PODIUM TO LEAD THE TRADITIONAL TURNING OF THE TASSEL. LET ME ALSO ASK CHUCK FLINK, PRESIDENT OF OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO COME FORWARD. WILL ALL OUR CANDIDATES FOR ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES PLEASE STAND WITH SHANNON AS SHE LEADS US IN THE TRADITIONAL TURNING OF THE TASSEL. >> Shannon Fuller: IT IS INDEED HONOR TO LEAD MY FELLOW GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021 IN THE TURNING OF THE TASSEL. HERE WE GO. 1, 2, 3! [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> Chuck Flink: ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN 260,000 LIVING NC STATE ALUMNI AND MEMBERS OF THE NC STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, IT IS MY HAPPY AND HUMBLE PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME THE CLASS OF 2021 INTO THE WOLFPACK ALUMNI FAMILY. [APPLAUSE] AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, I URGE YO TO VISIT AND VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND EXPERIENCES TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOLFPACK NATION. ‘HOWL BACK' TO YOUR ALMA MATER BY SHARING YOUR EXPANDED INSIGHTSND EXPERTISE THROUGH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. BY NOW, I HOPE THOSE OF YOU WEARING THE OFFICIAL NC STATE CLASS RING HAVE TURNED YOUR RING SO THAT THE “BLOCK S” IS FACING OUTWARD. THIS TIME-HONORED TRADITION SYMBOLIZES YOUR GRADUATION AND IS A MARK OF YOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. HOW 'BOUT ONE MORE STANDING OVATION FOR HE CLASS OF 2021! CONGRATULATIONS! GO PACK! [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE >> Chancellor Woodson: YES, YOU MAY BE SEATED. WHAT A GREAT MORNING IT HAS BEEN! FOLLOWING THE SINGING OF OUR ALMA MATER, THE RECESSIONAL WILL BEGIN. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS UNTIL THE PLATFORM PARTY, THE FACULTY, AND OUR DOCTORAL GRADUATES HAVE COMPLETED THE RECESSIONAL. I SINCERELY WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS CELEBRATION. GRADUATES, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOUR HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT! IT IS TIME TO TAKE YOUR KNOWLEDGE, CREATIVITY, COMPASSION AND THINK AND DO ATTITUDE OUT INTO THE WORLD. I AM SO PROUD AND Y FOR ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS! YEAH. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] I INVITE EVERYONE TO RISE AND JOIN CHORDINATION AS THEY SING OUR ALMA MATER. AND GO PACK. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [SINGING] WHERE THE WINDS OF DIXIE SOFTLY BLOW O'ER THE FIELDS OF CAROLINE, THERE STANDS EVER CHERISHED, N.C. STATE, AS THY HONORED SHRINE SO LIFT YOUR VOICES! LOUDLY SING, FROM HILL TO OCEAN SIDE! OUR HEARTS EVER HOLD YOU, N.C. STATE IN THE FOLDS OF OUR LOVE AND PRIDE. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] [MUSIC]
