Montclair State University 2021 Commencement Ceremonies: Feliciano School of Business
![Montclair State University 2021 Commencement Ceremonies: Feliciano School of Business Montclair State University 2021 Commencement Ceremonies: Feliciano School of Business](/pic/montclair_state_university_2021_commencement_ceremonies_feliciano_school_of_business/QjNwcm9fV3RYX0E_.jpeg)
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE 2021 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY. WE WANT YOU TO ENJOY THIS EXPERIENCE, SO WE ALSO ASK YOU TO PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. AND NOW, WILL YOU PLEASE WELCOME THE CLASS OF 2021 GRADUATES FROM THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ [ TRIUMPHAL MARCH ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ TRIUMPHAL MARCH ] ♪♪ >> GRADUATES, PLEASE RISE AS THE ACADEMIC PROCESSIONAL WILL NOW BEGIN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE PRESENT THE PRESIDENT OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, THE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, THE DEAN OF THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FACULTY AND STAFF. ♪♪ [ TRIUMPHAL MARCH ] ♪♪ >> WELCOME. PLEASE BE SEATED.
I'M DR. KIMBERLY HOLLISTER, DEAN OF THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, AND IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM THE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS LED THE REMARKABLE GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY DURING THE PAST 23 YEARS, DR. SUSAN A. COLE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELCOME.
WELCOME. GRADUATES, GUESTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, FAMILY TO THE 2021 UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES FOR THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY. PLEASE RISE FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WHICH WILL BE SUNG BY LISBELKIS SANTANA.
♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' 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 ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> PLEASE BE SEATED. >> ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY, IT IS MY VERY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO OUR 2021 CEREMONY. I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME TO OUR PLATFORM SOME DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, TRUSTEE ROSE CALI, WAVE. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR STUDENT TRUSTEE, FAITH VICTOR. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] OUR HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT, MIMI FELICIANO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND HER BETTER HALF, EDWIN FELICIANO. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND OUR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA MICHELE ANSBACHER AND HER BETTER HALF KEITH ANSBACHER. [ APPLAUSE ] I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND WHO WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE FOR YOU. I WANT ALL THE FACULTY AND STAFF, WHEREVER YOU ARE, ON THE PLATFORM, IN THE STANDS, IN THE FIELD, ON THE SIDES, FACULTY, STAFF, STAND UP, WAVE, MAKE A BIG NOISE! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU. AS WE GATHER TODAY, THE WORLD, THANK GOODNESS, IS AT LAST EMERGING FROM WHAT HAS BEEN A CATASTROPHIC PANDEMIC.
AND WE STAND TOGETHER TODAY WITH OPTIMISM ON THE THRESHOLD OF BETTER YEARS TO COME. THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, INFORMED BY EXPERTS AND SCIENCE AND IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MANY CAMPUS ACTIVITIES, WITH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS, WITH MANY COMMUTING STUDENTS COMING TO CAMPUS TO STUDY. OUR MUSIC STUDENTS TOOK OVER THE RED HAWK DECK OVER THERE FOR THEIR REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES. OUR DANCE STUDENTS PRACTICED IN THE OUTDOOR QUADS. BUSINESS CLASSES MET IN CLASSROOMS THAT HAD BEEN SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THEM.
LOTS OF OTHER CLASSES MET IN THE AMPHITHEATER AND IN TENTS OUTSIDE. AND FOR MANY STUDENTS, TIME WITH FRIENDS WAS FOUND ON BENCHES ON THE CAMPUS, IN OUTDOOR EATING TENTS, AND AROUND THE FIREPIT AT THE REC CENTER. MAINTAINING THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY OF THE UNIVERSITY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND TOGETHER WE MADE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT TO USING A WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGY TO TEACH, TO LEARN, TO MEET AND TO COMMUNICATE. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT IDEAL, BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. ALL OF US, EVERY ONE OF US, WERE HURT IN SOME WAY BY THE DISRUPTIONS TO OUR LIVES, BUT I HAVE MARVELED AT YOUR TENACITY AND RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOUR UNIVERSITY COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. YOU WERE DETERMINED NOT TO LET A GLOBAL PANDEMIC KEEP YOU FROM REACHING YOUR GOALS.
AND TODAY, WE CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATION, AS EACH ONE OF YOU TAKES YOUR PLACE OF HONOR AS A RECIPIENT OF ONE OF THE 172,399 DEGREES GRANTED BY MONTCLAIR STATE OVER ITS 113-YEAR HISTORY. BUT NOT ALL OF YOUR CLASSMATES ARE WITH US TODAY, AND I WOULD LIKE US TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER TOGETHER YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS WHOSE LIVES WERE CUT SHORT OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND WHO WILL NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO STAND WHERE YOU STAND TODAY: LET US REMEMBER OLIVIA MORRO ZYIANNA ROBINSON TIMOTHY ROY AND CHARLES STORCK. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SEND OUR COLLECTIVE BEST WISHES TO YOUR CLASSMATES WHO WERE CALLED AWAY FROM THEIR STUDIES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, 65 STUDENTS HAVE SERVED IN THE NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD, AND TODAY 12 OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS ARE STILL IN ACTIVE SERVICE. THEY ARE: CHRISTOPHER BAIRD REBECCA DOMENECH ITAYA DUNCAN-MUNNERLYN RICHARD FARLA GUILLERMO GONZALEZ DENZEL GRIFFITH ASHLEY JOHNSON JONATHAN MOYANO RYAN RAMM NICHOLAS RITTER DIEGO TANAKA AND ADRIAN VARGAS.
WE THANK THOSE FELLOW RED HAWKS FOR THEIR SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ] AS EVENTS OF THE LAST 15 MONTHS HAVE SHOWN, YOU ARE ENTERING A WORLD THAT HAS MANY IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN URGENT NEED OF ATTENTION, AND TODAY YOU JOIN THE NEXT CLASS OF CITIZENS, PREPARED BY YOUR EDUCATION, TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE HARD WORK IT TAKES TO BUILD A PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS, EQUITABLE AND JUST SOCIETY. THE ROLE OF PUBLIC -- EXCUSE ME. THE ROLE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, SUCH AS MONTCLAIR STATE, IS CRITICAL TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, NOT JUST FOR THE LUCKY FEW BUT FOR ALL THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS. YOU HAVE HAD THAT PRIVILEGE, AND MANY PEOPLE WORKED HARD TO MAKE THAT PRIVILEGE POSSIBLE FOR YOU, INCLUDING YOUR FACULTY AND ADVISORS, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ALL OF WHOM ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, AND MANY PEOPLE YOU WILL NEVER KNOW, YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WHOSE TAXES HELPED SUPPORT YOUR EDUCATION, AND GENEROUS ALUMNI AND DONORS WHO GAVE BACK TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AND MAKE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR YOU.
CLASS OF 2021, YOU ARE THE SECOND CLASS THAT HAS BEEN CALLED BY THE MEDIA THE CLASS OF COVID, BUT YOU HAVE STOOD UP AGAINST COVID, AND REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT THE VIRUS. WITH ALL THIS COVID STUFF, YOU ARE NOT THE VIRUS. YOU ARE THE CURE! YOU ARE THE CURE. [ APPLAUSE ] NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE WORLD NEEDS THE INTELLIGENCE, OPTIMISM AND INTEGRITY THAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE IMMENSE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS A SOCIETY. LET ME ASSURE YOU, YOUR EDUCATION AT MONTCLAIR STATE HAS PREPARED YOU FOR THIS MOMENT.
YOU ARE READY. YOU ARE. READY.
AS YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE LAST COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES THAT I WILL PRESIDE OVER AS PRESIDENT OF MONTCLAIR STATE. SO TODAY, IN A WAY, I GRADUATE WITH YOU, AND I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO DO SO. FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO CONTRIBUTE MY EFFORT TO BUILDING THE UNIVERSITY THAT WOULD ENABLE STUDENTS LIKE YOU TO EARN YOUR DEGREES, TO WALK ACROSS THIS STAGE AND THEN PROCEED TO REALIZE YOUR DREAMS.
SO, WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE TOGETHER. NOW, I'D LIKE TO TURN OUR CEREMONY OVER TO DR. KIMBERLY HOLLISTER, DEAN OF THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> ON BEHALF OF THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FACULTY AND STAFF, LET ME BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2021. YOU HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY. THIS IS ALSO A DAY TO CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED YOU THROUGH YOUR YEARS OF EFFORT AND COMMITMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOU. PROVOST DR. WILLARD GINGERICH. ASSOCIATE DEAN DR. ELIZABETH
ROSINI. [ APPLAUSE ] ELLIE ESPOSITO, MASTER OF CEREMONIES. DR. RONALD STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE. [ APPLAUSE ] DR. ROSS MALAGA, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS. [ APPLAUSE ] DENIZ APPELBAUM, ABDULLAH ABDIZY, OUR SGA PRESIDENT ERNST LOZIN. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND SGA SECRETARY PAULETTE GANDO-DUENAS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] YOUR CLASS, THE CLASS OF 2021, HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO YOUR GRADUATION. EACH OF YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD, NOT JUST OF YOUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT BUT ALSO YOUR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION IN COMPLETING YOUR DEGREES UNDER VERY CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AND UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES. I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE AS WE NAVIGATED THIS UNCHARTED TERRITORY TOGETHER.
WHILE MUCH HAS CHANGED IN OUR WORLD OVER THE PAST YEAR, I TAKE GREAT COMFORT KNOWING THAT YOU -- OUR NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS -- ARE WELL PREPARED TO HELP US OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF BOTH TODAY AND TOMORROW AND TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER. AS YOU HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY LEARNED, PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST YEAR, LIFE BRINGS BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND OBSTACLES. CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE, ENERGIZING YOURSELF AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND YOU. FEED YOUR INNER SPIRIT WITH FRIENDS AND MENTORS WHO LIFT YOU UP, AND WORK TO MOTIVATE THOSE AROUND YOU. AS YOU LOOK TOWARD THE NEXT STEPS IN YOUR JOURNEY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE DRIVER ON THIS COURSE. CAREER PATHS ARE TYPICALLY NOT STRAIGHT LINES.
AND EACH JOB DOES NOT NEED TO LAST FOREVER. YOUR INTERESTS AND SKILLS WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. THE MARKETPLACE WILL EVOLVE. BE OPEN TO CHANGE.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW OR TO TAKE A RISK. DON'T LET FEAR STAND IN THE WAY OF PURSUING AN OPPORTUNITY. AS A LAST PIECE OF ADVICE, DON'T FORGET TO LAUGH. THE WORLD CAN BE CRUEL, BUT IT'S NO EXCUSE FOR NOT SEEING THE HUMOR IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE CRAZINESS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. LAUGHTER IS CONTAGIOUS.
WHEN YOU HEAR LAUGHTER, YOU KNOW THAT SOMEONE HAS MADE A CHOICE TO LET GO AND BE HAPPY, EVEN IF JUST FOR A MOMENT. IN CHALLENGING TIMES, LAUGHTER CAN BE COURAGE IN ITSELF. SPREAD LAUGHTER WISELY, OPENLY AND GENEROUSLY. USE IT TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND THE VERY JOY OF LIVING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE, AND WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU! [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT'S HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT. I WOULD ASK PROVOST GINGERICH TO PLEASE ESCORT MIMI TURCO FELICIANO TO THE LECTERN. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] MIMI TURCO FELICIANO, YOU HAVE ACHIEVED DISTINCTION IN YOUR CAREER AS A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESS LEADER AND HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY AND TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF NEW JERSEY.
YOU ARE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF FEM REAL ESTATE, WHICH YOU CO-FOUNDED WITH YOUR HUSBAND, EDWIN FELICIANO, AND PRIOR TO THAT, YOU SERVED AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF LINCOLN PARK HEALTHCARE. YOU HAVE BEEN NAMED TO ROI-NJ'S INFLUENCER: WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2021 LIST, NJBIZ'S TOP 50 POWER LIST, NAMED A NEW JERSEY BUSINESS HALL-OF-FAME LAUREATE AND RECEIVED THE UNIVERSITY'S CARPE DIEM AWARD IN 2012. YOUR GENEROSITY AND COMMITMENT HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE UNIVERSITY IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING THE MIMI AND EDWIN FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, THE FELICIANO CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION AND THE GLOBAL CENTER ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS STUDENTS BY SERVING ON THE ADVISORY BOARDS OF THE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION AND SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND EVEN BY TEACHING MASTER BALLROOM DANCE CLASSES IN THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS. [ LAUGHTER ] SHE CAN DANCE, LET ME TELL YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ] MIMI, YOU HAVE BECOME A HIGHLY VALUED MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY. AS A YOUNG WOMAN, WHEN YOU ATTENDED MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, AND ALTHOUGH YOU HAD TO LEAVE YOUR EDUCATION TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES AND YOU DID NOT GET TO COMPLETE YOUR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE, YOU STILL CREDIT THE UNIVERSITY WITH PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SUCCESSFUL CAREER. SO, TODAY, MANY YEARS SINCE YOU FIRST CAME TO MONTCLAIR STATE AS A FRESHMAN, I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SAY THAT YOU ARE EARNING YOUR DEGREE. [ APPLAUSE ] IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY PROUDLY BESTOWS UPON YOU, MIMI TURCO FELICIANO, THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, HONORIS CAUSA. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, AND IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR FULFILLING THE CURRICULA PRESCRIBED, I CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, HONORIS CAUSA, WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, PRIVILEGES, AND IMMUNITIES THEREUNTO APPERTAINING, OF WHICH THE DIPLOMA IS THE WRITTEN WITNESS. AND HERE IS THAT DIPLOMA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. COLE, FOR THIS PRIVILEGE AND HONOR. AND I HAVE TO SAY IN MANY WAYS, I FEEL VERY CONNECTED TO THIS CLASS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR DEGREE JUST THE SAME DAY THAT I AM, AND WE'RE SHARING THAT TOGETHER.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. HOW MANY OF YOU LIVE LOCALLY? I GREW UP IN NUTLEY. DID ANYBODY LIVE LOCALLY? YEAH.
HOW MANY OF YOU, LIKE ME, WORKED THROUGH SCHOOL? PUT YOURSELF -- JUST LIKE ME. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THE FIRST IN YOUR HOME -- FAMILY GETTING A DEGREE? [ CHEERS ] >> RIGHT? A FIRST GENERATION. HOW MANY OF YOU PAID FOR YOUR EDUCATION OR PART OF IT? SO IN MANY WAYS, WE'RE VERY MUC. AND LOOKING BACK TO WHERE I WAS WHEN I WAS SITTING THERE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I -- THAT DOMINATED MY THINKING AT THAT TIME THAT MAYBE YOU COULD RELATE TO.
ONE THING WAS, I FELT LIKE I JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. AND I FELT LIKE I NEVER HAD ENOUGH MONEY. DOES ANYBODY RELATE TO ANY OF THAT? [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, I HAVE TO TELL YOU A SHORT STORY THAT MY FATHER TAUGHT ME, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, BEFORE I GRADUATED, ABOUT THAT, THAT CHANGED MY ATTITUDE ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE, I HAD BEEN WORKING FOR MY DAD IN HIS CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS FOR -- SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I DID HIS BOOKKEEPING AND I BALANCED HIS CHECKBOOKS, AND I WOULD -- AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ALWAYS BRACKETS AROUND THE NUMBERS. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE RED AND THERE ARE BRACKETS AROUND THE NUMBERS? IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE SHORT. IT MEANS THAT WHAT YOU WROTE IN CHECKS IS MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE ACCOUNT. AND I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I SAW EVERY DAY IN MY FATHER'S BUSINESS. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I GOT TO COLLEGE THAT -- AND I LEARNED AND I TOOK AN ACCOUNTING COURSE. I GRAD -- MAJORED IN BUSINESS, AND I TOOK A COURSE ON ACCOUNTING.
AND THE PROFESSOR GOT UP AND STARTED TO DESCRIBE THAT CASH, BANK BALANCES ARE SUPPOSED TO AN ASSET. AND THEY'RE A DEBIT. HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT? HOW MANY HAVE ACCOUNTING DEGREES HERE? SO THAT'S PRETTY -- RIGHT? THAT'S BASIC. [ LAUGHTER ] FOR ME, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS WRONG. I FIGURED THERE WAS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH WHAT THE PROFESSOR SAID BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MY EXPERIENCE TO SEE CASH AS A DEBIT, AS AN ASSET.
IT WAS ALWAYS A LIABILITY. AND AS SHY AS I WAS BECAUSE I ALREADY TOLD YOU I DIDN'T THINK I WAS -- I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOOD ENOUGD THE STRENGTH TO RAISE MY HAND AND CHALLENGE THE PROFESSOR, BECAUSE I WAS CERTAIN THAT EVERY MONTH, EVERY ACCOUNT WAS OVERDRAWN. IT COULDN'T BE AN ASSET. IT HAD TO BE A LIABILITY.
AND I RAISED MY HAND. I SAID, PROFESSOR, I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR MY DAD, AND THESE ACCOUNTS, I DON'T THINK THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS RIGHT, BECAUSE IN OUR BUSINESS, CASH IS ALWAYS A LIABILITY. AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAI, AND HE SAID, MY DEAR, IF YOUR FATHER'S BUSINESS HAD NEGATIVE BRACKETS -- IF IT WAS A NEGATIVE NUMBER AND HAD BRACKETS AROUND IT, THAT MEANS THAT YOUR FATHER'S BUSINESS WAS PROBABLY BANKRUPT. I WAS MORTIFIED.
I'M THINKING, OH, MY GOD. WE HAVE NO MONEY. I KNOW MY FATHER ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH MONEY, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY. HE WAS A TRUE ENTREPRENEUR. HE HAD A BIG VISION.
AND HE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN GROWING THE BUSINESS, AND EVERY DIME HE HAD, HE WOULD GO BUY ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY OR PUT IT -- INVEST IT IN ANOTHER BUILDING, AND HE WAS BUILDING HIS EMPIRE. BUT FROM WHERE I WAS LEARNING IN BUSINESS, I WAS LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY TO DO BUSINESS FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT, AND I LEARNED THAT THAT WASN'T THE WAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE MONEY IN THE ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU START SPENDING IT. WELL, I DECIDED I HAD TO GO TELL MY DAD RIGHT AWAY. I CAME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK, AND I SAID, DAD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS, WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE.
WE'RE DOING IT ALL WRONG. YOU'RE SHORT. YOU'RE BANKRUPT. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT. AND LOOK AT WHAT -- I FIGURED ALL THIS OUT AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAID, I'M NOT BANKRUPT! I'M JUST SHORT ON CASH. [ LAUGHTER ] AND HE WAS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE BUILDING. LOOK AT ALL THE PROPERTIES WE HAVE. LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GROWN. WE STARTED FROM NOTHING.
HE SAID, YOU KNOW -- AND I GUESS HE WAS RIGHT. YOU COULD LOOK AT IT LIKE YOU HAVE NO MONEY OR YOU HAVE NOTHING, OR YOU COULD LOOK AT IT THAT YOU'RE BUILDING AN EMPIRE AND YOU'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON CASH. AND THAT CHANGED MY WHOLE PERCEPTION ABOUT FEELING -- MY FEELINGS ABOUT MONEY AND TOWARD MONEY. AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, MIMI, YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN YOUR FUTURE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO OR YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET ANYWHERE. [ LAUGHTER ] IT WAS REALLY GOOD ADVICE. SO, I HUMBLY OFFER YOU THIS ADVICE, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? TODAY, MY NAME IS ON THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SO IT'S WITHIN REACH FOR YOU TOO.
WE COME FROM THE SAME PLACE. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND DON'T SWEAT IT IF YOU'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON CASH ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. COLE, FOR THIS HUMBLING EXPERIENCE, THIS DEGREE.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THAT WAS GREAT. [ LAUGHTER ] SHORT ON CASH. YES. SO, WITH ALL THESE MANY HUNDREDS OF GRADUATES TODAY, YOU NOW BECOME AN ALUMNA OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, AND WE ARE PROUD TO CALL YOU ONE OF OUR OWN. [ APPLAUSE ] I NOW CALL ON DEAN HOLLISTER TO INTRODUCE THIS YEAR'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD RECIPIENT.
>> IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THIS YEAR'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD RECIPIENT FOR THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, WHO WILL BE SHARING SOME REFLECTIONS AND ADVICE FOR ALL OF YOU TODAY AS YOU CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND GROW YOUR LIVES AND CAREERS. LIKE SO MANY OF YOU HERE THIS EVENING, MICHELE ANSBACHER GREW UP IN NEW JERSEY AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED ON CAMPUS, SHE WAS DETERMINED TO, NOT ONLY LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO TO LEAD, EARNING HER BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SERVING AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION IN HER SENIOR YEAR. MICHELE EARNED HER MBA FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. AFTER HER GRADUATION FROM MONTCLAIR STATE, MICHELE LAUNCHED HER CAREER AT PRUDENTIAL. TODAY, SHE, AGAIN, LEADS HERE ON CAMPUS -- TEACHING ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP AND SERVING AS A MENTOR AND CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MICHELE ANSBACHER TO THE PODIUM. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD EVENING, GRADUATES, PARENTS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK PRESIDENT COLE, DEAN HOLLISTER AND THE FELICIANO FACULTY AND STAFF. AND CONGRATS TO MY FRIEND MIMI, WHO I MET THROUGH OUR WORK ON THE ADVISORY BOARD. I'M STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT TWO JERSEY GIRLS ARE NOW UP ON STAGE, ONE FROM NUTLEY AND ONE FROM BELLEVILLE.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. THANK YOU. I CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. YOUR DIPLOMA REPRESENTS THE COURAGE, CHARACTER AND SACRIFICE YOU NEEDED TO GET HERE TODAY. NELSON MANDELA DESCRIBED IT BEST: "IT IS WHAT WE MAKE OF WHAT WE HAVE, NOT WHAT WE ARE GIVEN, THAT SEPARATES ONE PERSON FROM ANOTHER."
LIKE YOU, I STOOD ON THIS FIELD 40 YEARS AGO. I CAME FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. THOUGH MY PARENTS DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE, THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF THEIR CHILDREN WHO DID. WANTING MORE FUELED MY SUCCESS. YOU HAVE TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. NUMBER ONE, WHAT CAREER YOU CHOOSE AND, NUMBER TWO, WHOM YOU PICK AS A PARTNER.
DURING MY GRADUATION, I SAT NEXT TO THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, A SENIOR EXECUTIVE FROM PRUDENTIAL. HE HANDED ME HIS BUSINESS CARD, AND I FOLLOWED UP WITH HIM. I TOOK A NUMBER OF TESTS, WENT ON A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS AND FOUND MYSELF IN THE COMPETITIVE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ALONGSIDE RECENT GRADUATES OF HARVARD, DUKE, BROWN AND OTHER TOP SCHOOLS.
I WAS GOING TO SHOW THEM THAT SOMEONE FROM A STATE SCHOOL LIKE MSU COULD BRING MUCH OR MORE TO THE TABLE. OVER MY 34 YEARS AT PRUDENTIAL, I ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS TO A CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT POSITION. MY SPECIALTY WAS TRANSFORMING BUSINESSES -- STARTING THEM, FIXING THEM AND, WHEN NECESSARY, DISMANTLING THEM. MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE RUNNING THE EAST COAST OPERATIONS WITH 2,000 PEOPLE AND BUILDING A TEAM WHO SOLD $6 BILLION IN INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL PRODUCTS.
I WAS KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO DID -- WHO COULD GET THINGS DONE THE RIGHT WAY AND ULTIMATELY WAS CHOSEN AS PRUDENTIAL'S GLOBAL CORPORATE CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER. LIKE ME, AT 22, YOU ARE MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO SUCCEED WITH YOUR MSU EDUCATION. AS DR. COLE MENTIONED, YOU SURVIVED THE COVID UPHEAVAL AND WILL TAKE THAT QUALITY OF RESILIENCY WITH YOU.
HERE ARE FOUR THINGS I WISH SOMEONE TOLD ME: WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THIS FIELD: NUMBER ONE, IN LIFE, THERE IS NO CAREER GPS. YOU NEED TO CREATE YOUR ROADMAP. NO ONE WILL BE HANDING YOU A SYLLABUS WITH NEAT DELIVERABLES.
THAT PART OF YOUR LIFE IS OVER. I SAT AT MY DESK FOR TWO YEARS THINKING MY VP WOULD TELL ME -- VP WOULD COME OVER, TAP ME ON THE SHOULDER AND TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO GET PROMOTED. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO, LOOK AHEAD.
LOOK AT THOSE ROLES FIVE OR TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN FIGURE OUT THE STEPS YOU NEED TO DO TO GET TO THOSE ROLES. NUMBER TWO, PICK THE TOUGH STUFF TO DO. VOLUNTEER AND SAY YES TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES.
I TACKLED ASSIGNMENTS OTHERS WERE AFRAID OF. I THOUGHT, IF I WORK ON THIS, I CAN'T MAKE IT WORSE. I CAN ONLY MAKE IT BETTER. NUMBER THREE, GENERATE IDEAS. BE KNOWN AS A THOUGHT LEADER, AND SOON YOU'LL BE THE LEADER. YOU'LL BE MORE ENGAGED IF YOU THINK OF WAYS TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND FOCUS ON HELPING THE WHOLE TEAM.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE OR THAT DELIGHTS YOU FROM ANOTHER COMPANY, AND THEN APPLY IT TO YOUR TEAM OR BUSINESS. AND FOURTH, AND MOST IMPORTANT, FIND PARTNERS AND BE A PARTNER. WE LIVE IN A RECIPROCAL SOCIETY. DO NOT TURN PEOPLE AWAY EMPTY HANDED.
TRY TO HELP EVEN A LITTLE. SHOW INTEREST AND INVEST TIME IN OTHERS, AND IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN MORE WAYS THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. EARLIER, I MENTIONED WHAT MATTERS MOST IS YOUR CHOICE OF CAREER AND YOUR CHOICE OF A PARTNER. WELL, MSU HELPED ME OUT THERE TOO.
I MARRIED A FELLOW STUDENT, KEITH ANSBACHER. AND KEITH AND I ARE BOTH BELIEVERS IN GIVING BACK. HE'S A LONGSTANDING MEMBER OF THE MSU FOUNDATION BOARD.
SOMEDAY, YOU WILL BE THE SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL STANDING ON THIS STAGE. DEAN HOLLISTER MENTIONED THAT I CHAIR THE FELICIANO SCHOOL'S ADVISORY BOARD. IT IS FILLED WITH ALUMS WHO ARE CFOs OR CEOs OF CORPORATIONS OR WHO RUN THEIR OWN COMPANIES. LET THAT BE YOU.
BUT DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE IN THOSE ROLES. HELP ALONG THE WAY BY STAYING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR PROFESSORS, THE CAREER CENTER, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND EVEN MAKING A SMALL DONATION TO A STRUGGLING STUDENT. IN CLOSING, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK. HERE'S THE WISH I LEAVE YOU WITH.
MAY YOU HAVE ENOUGH HOPE TO KEEP YOU HAPPY, ENOUGH TRIALS TO KEEP YOU STRONG, ENOUGH SUCCESS TO MAKE YOU EAGER, ENOUGH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO GIVE YOU COMFORT, ENOUGH WEALTH TO MEET YOUR NEEDS AND ENOUGH DETERMINATION TO MAKE EACH DAY BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, MICHELE. AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WELCOME DR. RONALD STRAUSS, FACULTY
CHAIR OF THE ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> ONE THING I LEARNED ALREADY TODAY IS THE ACCOUNTING FACULTY HAS TO RE-EVALUATE THE WAY WE TEACH CASH. [ LAUGHTER ] AND, IN PARTICULAR, A CREDIT BALANCE IN CASH WILL NOW BE TAUGHT AS LEADING TO TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. [ LAUGHTER ] DEAR GRADUATES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, IN THESE UNUSUAL TIMES, IT IS A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO STAND HERE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND REAL ESTATE FACULTY AND OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS UPON YOUR GRADUATION FROM MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY! ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR HOPE IS THAT YOUR MONTCLAIR EDUCATION WILL PROVIDE THE -- PROVIDE YOU WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING, SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT. AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR DOORS WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN, AS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR ALUM IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR FACULTY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU. AND I WISH YOU SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD, AND MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, DR. STRAUSS. AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR. ROSS MALAGA, FACULTY CHAIR
OF THE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELCOME, GRADUATES. WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT LAST YEAR, THE FIRST CALLS WERE TO DOCTORS, NURSES, EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. BUT THE SECOND CALLS WERE TO THE I.T. DEPARTMENT.
ACTUALLY, LET'S BE HONEST. THE SECOND CALLS WERE TO COSTCO TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY TOILET IT PAPER IN STOCK. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT THE THIRD CALL, THAT ONE WAS TO THE I.T. DEPARTMENT. THEY YELLED, HELP! WE NEED TO GET ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS ONLINE. IT WAS THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO
THE RESCUE. THE NEXT CALL WENT OUT TO THE ANALYTICS DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE WHICH THERAPIES AND VACCINES WERE WORKING AND HELP TO TRACK AND TRACE THE PANDEMIC. NOW, AS WE EMERGE INTO A NEW NORMAL, IT IS YOU, THE STUDENTS, GRADUATING WITH CONCENTRATIONS IN MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS WHO WILL APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS LEARNED HERE TO HELP FORGE THAT NEW NORMAL. ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF THE INBA DEPARTMENT, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I NOW CALL ON PROVOST WILLARD GINGERICH AS WE BEGIN THE CONFERMENT OF DEGREES.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> PRESIDENT COLE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THE CANDIDATES HERE ASSEMBLED, WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE CURRICULA OFFERED BY THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, HAVE BEEN SO CERTIFIED BY THE UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE FACULTY TO BE AWARDED BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT A NUMBER OF THESE CANDIDATES HAVE ALSO COMPLETED THEIR CERTIFICATIONS TO TEACH. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE GOLD TASSELS ON THEIR MORTARBOARDS, SIGNIFYING THAT THEY ARE GRADUATING CUM LAUDE, WITH HONORS, MAGNA CUM LAUDE, WITH HIGH HONORS, AND SUMMA CUM LAUDE, WITH HIGHEST HONORS. WILL THOSE UNDERGRADUATES WHO ARE GRADUATING WITH HONORS PLEASE RISE.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND WILL THE FAMILIES OF THESE UNDERGRADUATES GRADUATING WITH HONORS ALSO PLEASE RISE. [ APPLAUSE ] YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FELLOW STUDENTS JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING YOUR SUCCESS. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. >> PRESIDENT COLE, IT NOW GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE 2021 GRADUATING CLASS. WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR INDIVIDUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS, WE CANNOT SHAKE HANDS THIS YEAR, BUT WE APPLAUD YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. [ ANNOUNCING NAMES ] [ ANNOUNCING NAMES ] >> WILL ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PLEASE RISE. WILL THE FAMILIES OF THE BACHELOR'S CANDIDATES PLEASE RISE WITH YOUR GRADUATES.
PRESIDENT COLE, I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE. >> THANK YOU, DEAN HOLLISTER. YOU READY FOR THE MOMENT? YOU SURE? OKAY. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, AND IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT IN FULFILLING THE CURRICULA PRESCRIBED, I CONFER UPON YOU, AS EARNED, THE DESIGNATED BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, PRIVILEGES, AND IMMUNITIES THEREUNTO APPERTAINING, OF WHICH THE DIPLOMA IS THE WRITTEN WITNESS.
GRADUATES, CONGRATULATIONS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] HOLD ON TO THOSE HATS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE. HOLD ON TO THOSE HATS. PROVOST GINGERICH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE UNDERGRADUATE TASSEL CEREMONY. WHEN THE PROVOST SIGNALS WITH THE MACE, YOU WILL MOVE YOUR TASSEL FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR MORTARBOARD. READY? AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] NOW IT'S OFFICIAL! NOW YOU CAN THROW THOSE HATS.
[ LAUGHTER ] [ CHEERS ] PLEASE BE SEATED. THIS CONCLUDES THE MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES FOR THE FELICIANO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THE RECESSIONAL IS COMPLETE.
GRADUATES, WHEN IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO RECESS, PLEASE FOLLOW STAFF INSTRUCTIONS TO EXIT SPRAGUE FIELD. TO OUR GUESTS, TO OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THEY'RING THIS -- SHARING THIS EVENT WITH US. WE HOPE THIS IS A DAY OF GENUINE JOY FOR ALL OF YOU, AND WE WERE DELIGHTED THAT YOU COULD BE HERE WITH US TODAY. GRADUATES, CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS ] ♪♪ [ "POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE" ] ♪♪ CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY JENNIFER M. BONFILIO & COAST 2 COAST CAPTIONING www.c2ccaptioning.com
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2021-06-09 11:14