Georgia Tech Spring 2024 Commencement – Friday Afternoon Ceremony
TESTING STAND BY. >> YOU WERE PART OF A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM AMONG OTHER THINGS. TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> I STUDIED ABROAD IN FRANCE. I GOT TO TRAVEL TO SO MANY PEOPLE -- PLACES THROUGHOUT EUROPE WITH MY BEST FRIEND AND SEE NEW LOCATIONS AND CULTURES. IT WAS AMAZING. I WAS INVOLVED WITH MINI 500 MY FAVORITE GEORGIA TECH TRADITION, A TRICYCLE RACE AROUND A PARKING DECK ON CAMPUS. I LOVE IT. >> WHAT'S NEXT? >> I AM MOVING TO ARLINGTON, IT VIRGINIA TO DO PROJECT MANAGEMENT UP -- AT CAPITAL ONE.
MY OLDER BROTHER, NATE, ALSO WORKS AT CAPITAL ONE. >> THE PIPELINE FROM GEORGIA TECH TO CAPITAL ONE. IS THERE ANYONE YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY? >> I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY PARENTS AND EVERYBODY AT THE CEREMONY SUPPORTING ME AND EVERYBODY AT HOME TOO. MY FAVORITE THING I WAS INVOLVED WITH AT GEORGIA TECH WAS MY SORORITY. I LOVE YOU ALL.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR WHAT IS NEXT. >> AWESOME, PERFECT. THANK YOU, GRACE. NOW BACK TO THE DESK. >> PERFECT. I LOVE HEARING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS GRADUATING TODAY AND I AM HERE WITH ANOTHER STUDENT.
TELL EVERYBODY WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOUR DEGREE IN TODAY. >> MY NAME IS CASSANDRA MARSHALL AND TODAY I AM GRADUATING WITH MY BACHELORS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. >> COMPUTER SCIENCE. WHILE YOU WERE HERE I KNEW -- KNOW YOU GOT TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE FOR THE GT EUROPE PROGRAM. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP? WAS THERE A CERTAIN PLACE YOU LOVED A LOT? TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. >> IT WAS AWESOME.
WE WERE ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS THAT ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO GO IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 IS THAT WE WERE LIKE THE ONLY TWO ARRESTS IN EUROPE AT THE TIME. MY FAMILY IS FROM GERMANY SO BEING ABLE TO GO VISIT HOME WAS AWESOME AND GENERALLY BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL, THE GROUP I WAS WITH WENT TO 10 COUNTRIES. ONE OF THE TRIPS THAT STOOD OUT A LOT WAS WE ENDED UP FINDING SUPER CHEAP FLIGHTS TO GREECE AND WE RENTED AN AIRBNB IN GREECE FOR A WEEKEND. THAT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE I WOULD NOT TRADE. >> THAT SOUNDS AWESOME. THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HOW EXPENSIVE IT WILL BE LATER.
AND THAT SOMETHING ELSE YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF WAS OUR ADVENTURE PROGRAM. CAN YOU TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE WORKING ON? >> MY TEAM AND I BUILT A CONVERSATIONAL BASED LANGUAGE LEARNING APP BECAUSE WE FOUND A LOT OF LEARNING PEOPLE WHO GIVES THEM A GOOD FOUNDATION TO SAY HELLO, MY NAME IS, WHERE IS THE RESTROOM? BUT WITHOUT IMMERSING THEMSELVES , WHICH CAN BE AN ACCESSIBLE AND TIME-CONSUMING, THERE IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO PRACTICE CONVERSATION. SO WE USED AN OPENAI API AND LEVERAGED THAT TO MAKE A CONVERSATIONAL TUTOR THAT WAS AN EXPENSIVE TO RUN. IT WAS AWESOME TO DO THAT IN A CLASS SUPPORTED AT GEORGIA TECH THAT WE GOT FUNDING FOR AND HAD ALL THE MENTORING AND RESOURCES TO TAKE THAT.
WE ENDED UP BEING SEMIFINALISTS IN THE ADVENTURE PRIZE AND MET WITH INVESTORS. TO DO THAT WITH THE TEAM WAS AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE AT GEORGIA TECH. WE WEREN'T BEING GRADED ON AN EXAM.
IT WAS TO BUILD A PRODUCT, BE AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND ACTUALLY BRING SOMETHING TO THE MARKET. THAT'S AWESOME. I RECOMMEND CREATE X TO ANYONE THINKING ABOUT IT.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MADE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME HERE AT GEORGIA TECH. GRADUATION MARKS A SPECIAL TIME AND FOR YOU IT IS A SPECIFICALLY SPECIAL MILESTONE. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT GETTING TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE TODAY? >> I AM THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ANY KIND. IT MAKES ME PROUD. I AM THE OLDEST OF THREE SIBLINGS.
IT MAKES ME PROUD THAT I GOT TO FIGURE ALL THIS OUT BY MYSELF AND BE THE FIRST PERSON TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE FOR MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND LET THEM KNOW THEY CAN DO IT TOO AND IT MAKES ME THANKFUL FOR MY PARENTS THAT PUSHED ME TO GO TO COLLEGE AND MADE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE FOR ME. >> I KNOW THEY ARE SO PROUD OF YOU TODAY. WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU? >> THIS SUMMER I HAVE THREE MONTHS BEFORE I START WORK.
I WILL GO ON A TRIP TO JAPAN. I WILL DO WORK AWAY IN AUSTRALIA WHERE YOU VOLUNTEER IN EXCHANGE FOR LIKE A BED AND FOOD. AFTER THAT I AM MOVING TO SAN FRANCISCO TO DO AND A PM PROGRAM AT INTUIT.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GIVE ANY SHOUT OUTS TO THE SUPPORT SYSTEM YOU MENTIONED EARLIER? ANYBODY IN THE STANDS OR ONLINE? TELL THEM HELLO. >> FIRST AND FOREMOST MY PARENTS, BROTHER, AND SISTER. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THEM AND THE OPPORTUNITY THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ME AND IT GENERALLY GOES THROUGH -- GOING THROUGH UNIVERSITY WITH A GOOD GROUP OF FRIENDS IS SOMETHING I CAN'T TAKE FOR GRANTED.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL TREASURE FOREVER. BEING ABLE TO CALL THOSE FRIENDS HOME. >> CONGRATULATIONS. ANOTHER AMAZING STUDENT. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU WALK ACROSS THE STAGE. WE WILL SEND IT TO BRYCE WITH ANOTHER INCREDIBLE STORY ON THE FLOOR.
>> I AM HERE WITH ANDREW A COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS. ANDREW HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON CAMPUS AT GEORGIA TECH.
TELL ME ABOUT DEBATE TEAM AND ETHICS BALL. >> I RECHARTERED THE TEXT DEBATE TEAM, ABOUT THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE TEAM, IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR. I COMPETED THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I WAS IN MACON TO COMPETE IN FRONT OF THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN GEORGIA.
THE ETHICS BOWL I STARTED LATER IN MY DEGREE WITH THE HELP OF A POSTDOC. IT IS A SORT OF AN ANTIDOTE TO DEBATE. IT IS MORE CONVERSATIONAL, MORE COLLABORATIVE. THE DEBATE PROGRAM -- THE ETHICS BOWL PROGRAM MADE IT TO NATIONALS THIS YEAR AND WE ARE A TOTALLY NEW TEAM. I'M PRETTY PROUD OF THAT. DOING EXTRACURRICULARS HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DEGREE HERE.
TECH STUDENTS I THINK HAVE A REALLY GOOD APPROACH TO GETTING OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND DOING SOME REAL LEARNING. >> CLASSROOM, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT ATLANTA AND GEORGIA THE GREENERY ON CAMPUS. THERE ARE SO MANY TREES ALL AROUND ATLANTA. YOU ARE A PART OF TREES ATLANTA, A VERY COOL ORGANIZATION. >> I STARTED TO VOLUNTEER WITH THEM MY SOPHOMORE YEAR AND CONTINUED. I INTERNED THERE.
I STARTED WORKING THERE. WE PLANNED ABOUT 8000 TREES PER YEAR. I PLANTED A COUPLE HUNDRED IN MY TIME WITH THEM. I PLANTED A COUPLE ON CAMPUS. THAT WAS REALLY FUN. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOLUNTEER WITH TREES ATLANTA AT LEAST ONCE.
IT IS FUN. >> YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN A PART OF THE BRIGHT ALLIANCE AT GEORGIA TECH. >> THERE ARE A FAIR FEW STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE BEEN PART OF.
I HELPED BRIGHT ALLIANCE GET BACK ON ITS FEET AFTER COVID AND IT DID THE SAME FOR THE BOARD GAME CLUB. I HAVE A LONG LIST OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. AS I SAID, IT IS THE MOST FUN PART OF BEING A STUDENT HERE. >> SHOUT OUT TIME.
>> I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT MY MOM THAT FLEW FROM STOCKHOLM TO LONDON TO WASHINGTON TO ATLANTA TO BE HERE. I AM THANKFUL TO MY MOM FOR BEING HERE. >> STOCKHOLM.
NOW SHE IS HERE. WORKS LONG TRIP. >> LONG TRIP. CONGRATULATIONS, ANDREW. I WILL SEND IT TO REBECCA.
>> SHE IS ABOUT TO BE A GRADUATE FOR A BACHELORS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND IS ALSO INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THINGS ON CAMPUS. >> I WAS ON ONE OF THE DANCE TEAM FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS SINCE I JOINED UNDERGRAD. I HAVE BEEN A TA ABOUT THREE YEARS.
THREE YEARS OF CS 2110 AND 10 4510, A LOT OF FUN. I HAVE BEEN ON BOARD FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AS WELL. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH MY TIME ON CAMPUS. >> AWESOME. A TA FOR FIVE SEMESTERS, VERY IMPRESSIVE. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION? >> I WILL START FULL-TIME AT THE END OF THE SUMMER WITH KPMG AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER.
>> IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT? >> YES. A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM AND DAD FOR MAKING THE TREK HERE AND HELPING WITH MOVE OUT. TO MY FRIENDS DRIVING FROM CHARLOTTE AND FLYING FROM SEATTLE AND TO MY AMAZING DONNING WATCHING FROM 12:30 IN THE MORNING FROM INDIA.
>> NOW WE WILL PASS IT BACK TO BRYCE. >> I AM ALWAYS AMAZED HOW GOOD THEY ARE AS SHOUT OUTS. IT IS LIKE THEY PREPARED. WE JUST GRABBED HER OUT OF THE CROWD.
GOOD SHOUT OUT. AT GEORGIA TECH WE LOVE JACKETS, COMING FROM YELLOW JACKET FAMILIES. NOBODY HAS A DEEPER CONNECTION TO GEORGIA TECH THEN DEANNA YANCEY. >> GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS OUT THERE FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AS WELLDEVELOPING MG SURE I AM BEST PREPARED FOR THE JOB AND THE WORKING WORLD. NOT ONLY IS GEORGIA TECH ONE OF THE BEST ENGINEERING SCHOOLS IN MY OPINION, I HAVE HAD A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE ATTENDED GEORGIA TECH.
I WANT TO KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE AND TAKE PART IN THE HISTORY THAT IS GEORGIA TECH. AT FIRST, BECAUSE I CONSIDER HIM A YES PERSON, MY GRANDFATHER. AND THEN AS THE YEARS WENT ON I HEARD MORE ABOUT HIM BEING A TRAILBLAZER AT THE SCHOOL.
AT FIRST IT WAS WEIRD. PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE. IT IS A DIFFERENT WORLD TO BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING ESPECIALLY AS POWERFUL OF A MOVEMENT AS HE WAS ABLE TO START AT GEORGIA TECH.
HE GRADUATED ABOUT 59 YEARS AGO FROM THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE STILL TALK ABOUT IT AND HAVE STORIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK HAVING THIS CEREMONY BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, AS WELL AS COMING TO THE SCHOOL, IT IS MAY BE REIGNITING THE STORY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE NOT HEARD THE STORY OR DON'T KNOW WHO YEARS AND WHAT HE HAS GOT -- WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS GONE THROUGH. I WORK FULL-TIME AT NORTHROP GRUMMAN AS AN -- AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. IT WAS A HANDFUL TAKING CLASSES AND WORKING FULL TIME BUT I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE. I GRADUATED IN THE FALL OF 2020 WITH MY DEGREE FROM PENN STATE.
WE DID NOT HAVE A GRADUATION. I WAS IN MY LIVING ROOM DURING THE CEREMONY. IT'S A BIG MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY TAKES THE GRADUATION I HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR FOR MY MASTERS PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE ONE I DID NOT GET TO HAVE AS AN UNDERGRAD. I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT ALL THE HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF. >> I AM STANDING HERE WITH DEANNA YANCEY.
YOU JUST LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT HER. AS SOMEBODY THAT WENT UNDERGRAD AT PENN STATE AND IT CONTINUE THAT LEGACY, DO YOU FEEL YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION COMING TO GEORGIA TECH TO GET YOUR MASTERS? DEANNA: FOR SURE. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS FROM MY PROFESSORS AND THE EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL THAT I THINK THIS WAS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR MY MASTERS PROGRAM. >> IF YOU DID NOT ALREADY HEAR IT, IN THE VIDEO PACKAGE, DEANNA'S GRANDFATHER WAS THE FIRST BLACK GRADUATE OF GEORGIA TECH.
I HAVE TO ASK, AS AN ONLINE STUDENT, WHEN YOU COME TO CAMPUS AND SEE A STATUE OF YOUR GRANDFATHER, DOES THAT FEEL ODD OR IS IT JUST A SENSE OF PRIDE? DEANNA: IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH. PRIDE BECAUSE HE IS PART OF THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND HISTORY IN GENERAL. BUT IT IS A LITTLE WEIRD. BECAUSE PART OF MY NAME IS THERE.
NOT MY FULL NAME, OBVIOUSLY. IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE OUR LEGACY IS HERE AT THE SCHOOL. >> I THINK IT IS REALLY COOL. IF YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS AN AMAZING TRAILBLAZER AT GEORGIA TECH AND YOU ARE PLACING YOUR OWN TRAIL AND YOUR OWN PATH AND YOU ARE YOUR OWN PERSON. AS SOMEBODY THAT DID NOT GET ACROSS THE STAGE IN 2020 BUT YOU DO GET ACROSS TODAY, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW YOU WILL WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND GET YOUR DEGREE? ♪ AMAZING. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
SEEING EVERYONE HERE IT IS INSPIRING THAT EVERYBODY WORKED TO GET TO THE POSITION THEY ARE IN NOW. THE BIGGEST THING I AM NERVOUS ABOUT IS, HOPEFULLY I DO NOT TRIP ON STAGE. >> I AM SURE YOU WON'T TRIP.
I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT YOU ALREADY HAD A JOB WHILE YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR PROGRAM. WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU AFTER TODAY? DEANNA: I WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK. I WORK FOR NORTHROP GRUMMAN AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND THIS IS A WAY FOR ME TO BUILD SKILLS, LEARN MORE, AND BE MORE AT HOME IN THE INDUSTRY. >> DEANNA YANCEY MAKING HERSELF A MORE VALUABLE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WITH THIS DEGREE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE SUPPORTING YOU AND WATCHING ONLINE. NOW IS A CHANCE TO THANK ANYONE SUPPORTING YOU THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. DEANNA: I WANT TO THANK ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, MY PARENTS, MY GRANDPARENTS.
I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY COUSIN FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND HEARING ME COMPLAIN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ABOUT HOW HARD IT SCHOOL IS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT FLEW FROM NEVERLAND OR EVEN CALIFORNIA ALL THE WAY HERE TO SEE ME GRADUATE. >> AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH ME. I AM NOT SURE WHERE BRYCE IT IS.
WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE START OF THIS AFTERNOON'S COMMENCEMENT AND HE WILL HAVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL. BRYCE: I AM JUST A STONES THROW AWAY FROM YOU, KEVIN. THIS IS WHERE OUR GRADUATES WILL BE STANDING IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE WILL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE STEPS FOR YOU AS YOU GET READY FOR COMMENCEMENT. FOR ALL OF YOU SEATED WITH YOUR GRADUATION CAPS ON, LISTEN AND GET TO YOUR SEATS. WE WILL GO OVER DIRECTIONS. ONE FINAL LESSON AT GEORGIA TECH.
FIRST, YOU WILL SEE SOMEBODY FROM THE GEORGIA TECH STAFF COME TO YOUR ROW. THIS ENTIRE AREA IS COLLEGE OF COMPUTING AND UP THERE AS IS THE MASTERS OF ENGINEERING. WHEN THAT PERSON COMES TO YOUR ROAD THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP AND YOU WILL WALK OUT AND GET IN LINE DOWN THIS ROW. WHEN YOU WALK FORWARD THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN RIGHT HERE AND THEN YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON. AT THIS POINT YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR PHONE OUT WITH GRAD A PASS UP.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BRIGHTNESS ALL THE WAY UP AND TAKE A SCREENSHOT. YOU DON'T WANT TO RELY ON THAT AT THE MOMENT. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SCREENSHOT AT MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS. TAKE IT FORWARD. HERE IS WHERE YOU WILL STAND THE PASS.
IT WILL SOUND LIKE THIS. THAT IS A BEAT -- BEEP. IF YOU DON'T HEAR IT, STEP ASIDE.
THEN YOU ARE IN LINE WAITING AND YOU MAKE YOUR WAY UP THE RAMP OF THE STAGE, IT IS ALMOST THE MOMENT. YOU GET CLOSER AND CLOSER. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAKE ÁNGEL CABRERA'S HAND. THEN YOU MOVE DOWN THE STAGE ON THIS SITE. YOU WILL GET ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH OPPORTUNITY.
ANOTHER PHOTO OPPORTUNITY RIGHT OVER HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT FOR YOU. YOU WILL BE USHERED BACK TO YOUR SEAT TO ENJOY THE REST OF THE CEREMONY.
SPEAKING OF ENJOYING THE CEREMONY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEIR GRADUATE ACROSS THE STAGE, TO HEAR THEIR GRADUATES NAME OVER THE SPEAKERS. PLEASE FOLLOW THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND MAKE SURE WE AREN'T DISRUPTIVE AS WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS. PLEASE DO THAT AND MAKE SURE YOUR GRADUATES ARE IN THEIR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN BY THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR FAMILY, AND ALL EVERYONE THAT HAS WORKED HARD TO GET THEM HERE.
NOW IT IS TIME TO BEGIN COMMENCEMENT. FOR THOSE THAT HAVE WARNED OF THE WHITE AND GOLD, THE BRAVE AND BOLD, YOUR 2024 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY STARTS NOW. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO THE GEORGIA TECH SPRING COMMENCEMENT. STUDENTS COME ARISE FOR THE FACULTY PROCESSIONAL. ♪ >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME. BUENAS TARDES Y BIENVENIDOS.
PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. >> [SINGING] O SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING. WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT OVER 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 START SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE OVER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.
>> THANK YOU AWESOME JOB. THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED.
MY NAME IS ÁNGEL CABRERA, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS GEORGIA TECH'S PRESIDENT. BEFORE WE GET STARTED TODAY, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ALL VETERANS, ACTIVE-DUTY MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WITH US TODAY. IF YOU HAVE SERVED IN ANY BRANCH OF THE U.S. MILITARY OR HAVE SERVED AS A FIRST RESPONDER, PLEASE RISE SO WE CAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] . THANK YOU.
IT DOES NOT ESCAPE ME THAT MANY OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WE WILL HONOR TODAY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 2020. THEY MISSED THEIR GRADUATION BECAUSE OF A TERRIBLE PANDEMIC. SO, THIS ONE COUNTS DOUBLE. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE CELEBRATION YOU DESERVE. INDEED, GRADUATES AND MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FAMILIES, , AND FRIENDS, MY HEART IS FULL AS I WELCOME YOU TO THE 266TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IT IS A TRUE PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
WE HAVE A FEW SPECIAL MESSAGES. THE FIRST IS FROM ONE OF OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS. I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE RISH DESAI , A BACHELOR'S DEGREE CANDIDATE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, WHO WILL GIVE THE REFLECTION. RISH: CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024.
WE DID IT. FOR EVERYBODY SITTING HERE TODAY IT HAS BEEN A UNIQUE ADVENTURE. SOME OF US BEGAN THE JOURNEY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC GETTING READY FOR A NEW CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES. YET OTHERS WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE.
REGARDLESS OF THE POINT WE WERE AT, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BUILT US INTO INDIVIDUALS WITH HISTORIC RESILIENCE. FOUR YEARS AGO I REMEMBER BEING AN EXCITED FRESHMAN AT BROWN RESIDENCE HALL AND AMAZED AT A WORLD OF ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE GEORGIA TECH COMMUNITY. WE ALL HAD EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT OUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCES WOULD BE LIKE BUT THE BEST PARTS CAME THROUGH THE UNEXPECTED.
I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH TECHNIQUE, GT SOLAR RACING, TED X, THE YEARBOOK, AND A NONPROFIT ASSISTING LOCAL HOSPITALS, NONE OF WHICH WERE PART OF MY ORIGINAL PLAN. IT IS A TIME WHEN MY PEERS AND I WERE BEGINNING TO NAVIGATE NOT ONLY OUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCES, BUT ALSO, LIFE'S CURVEBALLS IN THE FORM OF THE PANDEMIC. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE OVERCOME A GREAT DEAL AND FORMED A WIDE RANGE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FROM BUILDING SOLAR CARS OR NEXT GENERATION ROBOTS TO CREATING AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATIONS, DISCOVERING ELABORATE BREAKTHROUGHS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AND BEYOND. LOOKING BACK AT ALL WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AS A CLASS, IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ONE MAIN REASON.
OUR ABILITY TO FIND OUR WHY. AS COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WE ARE ALWAYS GOING THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS AND NAVIGATING TRANSFORMATIVE TIMES. IN EACH OF THE MOMENTS WE FIND OURSELVES CONNECTED TO A MISSION TO CONNECT THE NEXT. ALONG THIS PATH WE DISCOVERED OUR DRIVE AND CARVED NEW PASSIONS BEYOND THOSE WE ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED.
IN EACH OF THE JOURNEYS WE FOUND OUR WHY IN THE PROCESS, THE PEOPLE, AND THE IMPACT WE COULD MAKE WITH THE END RESULT. IT LED EACH OF US TO BRING OUT OUR BEST. BEING PASSIONATE AND CONTAGIOUS IN OUR PASSIONS. PULLING LATE NIGHTS. ALSO, IT BEING THE BEST TEAMMATE WE CAN BE TO ONE ANOTHER. FINDING OUR PURPOSE ALLOWED US TO TURN THE CLOCKS UPSIDE DOWN AND SPEND TIME SOLVING PROBLEMS ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND BUILD.
AS EACH OF US TODAY GETS READY TO EXIT TO A NEW CHAPTER, I CHALLENGE YOU TO NOT ONLY INNOVATE, BUT HONE IN ON THE POWER OF FINDING YOUR WIFE. WE FIND OUR WHY WE NOT ONLY GIVE OURSELVES THE ABILITY TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL, BUT WE -- WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OTHERS WITH IT. BY COMING TOGETHER WE CAN FOLLOW AND BREAK NEW BARRIERS. BREAK THE STATUS QUO INTO STEPPING STONES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW. THROUGHOUT OUR TIME HERE WE HAVE MADE LIFELONG BONDS AND MEMORIES THAT HAVE MADE THE JOURNEY TO GRADUATION POSSIBLE.
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES YOU DID NOT PLAN FOR. ENVISION EACH MOMENT AS A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF. WE HAVE FOUND WHAT IT MEANS TO EMBODY BEING PART OF THE GEORGIA TECH COMMUNITY AND BE A YELLOW JACKET.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FELLOW YELLOW JACKETS WITHOUT WHOM THE JOURNEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. THANK YOU ALL INCREDIBLE PROFESSORS AND PAS THAT MADE US REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL. THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. NOW, AS WE GET SET TO ENTER INTO A NEW CHAPTER, REMEMBER ONE THING.
ONCE A YELLOW JACKET, ALWAYS A YELLOW JACKETS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. GRADUATES, TODAY YOU WILL BE JOINING THE IMPRESSIVE FAMILY OF GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI, A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS, INNOVATORS, THINKERS, AND DOERS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ACROSS OUR STATE AND AROUND THE WORLD. MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS.
WHILE WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PERHAPS NOBODY APPRECIATES IT MORE THAN ALUMNI THEMSELVES. TO ALL OF OUR ALUMNI HERE WITH US TODAY, I ASK YOU PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL. [APPLAUSE] THAT IS GREAT. THAT IS GREAT.
THANK YOU. NOW, TO WELCOME YOU FORMALLY INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI, I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE BETSY BULAT, AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND MODERN LANGUAGES GRADUATE FROM THE CLASS OF 2004 AND THE CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BETSY BULAT, A PROUD ALUMNA AND CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IT IS MY INCREDIBLE HONOR TO WELCOME YOU INTO ONE OF THE MOST COVETED NETWORKS IN THE WORLD, THE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. YOU ARE NOW PART OF A POWERFUL FAMILY OF MORE THAN 200,000 MEMBERS. WHILE EACH OF YOUR
PURSUITS IS UNIQUE AND THE NEW ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, WE SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF RECEIVING OUR RAT CAP, HIKING FRESHMAN HILL, AND GETTING GOOD LUCK FOR OUR EXAMS FROM SIDEWAYS. MORE THAN THAT THOUGH, WE SHARE TRAITS FROM OUR TIME AT TECH. WE SHARE THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE, HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE, AND HOW TO REMAIN COOL UNDER PRESSURE.
TECH TAUGHT US THAT. YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION YOU ARE IN TODAY ONE OF INCREASING POWER AND PRIVILEGE. USE IT WISELY. AS PETER PARKER'S UNCLE SAID, “WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.”
I HAVE KEPT THIS CONCEPT IN MIND SINCE I LOVED GEORGIA TECH. ONE WAY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE BACK IS THROUGH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN BEHIND-THE-SCENES THROUGHOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT TECH- GIVING YOU ADVICE WHETHER YOU ASKED FOR IT OR NOT, CELEBRATING YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH YOU, AND RAISING FUNDS TOWARD YOUR EXPERIENCE. STAY IN TOUCH AND GET ENGAGED.
LET US CELEBRATE WITH YOU WHEN YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH CONNECTIONS, JOB LEADS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, EVENTS ON CAMPUS AND IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND FUTURE FRIENDSHIPS. SOME OF MY BEST TECH FRIENDS ARE THOSE I MADE AFTER I GOT OUT. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL TECH HOME.
THIS IS UP -- A SPECIAL PLACE, STEEPED IN TRADITION, AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR FAMILY. WHILE YOUR TIME AT TECH MAY BE OVER UNLESS YOU ARE PURSUING AN ADVANCED DEGREE OR ANOTHER ADVANCED DEGREE, THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS WITH YOU FOR A LIFETIME. MAY YOUR PURSUITS BE SUCCESSFUL, YOUR FRIENDSHIPS RAISED -- RICH, AND YOUR LIFE FULL OF “BUZZ.” GO JACKETS! >> THANK YOU, BETSY. SINCE I KNOW YOU LIKE NUMBERS, I HAVE A FEW.
THIS WEEKEND, WE CELEBRATE 5,850 -- 6000 7400 GRADUATES. THIS IS THE CLASS OF 2024. WE ARE AWARDING 2800 UNDERGRADUATE BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND 3300 MASTERS DEGREES AND MORE THAN 300 DOCTORAL DEGREES. THE BEST -- BACHELORS AND MASTERS CANDIDATES REPRESENT MORE THAN 150 COUNTRIES.
HERE IS A THOUGHT. TOGETHER, ALL THE GRADUATES IN THE ROOM KNOW HOW TO BUILD SATELLITES AND ROBOTS, BRIDGES, AND DESIGN MEDICAL DEVICES. THEY CAN CREATE AND RUN BUSINESSES.
THEY CAN HELP SHAPE BETTER POLICIES. THEY ARE VERSED IN CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, AND PSYCHOLOGY. THEY CAN MIND INTELLIGENCE FROM COMPLEX DATA. THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MARKETS AND GOVERNMENTS WORK. THEY UNDERSTAND HOW OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY GUIDES OUR FUTURE. THESE GRADUATES HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD.
THEY CAN COMMUNICATE IN DOZENS OF LANGUAGES. THEY HAVE LEARNED TO LISTEN TO OTHERS. TO RESPECT WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY, EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE. THEY HAVE LEARNED TO WORK AND LEARN FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEMSELVES.
THESE PEOPLE ARE CONFIDENT, CAPABLE, AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS. THEY HAVE LEARNED THE POWER OF COLLABORATION. THEY HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO LEAD. AND, THEY, FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, MAKE ME EXTREMELY HOPEFUL ABOUT OUR FUTURE.
FOR ALL THIS POTENTIAL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER. AND TO MAKE SURE YOU DO, I HAVE PUT IT RIGHT BEHIND ME. THE TWO WORDS, OUR MOTTO. PROGRESS AND SERVICE. THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT DEFINE US AS A COMMUNITY, THAT SIGNIFY OUR BELIEF IN THE POWER OF INNOVATION AND INGENUITY TO SERVE A GREATER PURPOSE, TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS OWN SAKE, BUT BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE BETTER LIVES. NOW, SO THAT YOU WILL JOIN VERY WELL ESTABLISHED COMPANIES AND HELP THEM DO BETTER. OTHERS OF YOU, INCREASINGLY MORE OF YOU, WE'LL CREATE YOUR OWN STARTUPS. SOME OF YOU ARE BOUND FOR CAREERS IN ACADEMIA OR GOVERNMENT. WHATEVER PATH YOU CHOOSE, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO WELL. BUT REMEMBER, THAT TRUE SUCCESS WILL NOT BE MEASURED BY HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE, BUT, BY THE VALUE YOU CREATE FOR OTHERS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG. SOME OF YOU WILL MAKE A TON OF MONEY. AND WHEN YOU ARE RICH AND FAMOUS, I WILL FIND YOU.
WITH THE HELP OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. I WILL REMIND YOU WHERE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL. I WILL SHOW YOU A PHOTO OF A NICE BUILDING AND SAY, YOUR NAME AND GO HERE. SERIOUSLY, AT THE END OF OUR JOURNEYS, WHAT WILL MAKE YOU PROUD, WHAT WILL MAKE YOUR FAMILY PROUD, WHAT WILL MAKE ALL OF US PROUD IS WHAT YOU DID TO LIFT OTHERS, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD. NO PRESSURE, AS WE LIKE TO SAY AROUND HERE. WE CAN DO THAT.
I KNOW YOU ARE READY TO TACKLE ANY CHALLENGE THAT COMES YOUR WAY. TODAY WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE ALSO CELEBRATE YOUR POTENTIAL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU WILL DO. JOINING US HERE IN PERSON OR BOTCHING ONLINE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT HAS HELPED MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE FOR EACH OF YOU. THESE YELLOW JACKETS KNOW THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE IF NOT FOR YOU.
FOR THAT, WE THANK EACH OF YOU. WE MUST ALSO THANK THE FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE GUIDED AND MEANT TOWARD THESE STUDENTS OFFERING TIME, WISDOM, EXPERTISE TO HELP GRADUATES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. I WILL ASK THAT MEMBERS OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. [APPLAUSE] . THANK YOU. NOW, I AM HONORED TO INTRODUCE MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM JOINING ME ON THE PLATFORM. PLEASE, HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE AS THEY STAND WHEN I CALLED HER NAMES.
LARRY JACOBS, SENIOR VICE PROVOST FOR EDUCATION AND LEARNING . MICHELLE RINEHART, VICE PROVOST FOR FACULTY. BONNIE FERRI, VICE PROVOST FOR GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL EDUCATION. JOHN STEIN, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE AND BRANDT-FRITZ DEAN OF STUDENTS CHAIR LESLIE SHARP, DEAN, LIBRARIES , NELSON BAKER, INTERIM DEAN, DIVISION OF LIFETIME LEARNING CHAOUKI ABDALLAH, EXECUTIVE VICE , PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH JEN HOWE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT , LEO HOWELL, INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, ABBIGAIL TUMPEY, VICE PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS, AND OUR MACE BEARER TODAY, PAUL KOHN, VICE PROVOST FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT. I WILL TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE BUILDING I WANT TO RECOGNIZE.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON THE SHARES -- STAIRS OF THE CLUB BUILDING THERE IS A STATUE HONORING ALUMNUS RHONDA YANCEY, THE FIRST BLACK GRADUATE OF GEORGIA TECH WHO GRADUATED IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN 1965 AND HE IS HERE WITH US TODAY BECAUSE HIS GRANDDAUGHTER IS ALSO GRADUATING WITH ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING. PLEASE, STAND UP, MR. YANCEY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE IT, BUT WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WE HAVE MADE YOU DO TO REACH THIS POINT. WE UNDERSTAND THE OBSTACLES YOU HAD TO OVERCOME AND ALL OF THE WORK YOU HAD TO DO. I HAVE PLAYED A DIFFERENT ROLES AT GEORGIA TECH OVER THE YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN A STUDENT, AND ALUMNUS, AN ADVISOR, AND NOW THE PRESIDENT. I EVEN FOUND MY SPOUSE HERE. I KNOW THAT BEING A YELLOW JACKET IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.
A GEORGIA TECH DIPLOMA IS SOMETHING YOU WILL TREASURE THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE. IT WAS FOR ME. LIKE SO MANY STUDENTS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, I CAN PROUDLY SAY NOTHING I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MY CAREER OR LIFE HAS BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAD AT GEORGIA TECH AND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE I MET HERE. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
YOU ARE FOREVER CONNECTED TO THIS GREAT INSTITUTION AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO. IT IS TIME TO LOOK AHEAD. TO PUSH FORWARD. TO GO OUT AND MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD LIKE ONLY YELLOW JACKETS CAN.
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2024. [APPLAUSE] AT THIS POINT IN THE PROGRAM, I WAS SUPPOSED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIS NAME, CHRIS CLOUSE.
-- CHRIS KLAUS. CHRIS WAS . AS IN THE COLLEGE OF COMPUTING BUILDING. HE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE DAY AND WAS GOING TO BE HONORED WITH AN HONORARY DOCTORATE. HE HAD A TRAGEDY IN THE FAMILY THIS WEEK AND CAN'T BE HERE WITH US.
SO, HE ASKED A DEAR FRIEND, LIKE YOU HEARD FROM BETSY, FRIENDS YOU MAKE IN THE GEORGIA TECH COMMUNITY. A DEAR FRIEND TO COME SAY A FEW WORDS ON HIS BEHALF. THAT FRIEND IS AN ALUM OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING FROM 1993. HE HAD AN AMAZING CAREER IN FINANCE. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA TECH FOUNDATION, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND CHAIRS THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE.
THE REASON WHY WE CAN GIVE EVERY YEAR A LITTLE MORE MONEY IN SCHOLARSHIPS IS BECAUSE HE GETS THE JOB DONE. HE TOLD CHRIS HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE HERE ON HIS BEHALF AND SHARE SOME THOUGHTS WITH YOU. KARL, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, I WILL DELIVER A DEEPLY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO MY DEAR FRIEND CHRIS KLAUS WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO BE YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER TODAY.
I KNOW FOR A LOT OF YOU HE IS A BIT OF A ROCK STAR, SO SORRY FOR THE DISAPPOINTMENT. BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US DUE TO THE HEARTBREAKING DEATH EARLIER THIS WEEK OF HIS SON, WILL. HE COURAGEOUSLY FACED SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES INCLUDING DEPRESSION, CHRONIC BACK PAIN, AND MYOPATHY. CHRIS WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS INSTITUTE I HAVE EVER KNOWN. I KNOW ALL OF YOU WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HIS MESSAGE FROM HIM DIRECTLY.
IT IS EMPOWERING AND INSPIRING. YOU WANTED HIM TO BE A PART OF YOUR CELEBRATION. CHRIS ASKED ME TO COME TODAY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I WILL BREAK THIS INTO TWO SECTIONS.
THE FIRST WILL BE A REFLECTION FROM ME ABOUT CHRIS HIMSELF, SOMETHING FRANKLY HE WOULD HAVE NEVER DONE. HE WOULD BE TOO HUMBLE. BUT, I THINK YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THAT AND IT CAN GIVE YOU THE INSPIRATION TO BE THE NEXT CHRIS KLAUS. AND IN THE END I WILL SHARE THE MESSAGE HE WANTED TO GIVE YOU REFLECTING ON HIS LIFE AND EXPERIENCE RECENTLY.
LIKE YOU, CHRIS WAS A STUDENT AT GEORGIA TECH. HE TURNED HIS LOVE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND VISION FOR THE POWER OF THE INTERNET INTO ONE OF THE GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR AGENT DEVELOPING THE FIRST ENTERPRISE OF CYBER SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. HE CREATED INTERNET SECURITY SYSTEMS AND BECAME SO CERTAIN OF THAT VISION THAT INSTEAD OF STAYING HERE TO GET OUT, HE TAPPED -- DECIDED TO TAKE THE EXPRESS ROUTE TO GET OUT EARLY.
HE DECIDED TO LEAVE GEORGIA TECH BEFORE GRADUATING AND FULLY COMMITTED TO THE BUSINESS. SPOILER ALERT, THERE HAPPENS TO BE A VERY LARGE BUILDING WITH ABOUT 5000 -- 500 COMPETE -- FEET OF CAPACITY WITH HIS NAME ON IT, SO I THINK HE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. SUCCESS FOR HIM WAS NOT INSTANTANEOUS OR LINEAR. CHRIS SACRIFICED GREATLY TO GET HIS COMPANY OFF THE GROUND, INVESTING ALL HE HAD INTO IT. HE LIVED ON A COUCH. AND HE SUBSISTED ON DORITOS, COFFEE, AND MOUNTAIN DEW.
REMEMBER, THIS IS THE 90'S. HE HAS SINCE UPGRADED HIS DIET TO RED BULL, MONSTER, AND CHIPOTLE. AT ONE POINT, CHRIS CONTEMPLATED SELLING THE TECHNOLOGY FOR $20,000. HE WAS WISE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND IF HE SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH A DIVERSE TEAM OF COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS, HE COULD TAKE THE COMPANY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HE HAD TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS INSTITUTE, GEORGIA TECH TO FIND THOSE INDIVIDUALS. HE FOUND A PARTNER THAT BECAME HIS CEO, TOM NOONAN AND OTHER SENIOR EXECUTIVES THAT WOULD HELP HIM MAKE A FANTASTIC BUSINESS.
TOGETHER THEY SECURED THE FUNDING FROM A TECHNOLOGICAL CONCEPT TO AN INDUSTRY LEADER. WITHIN 10 YEARS OF LAUNCHING THE FIRM THEY HAD TAKEN IT PUBLIC AND SOLD IT TO IBM IN A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR TRANSACTION. CHRIS UNDERSTOOD THAT NO MATTER HOW BRILLIANT THE IDEA, IT TAKES A COMMITTED TEAM WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCE TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS.
THIS IS A CORE CONCEPT THAT YOU, THE GRADUATES OF GEORGIA TECH HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST FOUR, OR IN MY CASE, FIVE POINT SOMETHING YEARS. YOU WILL FIND THAT HERE AND IN LIFE. AFTER THE SALE OF ISS CHRIS CONTINUED TO WORK ON HIS OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS AND ALSO FOUND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS HIS GREATEST PASSION, WHAT MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM FOR TODAY. 10 YEARS AGO HE COLLABORATED WITH GEORGIA TECH TO DEVELOP THE CREATE X PLATFORM. THROUGH CREATE X CHRIS ENDEAVORED TO PROVIDE FUTURE STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS WITH A PLATFORM TO NOT ONLY SECURE THE SEED FUNDING TO BACK THEIR IDEAS , BUT TIE THEM TO THE NETWORK OF ADVISORS, EDUCATORS, AND CO-CREATORS AVAILABLE AS PART OF THIS GREAT ECOSYSTEM. IN THAT SENSE, HEREAFTER GEORGIA TECH, HE HAS CREATED ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL EARLY-STAGE VENTURE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.
AND WHAT IMPACT IT HAS MADE. IN THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE MORE THAN 600 STUDENT LED START HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED. MORE THAN 17,000 GEORGIA TECH STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM.
40% OF THE STARTUPS FOUNDED WERE EITHER WOMEN LED OR RACIAL MINORITY LED STARTUPS. HE HAS DRIVEN MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN CUMULATIVE VALUE CREATION. THAT IS GROWING EVERY DAY.
MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN THESE STARTUPS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO ME, CHRIS NEVER SOUGHT TO CONTROL THE AMAZING PLATFORM HE HAD BUILT. CREATE X THERE IS HIS NAME, NOR DICTATE.
HE TRULY BELIEVES IN A CONCEPT WE CAN ALL EMBRACE. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO EXECUTE. SIMPLY, AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY.
WHAT IT DOES REQUIRE IS WE EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE POSITIVE, VIRTUOUS CYCLES THAT WILL LIVE BEYOND US. BY GIVING BACK, BY INVESTING AND ENABLING THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS LIKE YOU, CHRIS CREATED MORE VIRTUOUS CYCLES AND POSITIVELY IMPACTED MORE GEORGIA TECH STUDENTS THAN ANYONE I KNOW. HE DID ALL THIS WITH NO EXPECTATION OF ANYTHING IN RETURN AND YET HE WILL TELL YOU IT GIVES HIM THE GREATEST RETURN OF ALL.
THE SHEER JOY OF SEEING YOU STRIVE, INNOVATE, TAKE RISKS, LEARN FROM ATTEMPTS. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THERE ARE. NEVER FAILURES COME ONLY VALUED ATTEMPTS.
OCCASIONALLY YOU SUCCEED GREATLY AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS HE LOVES FOR. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THAT PERPETUAL IS MAKE THE CHOICE. IT STARTS BY INVESTING IN OTHERS.
JUST AS CHRIS AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE DONE FOR YOU. YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FACULTY, AND YOUR OTHER BENEFACTORS. INVEST YOUR TIME. INVEST YOUR ENERGY. BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
SOMEDAY, WHEN YOU ARE ESTABLISHED ENOUGH, MAYBE EVEN SOME OF YOUR WEALTH. AND JENNY WILL MAKE SURE SHE CAN TRACK YOU DOWN FOR THAT. RIGHT, JENNY? DO THIS AND YOU TOO CAN PERPETUATE A POSITIVE CYCLE THAT MAY HELP ENABLE A CURE FOR CANCER, A MORE SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE, OR, GREATER ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS INTO THE PROBLEMS WE CAN SOLVE IF WE ALL SELFLESSLY CONTRIBUTE FORWARD AS CHRIS HAS DONE FOR SO MANY OF US. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT TO CHRIS'S WORDS AND THE REFLECTIONS HE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. REFLECTING ON THE TRAGIC LOSS CHRIS ENDURED THIS WEEK, HE ASKED ME TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME THOUGHTS THAT HAVE FURTHER SHAPED HIS PERSPECTIVE.
HE HOPES THESE REFLECTIONS WILL RESONATE WITH YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIVES. THE POTENTIAL HE LOVED AND LIVED FOR IN HIS SON, WILL, HE SEES IN EVERY ONE OF YOU. THERE ARE THREE KEY MESSAGES HE WANTED ME TO CONVEY. FIRST, IN LIGHT OF WILLS STRUGGLES, CHRIS PASSIONATELY UNDERSCORES THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
EVERYONE OF YOU IS SUCCESSFUL AND BLESSED. EVERYONE OF YOU IS A BLESSING TO THIS WORLD. THAT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE VERY REAL FEELINGS YOU MAY HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME OF DESPAIR AND EVEN DEPRESSION. DO NOT EVER IGNORE IT OR BE ASHAMED OF IT. SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL YEARS IN HISTORY -- LEADERS IN HISTORY INCLUDING CHURCHILL AND LINCOLN HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS.
IT IS ESSENTIAL WE ENHANCE AWARENESS AND EXPAND RESOURCES TO BETTER SUPPORT THOSE FACING SIMILAR BATTLES TO WHAT WILL FACED. MENTAL HEALTH IS AS CRITICAL AS PHYSICAL HEALTH AND OUR SOCIETY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS WITH EQUAL SERIOUSNESS AND COMPASSION. IT TOUCHES EVERYONE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH MORE AWARENESS, MORE RESOURCES, MORE SUPPORT. SECOND, CHRIS WAS VERY INSPIRED, AS HE WAS AS A YOUNG MAN, BY WILLS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND HIS LOVE FOR AI AND TECHNOLOGY. CHRIS WANTED ME TO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO HARNESS YOUR ABILITIES TO IMPACT POSITIVE, MISSION DRIVEN CHANGE. WILL WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT USING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE SOLUTIONS TO HELP OTHERS. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF RAPID CHANGE WHERE TECHNOLOGY, AT A PARTICULAR SOCIAL NETWORK THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CREATE IMMENSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INSTANTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS, EFFICIENCY, AND ADVANCEMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE POTENTIAL DIMINISHMENT OF THE VALUE OF DIRECT HUMAN ENGAGEMENT AND THOUGHTFUL DISCOURSE.
IN HIS HONOR, LET US STRIVE NOT JUST FOR SUCCESS AND ADVANCEMENT , BUT TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS, IMPROVING LIVES, AND TO USE THESE IMMENSE TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS AND CAPABILITIES TO ALWAYS STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION. FINALLY, LIKE MANY OF YOU, CHRIS AND WILL OFTEN REFLECTED TOGETHER ON THE MANY CHALLENGES THE WORLD FACES. THIS IS SOMETHING WILL FELT VERY HEAVILY. HE WANTED ME TO CONVEY TO YOU THAT IT IS OK, JUSTIFIED, TO FEEL A STRONG SENSE OF DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE EVENTS WE SEE TAKING PLACE IN THE WORLD TODAY. GEORGIA TECH IS AN AMAZING ENVIRONMENT. WHERE YOU HAVE FOUND, AMONGST YOURSELVES, COMMON PURPOSE IN A JOYFUL COMMUNITY WITH MEMBERS OF ALL FAITH, ALL RACES, AND ALL NATIONALITIES.
ALL TOO OFTEN, YOU SEE AN OUTSIDE WORLD AROUND YOU IN CONFLICT. OFTEN DRIVEN BY LEADERS FOCUSED MORE ON THE PERPETUATION OF FIRST-ORDER EMPOWERMENT RATHER THAN SERVANT LEADERSHIP. YOU SHOULD BE DISSATISFIED WITH THIS.
BUT I'M CHANNEL IT CONSTRUCTIVELY. CONSTRUCTIVE DISSATISFACTION DRIVES GREAT TEAMS AND GREAT INNOVATION. IT DRIVES US TO FIND CURES FOR DISEASES AND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT UNSOLVABLE.
IT IMPROVES THE HUMAN CONDITION. DESTRUCTIVE DISSATISFACTION PERPETUATES THE CYCLE OF DIVISION, VIOLENCE, AND SUFFERING AND AMPLIFIES OUR DIFFERENCES INSTEAD OF OUR COMMON INTERESTS AND IT SEEKS TO MAINTAIN POWER BY MAXIMIZING FEAR AND CONFLICT AMONGST EACH OTHER. EMBRACE CONSTRUCTIVE DISSATISFACTION AND FIND YOUR VOICE, BUT, DELIVER IT WITH COMPASSION. DEMAND THE WORLD ARISE TO THE STANDARDS YOU EXPERIENCE FEAR.
BE A POSITIVE FORCE IN THAT ACHIEVEMENT. NEVER GIVE UP ON THE DEAL A STICK -- IDEALISTIC HOPE IT WILL BE ACHIEVED. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THAT. THOUGH CHRIS IS NOT HERE IN PERSON, HIS HEART IS WITH US. HE IS ENCOURAGING ALL OF US TO BUILD A COMPASSIONATE, CARING WORLD.
HE INSPIRES US AND YOU INSPIRE HIM. I WANT TO THANK CHRIS. HE HAS GONE THROUGH THE MOST BRUTAL, GUTWRENCHING THING ANY PARENT COULD EVER IMAGINE IN THE LAST 72 HOURS. HE CALLED ME 22 HOURS AGO AND SAID HE STILL WANTED TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO YOU BECAUSE HE SEES IN ALL OF YOU WHAT HE SAW IN WILL. IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO DO THAT ON HIS BEHALF. WE MISS CHRIS TODAY.
WE CARRY HIS MESSAGE FORWARD. I WANT TO TAKE THE LAST MOMENT TO THANK YOU, THE STUDENTS, THEIR PROFESSORS, THE PARENTS, AND THE FACULTY FOR THE COMMITMENT YOU HAVE MADE TO BECOMING PROBLEM SOLVERS AND EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS. GO FORTH. CREATE A VIRTUOUS CYCLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CARL. WE WILL EXTEND EVERYBODY'S LOVE TO CHRIS. NOW, WE COME TO THE TIME WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, THE CONFERRAL OF THE DEGREES. WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE, EACH ONE OF YOU WILL WALK AND REFLECT THE CULMINATION OF A GREAT DEAL OF HOME -- HARD WORK. I HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR YOU. AFTER YOU WALK THROUGH THE STAGE, THAT YOU GO BACK TO YOU SEEK.
THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THAT. ONE, MY HOPE IS YOU OFFER THE SAME RESPECT TO YOUR COLLEGE AS THEY DID TO YOU WHEN YOU WALKED. NUMBER TWO IN VERY IMPORTANT, ONCE EVERYBODY HAS WALKED I WILL PRONOUNCE IMPORTANT WORDS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR DEGREE OFFICIAL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU AREN'T IN THE BUILDING WHEN I SAY THOSE WORDS. WE DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT.
SO, STAY HERE UNTIL THE END. I KNOW YOU WILL. WE WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME OF CELEBRATION AND I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR PROVOST DR. STEVE MACLACHLAN WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE ACADEMIC DEANS BY COLLEGE AND THE DEANS BY COLLEGE AND THE DEAN'S IN TURN WILL PRESENT THE DEGREES. >> ALL RIGHT. ARE Y'ALL READY? ARE YOU ALREADY? [APPLAUSE] . INTERIM DEAN ALEX ORSO WILL PRESENT BACHELORS DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF COMPUTING.
>> CANDIDATES FOR BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF COMPUTING, PLEASE RISE. AND, EACH YEAR LIKE YOU MEAN IT. -- AND, CHEER LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
[APPLAUSE] GOOD. PRESIDENT CABRERA, I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF PRESENTING TO YOU OUR AMAZING, TECH SAVVY, HIGHLY CAFFEINATED, AND IS STILL SLIGHTLY SLEEP DEPRIVED CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREES THAT HAVE COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE DEGREES. ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] ♪ [READING NAMES] >> THE DEAN WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR MASTERS DEGREES IN THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. >> CANDIDATES FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREES IN THE ABSOLUTE BEST, LARGEST COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING IN THE GALAXY, PLEASE RISE AND CHEER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT CABRERA, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING TO YOU THOSE CANDIDATES FROM MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE DEGREES. [APPLAUSE] PRESIDENT CABRERA: NOW WILL ALL GRADUATES PLEASE RISE? UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY OF THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA, I CONFER UPON EACH OF YOU A DEGREE, WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEREUNTO APPERTAINING. GRADUATES, TO SYMBOLIZE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT, YOU MAY NOW MOVE THE TASSEL ON YOUR MORTARBOARD FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE IMPRESSIVE NEW GRADUATES OF GEORGIA TECH. [APPLAUSE] WE ASK THE GRADUATES TO REMAIN STANDING AS THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY RECESSES. THEN, I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN IN THE SINGING OF THE , THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC FACT THE , GREATEST FIGHT SONG IN THE WORLD, “RAMBLIN' WRECK.”
GRADUATES SHOULD REMAIN AT THEIR SEAT UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIGHT SONG. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> ♪ OH SONS OF TECH ARISE BEHOLD THE BANNER AS IT REIGNS SUPREME FOR FROM ON HIGH THE WHITE AND GOLD WAVES IN ITS TRIUMPHANT GLEAM, THE SPIRIT OF THE CHEERING THRONG RESOUNDS WITH JOY REVEALING A BROTHERHOOD IN PRAISE AND SONG IN MEMORY OF THE DAYS GONE BY OH, SCION OF THE SOUTHLAND IN OUR HEARTS YOU SHALL FOREVER FLY! ♪ ♪ >> ♪ I'M A RAMBLIN' WRECK FROM GEORGIA TECH AND A HELL OF AN ENGINEER A HELLUVA', HELLUVA HELLUVA HELLUVA HELLUVA ENGINEER LIKE ALL THE JOLLY GOOD FELLOWS I DRINK MY WHISKEY CLEAR I'M A RAMBLIN' WRECK FROM GEORGIA TECH AND A HELL OF AN ENGINEER OH, IF I HAD A DAUGHTER SIR, I'D DRESS HER IN WHITE AND GOLD AND PUT HER ON THE CAMPUS, SIR, TO CHEER ON THE BRAVE AND BOLD AND IF I HAD A SON, SIR, I'D TELL YOU WHAT HE'D DO HE WOULD YELL “TO HELL WITH GEORGIA” LIKE HIS DADDY USED TO DO OH, I WISH I HAD A BARREL OF RUM AND SUGAR THREE THOUSAND POUNDS A COLLEGE BELL TO PUT IT IN AND A CLAPPER TO STIR IT AROUND I'D DRINK TO ALL THE GOOD FELLOWS WHO COME FROM FAR AND NEAR I'M A RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' HELL OF AN ENGINEER! HEY! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING GEORGIA TECH'S SPRING COMMENCEMENT. FAMILIES WILL MEET THEIR GRADUATE OUTSIDE THE STADIUM.
STUDENTS, IF YOU ARE SEATED ON THE FLOOR, HEAD OUT BEHIND THE STAGE. IF YOU ARE SEATED ON THE FLOOR, HEAD OUT BEHIND THE STAGE. STUDENTS IN SECTION 105, HEAD OUT BEHIND THE TUNNELS.
STUDENTS ON THE FLOOR COME OUT BEHIND THE STAGE. STUDENTS IN SECTION 105, OUT VIA THE TUNNELS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. ♪ ♪ ♪
2024-05-08 18:01
