Georgia Tech Spring 2024 Commencement – Friday Morning Ceremony
♪ >> FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YELLOWJACKETS, THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME, A DAY TO CELEBRATE, CHERISH, CONGRATULATE ONE ANOTHER AND SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FOR THE A DAY OF HONOR AND COMMEMORATION OF THE TRANSFORMATION FROM STUDENTS TO GRADUATE. TODAY IS COMMENCEMENT DAY AT GEORGIA TECH. GOOD MORNING YELLOWJACKETS AND WELCOME TO MCTAVISH PAVILION.
MY NAME IS BRYCE, I AM PART OF THE INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND I'M JOINED BY REBECCA. AND WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING NOW IS COMMENCEMENT'S -- COMMENCEMENT LIVE WHERE WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CROSSING THE STAGE A LITTLE BIT LATER ON. REBECCA, ONCE AGAIN WE COME TO COMMENCEMENT AND I KNOW YOU ARE NOT HERE YET BUT THIS IS ALWAYS EXCITING. REBECCA: I AM REALLY EXCITED.
I WORK FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS MY SECOND SEMESTER HOSTING COMMENCEMENT LIVE AND I AM SO EXCITED TO BE WITH EVERYONE HERE TODAY. BRYCE: OF COURSE AS PART OF THAT SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR MEMORIES. HOW CAN THEY FOLLOW ALONG AND TAKE THE PHOTOS AND TAG US.
REBECCA: YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND TWITTER. SHARE WITH -- AND POST A HASHTAG. BRYCE: WE CALL THIS THE RAMBLING WRECK DESK AND WE WANT TO GIVE A LOOK AT WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATE. LET US GO DOWN TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM. >> YES, I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU GUYS HEARD REBECCA, WHAT IS TODAY WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA? MAKE SURE TO USE THE HASHTAG GET24.
THIS MORNING IS ALL ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING THE GRADUATES. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT A FEW MORE GRADUATES ON THE FLOOR AND MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE REGALIA. BUT AS I SAID, TODAY IS ALL ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. SO I THINK I WILL SEND IT BACK TO THE DESK WHERE WE CAN MEET A COUPLE OF THEM. REBECCA: THANK -- BRYCE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL MEET THE FIRST STUDENT IN A MOMENT AND HE IS TJ.
LET US TAKE A LOOK AT TJ. T.J. COLE AND MY NAME IS TJ MIDDLEBROOKS AND I AM A BUSINESS STUDENT REGULATING WITH A CONCENTRATION IN STRATEGY AND INNOVATION AND A CERTIFICATE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP. I GREW UP IN A HOUSE DIVIDED, MY DAD WENT TO THE SCHOOL IN ATHENS, SORRY DAD. AS A THIRD GENERATION YELLOWJACKET THIS IS SOMETHING OF A FAMILY TRADITION. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A YELLOWJACKET FOLLOWED BY MY MOM AND ME.
I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO SERVE AS A BUSINESS INVESTOR IN THE PREP -- IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS WHICH HAS BEEN COOL AND FULL CIRCLE BECAUSE IT WAS SHELLER THAT GAVE ME THE TOURS AND WROTE ME THE NOTES WHICH WAS A BIG DRAW FOR ME AND HELPED ME MAJOR IN BUSINESS. GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THOSE TOURS AND WRITE THOSE LETTERS TO FUTURE GENERATIONS WAS A COOL CIRCLE AND VERY FULFILLING FOR ME IN THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT REACHED OUT FOR ME TO LOOK -- TO WORK IN ATHLETICS FOR THE FOOTBALL CREATIVE MEDIA TEAM DOING GRAPHICS AND PHOTOGRAPHY AT PRACTICES WHICH TURN INTO SHOOTING PHOTOS FOR GAMES ON THE SIDELINES. I PITCHED THE IDEA TO THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME AND WAS LIKE IF WE HAD A SHOT THAT WENT 360 DEGREES WHERE FANS COULD FOLLOW THE EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING OUT OF THE TUNNEL WITH THE FOOTBALL TEAM ON GAME DAY AND THEY WERE LIKE YOU SHOULD SHOOT IT. SO I HAD THE VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF NOT BEING A FOOTBALL PLAYER MYSELF RUN OUT OF THE TUB -- OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND AS I MOVE FORWARD I AM REALLY HONORED AND EXCITED TO JOIN THE INCREDIBLE ALUMNI NETWORK. I AM EXCITED FOR ALL OF THE EVENTS, COMING BACK FOR HOMECOMING AND SHARING IN THE TRADITIONS THAT MAKE GEORGIA TECH SO SPECIAL. IT IS REALLY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL REMAIN STRONG EVEN AFTER WALKING THE STAE THIS FRIDAY.
BRYCE: TJ, YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO ARENAS LIKE THIS ONE, HAVING WORKED WITH THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. YOU RAN OUT ON THE FIELD BUT ASIDE FROM THAT WHAT ARE THE COOLEST EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE? T.J.: I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCES THAT NONSTUDENT ATHLETES DO NOT NORMALLY GET TO HAVE THAT STUDENT ATHLETES DO. EVEN BEING AT PRACTICES AND SEEING THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE AMAZING ATHLETES AND WHAT THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY AND TO CAPTURE AND TELL THEIR STORIES. THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES THAT COME TO MIND.
JUST TO SEE THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF WHAT GOES ON AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS IS SPECIAL. REBECCA: SO ASIDE FROM BEING A PART OF ATHLETICS WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH THAT ARE VERY BITTERSWEET MEMORIES TO YOU? T.J.: SO, I -- IT HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING TO BE A PART OF THE SHELLER COMMUNITY. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING A STUDENT AND MASTER FOR THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND HAS LEADERSHIP THERE AND I GOT TO THE EFFORT AND THAT IS WHAT BROUGHT ME TO GEORGIA TECH AND GETTING TO DO THAT TO TRY AND GIVE BACK TO THE FUTURE YELLOWJACKETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WHAT I HAVE HAD THROUGH THAT WHETHER IT IS TOURS OR HANDWRITTEN LETTERS TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, GETTING TO DO THAT FOR AT THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS IS GREAT.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE THE HEAD OF MY FRATERNITY WHICH IS A BLESSING AND A CURSE. IT IS COOL GETTING THAT EXPERIENCE IN GETTING CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE I WAS CLOSE WITH AND SERVING WITH THEM IN THAT WAY WAS SPECIAL AS WELL. BRYCE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE ON THE STAGE AND IN A LITTLE WHILE YOU WILL WALK ACROSS A.
THAT HAS TO FEEL LIKE A GOOD THING ESPECIALLY AS INVOLVED AS YOU ARE. T.J.: IT IS SURREAL. I AM TOLD IT WILL TAKE THE REST OF THE YEAR FOR IT TO SET IN. AND I AM EXCITED AND IT IS SURREAL AND HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AT GEORGIA TECH.
IT IS A UNIQUE AND AMAZING PLACE AND I AM SUPER EXCITED TO BE A SOON TO BE ALUMNI IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. REBECCA: LAST QUESTION. WE SAW THAT YOU ARE THIRD-GENERATION YELLOWJACKET AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO SHOUT OUT TODAY? T.J.: I HAVE MY GRANDPARENTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, AND THAT MEANS A LOT, CONTINUING A FAMILY LEGACY. I HAVE A COUSIN COMING IN THE FALL. AND YES, JUST LIKE I SAID, IT IS SUPER SPECIAL TO BE HERE AT GEORGIA TECH FIRST AND FOREMOST AN EVEN MORE SPECIAL TO BE HERE AS A THIRD-GENERATION YELLOWJACKET AND I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE REST OF THE DAY.
BRYCE: A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR THE FAMILY AND DOWN ON THE FLOOR. LET US GO TO EVAN WHO IS FEELING THE VIBE ON THE OTHERS TO THE STAGE. EVAN: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT TJ BECAUSE HE REALLY IS EVERYWHERE ON CAMPUS AND HAS A COOL EXPERIENCE.
I AM RIGHT NEXT TO TWO GRADUATING STUDENTS. WHAT LET US GO OVER HERE. YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT YOU ARE STUDYING. EVAN: I AM CHRISTINA -- >> I AM CHRISTINA AND I JUST GRADUATED FROM THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS WITH A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MAJOR. EVAN: OK, AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT I AM SURE BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT.
LET ME TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION? >> I HAD A HARD TIME DECIDING BUSINESS THAT I WENT BACK TO MY HIGH SCHOOL AND COMPLETED A THREE-YEAR MARKETING PATHWAY AND THEN COMPETED IN THE COMPETITIVE PROGRAM SO EVERYTHING OF THAT SHORT AND -- SORT AND THAT WAS HOW MY MIND WAS SET. EVAN: YOU COMPLETED YOUR BUSINESS DEGREE AND YOU WILL BE WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO DO THAT AND SEE THE CULMINATION OF YOUR HARD WORK? EVAN: IT IS WORTH IT AND SPECIAL TO BE FINALLY HERE. MY FAMILY GOT TO COME AND SEEING THEM TOGETHER IS SPECIAL. EVAN: OK.
I AM SURE YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE SUPPORTING YOU IN PERSON AND MAYBE SOMEBODY WHO IS WATCHING ONLINE. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE, ANYBODY WANT TO SAY HELLO OR THANK YOU TO WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTING YOU? >> HERE, IS MY MOM AND DAD MY GRANDMOTHER, AND THEN MAYBE JONATHAN. AND MY UNCLE.
EVAN: THAT'S NICE. WE HAVE ANOTHER YOUNG STUDENT SO IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF. >> HELLO. I AM A BUSINESS MAJOR HERE AND A MARKETING CONCENTRATION JUST LIKE CHRISTINA. AND I AM SO EXCITED TO BE GRADUATING.
EVAN: ANOTHER BUSINESS MAJOR WITH A MARKETING CONCENTRATION. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR DECISION? YOU HAD A LOT OF TO CHOOSE. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE PATHWAY THAT I -- THAT YOU DECIDED TO TAKE. >> ABSOLUTELY. I STARTED OUT AS FINANCE MOVE TO MARKETING FOR THE CREATIVITY AND THAT HAS BEEN PERFECT.
I HAVE HAD AMAZING PROFESSORS. EVAN: WERE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT MAKING THE SHIFT WHEN YOU CAME IN AS FINANCE AND SHIFTED OR DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS WAS YOUR PASSION THAT YOU WERE GOING INTO? >> DEFINITELY NERVE-RACKING TO MAKE A CHANGE BUT I KNEW THAT IT WAS RIGHT FOR ME. EVAN: HOW DO YOU FEEL CROSSING THE STAGE TODAY? I KNOW A LOT OF STUDENTS DID NOT GET TO CROSS THE STAGE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS YOU. HOW DO YOU GET A CHANCE -- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CROSSING THE STAGE? >> THIS IS MY FIRST GRADUATION AFTER NOT GETTING GRADUATION IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH COVID. THIS IS SO EXCITING AND I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE.
EVAN: SAY HELLO TO ANYBODY WHO IS HERE SUPPORTING YOU OR SOMEONE ONLINE WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT WHO WANTS TO SUPPORT YOU AS WELL. >> I HAVE MY MOM, DAD, BROTHER AND BOYFRIEND OVER THERE WITH MASKS OF MY FACE. EVAN: THAT IS ACTUALLY HILARIOUS. THOSE ARE TWO STUDENTS THAT WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING AND NOW WE WILL SEND YOU BACK TO THE DESK. BRYCE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD STUFF. I LOVE THE GIANT FACES IN THE CROWD.
WE HAVE DESTINY JOINING US AT THE DESK. THE DESTINY, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOUR STORY IS THAT IT STARTED IN ATLANTA. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GOING -- WHAT WAS IT LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL IN YOUR BACKYARD. DESTINY: IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAD COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY WAS VERY SPECIAL TO ME. I KNOW I TALK A LOT WITH MY PAST FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW WE HAD COMMUNITY DURING OUR TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL. BUT DURING THAT COMMUNITY, THAT ALLOWED US TO GO TO COLLEGE AND REALLY WE NOT ONLY FOUND COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THAT ALSO FOUND SUPPORT AND DETERMINATION.
RESILIENCE WITH THAT COMMUNITY. BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A COMMUNITY BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SEEK OUT MORE AND YOU HAVE TO SEEK OUT SUPPORT. THAT IS WHAT WE LEARNED IN COLLEGE, THAT WE NEED A COMMUNITY TO REALLY SUPPORT OURSELVES DURING THESE HARD YEARS AND LEARNING NEW THINGS WITH NEW PEOPLE AND LEARNING NEW AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND LEARNING -- YOU NEVER KNOW, LANGUAGE IS, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
REBECCA: YOU CAME A LONG WAY TO BE HERE. YOU HAD AN INTERNSHIP AT AMERICAN EXPRESS IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT OR IF YOU HAVE PLANS FOR AFTER GRADUATION. DESTINY: WHEN I WAS AT AMERICAN EXPRESS IT WAS A PHENOMENAL TIME. I LEARNED A LOT OF NEW THINGS. ONE THING THAT AMERICAN EXPRESS TAUGHT ME WAS BLUE BOX VALUES, WHERE THEY HIGHLIGHT HOW THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, AND HOW WE ARE A TEAM AND HOW WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING BIG. AND I KNOW ME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM MY INTERNSHIP ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE VALUES BECAUSE WE REALLY UPHOLD THESE VALUES AND WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THESE VALUES, NOT JUST AFTER WE LEAVE THE INTERNSHIP BUT FUTURE ENDEAVORS WITH OTHER JOBS AND NETWORKS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND, LIKELY, OVER THIS SUMMER I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN INTERNSHIP AT ARIES MANAGEMENT IN NEW YORK CITY. YES THAT IS GOOD. BRYCE: GOING TO THE BIG APPLE. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A BIG PROPONENT OF WOMEN IN MATH.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ADVOCACY HERE ON CAMPUS. DESTINY: WHEN I WAS A MATH TERM I FELT LIKE THERE WERE NOT MANY MATH MAJORS THAT WERE AROUND. SO I WANTED TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE WOMEN CAN REALLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES. AND I FEEL LIKE IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD, THEY DO NOT REALLY HAVE THAT MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES. SO THAT IS WHEN I HONED IN AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A TIME WHEN WOMEN CAME TOGETHER AND NOT REALLY WORK HARD BUT WHERE THEY CAN REACTS -- RELAX AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES MATHEMATICS -- MATHEMATICALLY. WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THE TABLE AS A WOMAN.
BRYCE: WHO DO YOU WANT TO SAY HELLO TO? DESTINY: SHOUT OUT TO MOST OF ALL MY ROOMMATES OF FOUR YEARS. BRYCE: DESTINY IS JOINING ANOTHER GROUP OF SOON ALUMNI, 6005 HUNDRED GRADUATES OVER YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW AND WE HAVE A MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I AM HERE WITH ANOTHER STUDENT SOON TO JOIN THE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI. HOW ARE YOU? >> I AM GREAT, THANK YOU FOR ASKING. >> YOU ARE GRADUATING WITH A BACHELORS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. WHAT ASKED -- WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE THAT ROUTE.
>> MY FATHER WAS A CIVIL ENGINEER SO I ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM SO I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO BE A 70 CIVIL ENGINEER. I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED IN GENERAL BEING ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT I AM A PART OF. >> SO, YOU MADE YOUR TIME AT GEORGIA TECH WHERE THEY.
LET US SEE SOME OF THE STOLES YOU HAVE. >> THIS FIRST ONE IS FOR SHPE, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME AND I AM WEARING THE FLAG FROM THE DR, AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS CARRY TO ME AND TO BE ABLE TO COME TO ATLANTA AND FIND DRIVEN LATINAS IN SPANISH -- IN S.T.E.M. IS MY PRIDE AND PLEASURE. >> TELUS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO. YOU HAD A COOL INTERNSHIP. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
>> I WAS ABLE TO DO A COUPLE OF ROTATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION AND CONSULTING FIRMS. MY FAVORITE WAS TURNER CONSTRUCTION. YESTERDAY WAS MY DAD'S DAY ON AN EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS SO IT IS AMAZING TO SEE HOW I CAN GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO DO WORK THAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT, FELLOW YELLOWJACKETS AND BE PART OF HISTORY. >> WHAT IS AFTER GRADUATION? >> I WILL BE WORKING FULL TIME WITH TURNER CONSTRUCTION AND I WILL BE STAYING IN ATLANTA SO I WILL BE STAYING CLOSE. >> YOU HAVE FAMILY HERE FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC? DO A SHOUT OUT.
>> MY FATHER MY MOTHER AND MY BEST FRIEND AND MY AUNT ARE OVER THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WATCHING, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES. [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> EVAN WILL INTERVIEW ANOTHER ONE OF OUR AMAZING STUDENTS. EVAN: LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT MAJOR YOU CHOSE.
>> I CHOSE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY MAJOR WITH A MINOR IN COMMUTER SCIENCE -- COMMUTER -- COMPTER SCIENCE. EVAN: I AM INTERESTED IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY. I KNOW WHEN I WAS GOING INTO COLLEGE I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPTION. >> YES.
HERE AT GT THEY LET YOU STUDY A CONCENTRATION IN SOMETHING ALONG WITH MUSIC. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR MUSIC THAT I WANTED TO USE MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PEOPLE SO I GOT TO FOCUS IN COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND OTHER MUSIC TECHNOLOGY MAJORS GET TO FOCUS IN ENGINEERING OR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND LEARN ENGINEERING SKILLS -- MUSICAL SKILLS. EVAN: YOU ARE ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BEST BUDDIES PROGRAM. TELL EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHY IT IS SPECIAL? >> IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS INCLUSIVITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CHAPTERS. THE GEORGIA TECH COP -- CHAPTER WORKS WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND IT IS A REALLY GREAT TIME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SOCIAL EVENTS. IT HELPS BRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND INTEGRATE THE COMMUNITY'S. IT IS REALLY GREAT AND I HAD A GOOD TIME. IT CREATED A SAFE SPACE WHERE EVERYONE COULD BE THEMSELVES.
EVAN: THAT IS AWESOME. WHAT IS NEXT? YOU GET TO CROSS THE STAGE. WHAT IS THE START OF THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR YOU? >> I WILL BE ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. I PLAN TO FOCUS ON CREATING TECHNOLOGIES FOR MUSIC THERAPY AND CHILDREN. EVAN: OK. THAT IS COOL AND I GUESS SCHOOL IS NOT DONE.
WHILE YOU ARE STANDING NEXT TO ME SAY HELLO TO YOUR LOVED ONES WHO ARE HERE OR ONLINE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY MOM AND DAD FOR SUPPORTING ME AND OF COURSE THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS FOR THE SUPPORT. EVAN: THAT IS HER, BUT WE WILL SHOW YOU A VIDEO ABOUT ONE OF GEORGIA TECH'S BIGGEST CAMPAIGNS TRANSFORMING TOMORROW. >> OUR STUDENTS ARE DIFFERENT. >> THE CURRENT STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD. >> ALL THEY NEED IS FOR SOMEONE TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEY CAN CREATE WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE WORLD NEEDS FOR THEM TO CREATE.
>> WE ARE THE TOP SOURCE OF S.T.E.M. TALENT. WE PUT THE MOST WOMEN ENGINEERS IN AMERICA AND WE PRODUCE THE MOST AEROSPACE ENGINEERS. WE HAVE THAT LOCAL, NATIONAL, GLOBAL IMPACT. >> GEORGIA TECH PREPARES YOU FOR THE REAL WORLD NEXT STEP. >> IT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT WHAT I AM LEARNING I WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY.
WHEN I GO TO CLASS I KNOW THAT THE THINGS I AM LEARNING ARE BENEFICIAL SO IT MAKES ME WANT TO PAY ATTENTION AND ASK QUESTIONS. >> THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND HOW YOU ARE INVOLVED IN CAMPUS, HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. BEING A LEADER IS ABOUT GIVING BACK AND INVESTING IN OTHERS. >> EVERY STUDENT NO MATTER HOW CAPABLE STILL NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HUMAN BEING, JUST NOT A HUMAN DOING. WHEN WE INVOLVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY THERE IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL AND MEASURABLE CHANGE.
>> IF WE GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TOOLS AND RESOURCES WE KNOW THAT THE STUDENTS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS. >> IT WILL BE THE GRANDCHILDREN OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE GIVING THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOMEDAY WILL BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THIS. >> I AM ABSOLUTELY GLAD THAT I JUST GUIDED -- THAT I DECIDED TO GO HERE.
>> TRANSFORMING TOMORROW. >> THE CAMPAIGN FOR GEORGIA TECH. BRYCE: WE ARE HERE WITH ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WHICH MIGHT BE TRANSFORMING TOMORROW. SHE HAS A BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. WHAT I AM REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT FROM YOU IS THAT YOU ARE A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. TELL ME HOW YOU GOT TO GEORGIA TECH FROM THAT BACKGROUND AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU. >> YES, I AM FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE AND TO A GOOD SCHOOL AND I REMEMBER GOOGLING THE BEST SCHOOLS FOR CHEMISTRY AND AT THE TOP THE LIST WAS GEORGIA TECH. REBECCA: DURING YOUR TIME WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES BEING IN THE CLASSES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS? >> SPENDING TIME WITH MY FRIENDS AND MAKING COMMUNITY. BONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS IS PARTICIPATING IN THE BARCELONA PROGRAM WHERE I SPENT THREE MONTHS IN BARCELONA, SPAIN AND I HAD WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES.
BRYCE: I KNOW YOU ARE A TRANSFER STUDENT. WE SEE THIS A LOT WHERE GEORGIA TECH IS DIFFICULT TO GET INTO AND NOBODY CAN DO IT THE FIRST TIME -- NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO IT THE FIRST TIME BUT THERE ARE OTHER PATHWAYS. >> I DID NOT GET IN MY FIRST YEAR, I WAS ACCEPTED UNDER THE PATHWAY PROGRAM SO I ATTENDED GORDON STATE UNIVERSITY FOR A YEAR AND THEN I TRANSFERRED OVER. BRYCE: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE THING, WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED? >> I HAD A LOT OF AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT COLLEGES DO NOT HAVE.
THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND LEVELS FOR ADVANCEMENT AND I LOVE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE FOR US. REBECCA: AFTER GRADUATING YOU ARE TAKING A JOB TO STUDY FOR THE MCAT, SO TELL US ABOUT THAT. >> I AM TAKING A GAP YEAR. I WANT TO STAY IN GEORGIA IF NOT I AM LOOKING AT SCHOOLS IN TEXAS. I'M GOING TO WORK FULL-TIME AND STUDY AND I WANT TO GET SOME LICENSES, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO BOOST MY APPLICATION FOR MED SCHOOL. I WANT TO SAY HELLO TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE.
I LOVE YOU. BRYCE: YOU HAVE A SUPPORT SECTION IN THE SEATS. LET US GO DOWN TO EVAN WHO IS WITH ANOTHER ONE OF OUR STUDENTS HOLD ON, I THINK IT IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. >> THAT IS RIGHT I AM HERE WITH SOPHIA.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE GRADUATING IN? >> I AM GRADUATING IN PUBLIC POLICY. >> WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PUBLIC POLICY AND WHY GEORGIA TECH? >> I CHOSE TORCH ATTACKED BECAUSE OF THE INTERPLAY DICTIONARY CURRICULUM. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED ABOUT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND LAW AND I WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT AND I TOOK A LOT OF ENGINEERING COURSES AND MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS FROM DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES WHICH REALLY BENEFITED ME THROUGHOUT MY TIME AS A STUDENT. >> YOU HAVE SOME PRETTY COOL INTERNSHIPS WHILE YOU WERE IN SCHOOL.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? >> I WAS FORTUNATE TO INTERN AT THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITAL AND THEN AT THE U.S. CAPITOL SO I WORKED FOR SENATOR WARNOCK AND REPRESENTATIVE BUDDY CARTER. IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EXPERIENCE AND SEE THE DIFFERENT INTERSECTIONS OF LIFE AND HOW POLICY IS MADE AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.
>> YOU REALLY MAJOR TIME WORTH IT. YOU WERE THE PRESIDENTS OF ORGANIZATIONS, CAN YOU TELLS ABOUT THAT INVOLVEMENT? >> I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE PERSIAN AMERICAN RESEARCH SOCIETY AND IT WAS A COOL EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND I FEEL LIKE I MADE A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS. I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF ALPHA Z DELTA.
YOU ARE MAKING A BIG MOVE, TELLS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. >> I AM MOVING IN -- I AM TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. I WILL DEFINITELY MISS ATLANTA BUT I'M EXCITED. >> D.C. IS A GREAT CITY.
IT IS TIME FOR SHOUT OUTS. LICHENS OF THE CAMERA AND SAY HELLO TO ANYBODY IN THE STADIUM OR WATCHING ONLINE. >> HELLO MOM AND DAD, YOU ARE HERE AND MY BROTHERS ARE HERE AND MY SISTER-IN-LAW, EMILY.
>> THAT IS SOPHIA. I THINK IT WILL SEND A -- SEND IT OVER TO THE DESK. BRYCE: I DO HAVE A STUDENT BUT SHE IS STILL A STUDENT SHE IS NOT A GRADUATE YET. REBECCA IS HOSTING WITH ME.
WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING IS COMMENCEMENT LIVE, THE PRESHOW AS WE GET READY FOR COMMENCEMENT STARTING AT 9:00 A.M. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE EXTRA DOSE OF COFFEE AND WE WANT TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DAY. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT? REBECCA: GO TO INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN AND TWITTER AND POST WITH THE #GT24 AND WE WILL TRY TO REPOST THE PICTURES. BRYCE: CAMPUS HAS CHANGED AND IF YOU ARE A FORMER STUDENT OR ALUMNI IT HAS CHANGED A WHOLE LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES. ONE OF THE NEWEST CHANGES IS THE ADDITION OF SCIENCE SQUARE. LET US LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT ADDITION TO CAMPUS.
♪ >> I AM JUST REALLY PLEASED AND HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TO CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE, THE OPENING OF SCIENCE SQUARE. THE PREMIER INNOVATION DISTRICT IN THE SOUTHEAST DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. >> SINCE ITS INCEPTION SCIENCE SQUARE HAS BEEN WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN INSTITUTION, COMMUNITY, STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS AND A DEVELOPER REALLY SHOULD LOOK LIKE. >> WE WANT OUR ENTIRE CITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE WORK IN THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO CREATE. THIS IS VERY INTENTIONAL.
THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. IT HAPPENS AROUND LEADING RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE THAT TALENT AND CAPACITY TO GENERATE IT. BUT THE TALENT ITSELF IS NOT SUFFICIENT. IT IS NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT.
YOU NEED TO CREATE SPACES WHERE THOSE IDEAS AND THAT TALENT CAN TRANSLATE INTO SOLUTIONS, BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. JUST TELL EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD THAT SCIENCE SQUARE AS OF TODAY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. LET'S GO.
[APPLAUSE] EVAN: I AM HERE WITH HALEY RUSSELL, ONE OF OUR BUSINESS GRADUATES WILL HELP ME TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT REGALIA WHO ARE GRADUATING. I'M NOT A READ THIS SO I HAVE IS ACCURATE. EACH STUDENT HAS A FEW SIMILARITIES, EVERYBODY'S REGALIA IS MADE OF 100% PLASTIC BOTTLES. SO EACH REGALIA HAS ABOUT 23 TO 27 PLASTIC BOTTLES.
NOW THE MASTERS STUDENTS TODAY ALSO WHERE THE BLACK ROBE BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SLEEVES THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAT COME TO A POINT. BUT EVERYBODY'S HAS THE GEORGIA TECH SEAL. RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT SIDE. REGARDLESS IF YOU ARE AN UNDERGRADUATE OR MASTERS STUDENT YOU WILL HAVE THE SEAL. AS I MENTIONED, A BACHELOR STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE ANY EXTRA ADORNMENTS. BUT THEY JUST COME WITH THE TRADITIONAL BLACK ROBE.
ANOTHER THING TO NOTE AND WE HAVE SOME CORDS. IF YOU SEE A STUDENT WITH WHITE OR GOLD CORDS THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE GRADUATED WITH HONORS, HIGH HONORS WHERE THE HIGHEST HONORS. IF YOU SEE STUDENTS WITH CORDS MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONGRATULATE THEM BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE REALLY EARNED IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. RIGHT NOW WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO ANOTHER STUDENT, MEREDITH. BRYCE: WHERE HERE.
TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. WE ARE HERE WITH MEREDITH. AND I HAVE KNOWN YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I AM A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. BUT WE GOT TO KNOW YOU FROM THE GEORGIA TECH FAMILY BECAUSE BACK IN 2019 CAME DOWN TO GEORGIA AND HAND-DELIVERED YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT MOMENT COMPARED TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW? >> IT FEELS FULL CIRCLE BECAUSE STARTING OUT I WAS IN AN INTERVIEW AND SURPRISE AND NOW I AM FINISHING MY CAREER BEING INTERVIEWED AND IT IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME. REBECCA: WHEN YOU GOT YOUR EXCEPTION -- ACCEPTANCE LETTER YOU SWITCH TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PROMPTED YOUR SWITCH, WAS THERE AN INSPIRATION AND WHAT DO YOU THINK? MEREDITH: I DID NOT KNOW THAT EXISTED WHEN I GOT HERE BUT AFTER TWO YEARS I DECIDED THAT I WANTED MORE PEOPLE CENTRIC CREATIVE OUTLETS AND IT HAS BEEN PERFECT AND LET ME GOT BACK -- GIVE BACK WHILE USING TECHNOLOGY.
BRYCE: YOU WERE A BIG PART OF CAMPUS FELLOWSHIP TECH -- ACTIVITIES. MEREDITH: ABSOLUTELY. I GREW UP IN THE CHURCH. AND I FOUND CCF ON CAMPUS WHICH IS A BIG SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ME. NEXT YEAR I WILL BE LIVING THERE AS AN INTERN SO I WILL BE ON CAMPUS THAT I GET TO GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO ME AND IS -- LORI TO GOD, I WILL NOT BE WITHOUT HIM. BRYCE: IT -- WILL IT BE TROUBLE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY IN-LINE.
MEREDITH: YES. MY PICK -- MY PARENTS ARE UP THERE, MY BROTHER, BOYFRIEND, AUNT AND BEST FRIEND. BRYCE: I AM SAD BECAUSE WE WILL BE LOSING ONE OF OUR BABYSITTERS.
MEREDITH HAS WALKED -- HAS WATCHED MY CHILDREN. MEREDITH: I WILL BE HERE. BRYCE: I DO NOT LOSE A BABYSITTER AT ALL. THANK YOU.
HERE IS EVAN WITH ONE OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. EVAN: PERFECT. YES. I WILL HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL ME YOUR DEGREE. >> I WILL BE GRADUATING WITH MY BS IN LITERATURE, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS.
EVAN: WHILE YOU ARE HERE YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE TRACK AND FIELD TEAM. I WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE? BECAUSE I ALREADY HERE GETTING A DEGREE FROM BERT -- FROM GEORGIA TECH IS HARD ENOUGH. >> IT WAS A HARD TASK AND COMMENDING OUR COACHES TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ON TOP OF OUR STUFF IN THE CLASSROOM AND TRACK.
I HAD TO REALLY LEAN ON MY TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE WITH THE HIGHEST HONORS AT THE END OF THE DAY. EVAN: THAT IS AMAZING. SPEAKING OF TIME MANAGEMENT, YOU ACTUALLY CHARTERED OF -- A CHAPTER OF THE NAACP HERE. I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE HOLDING THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLEASURES OF MY COLLEGE CAREER. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A VISION WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN AND EXECUTE IT AS A SOPHOMORE AND SEE THAT THE UNIT HAD SUCCESS ON CAMPUS. IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK OUT TO WHAT THE GT UNIT DOES IN THE FUTURE. EVAN: YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. WHAT IS NEXT AFTER YOU CROSS THE STAGE. WHAT IS THE NEXT CHAPTER LOOKING LIKE? >> THE NEXT CHAPTER IS TO TAKE A BREATHER FOR THE SUMMER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
AND, HOPEFULLY I WILL BE STARTING MY LAW SCHOOL JOURNEY IN THE FALL. AND GOING ON MY JOURNEY TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY. EVAN: THAT IS AMAZING.
A LOT OF HARD WORK AHEAD. RIGHT NOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU TO ANYBODY WHO IS HERE OR WATCHING ONLINE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY PARENTS, ESPECIALLY MY MOM, DAD AND STEP PARENTS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME AND SUPPORTING ME IN ALL OF MY DIFFERENT ENDEAVORS.
AND ALSO THANKING ALL OF MY TRACKS COACHES AND TEACHERS FOR REALLY PUSHING ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING THAT I STRIVE TO DO. EVAN: THAT IS AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE DAY. I'M GOING TO BRING IN ANOTHER STUDENT TO INTRODUCE YOU. YOU ARE A DOUBLE JACKET. WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMING BACK AND JUST GETTING A CHANCE TO SPEND MORE TIME ON CAMPUS? >> I THINK A LOT OF THE FUN IS COMING BACK AND DOING THE RESEARCH AND HAVING A COUPLE YEARS OF UNDERGRAD AND EVERYTHING BUT WE WERE WORKING ON COOL PROJECTS AND IT WAS FUN TO COME BACK.
EVAN: YOU WORKED ON A REALLY COOL PROJECT, THE MEDUSA AI PROJECT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE AND WHAT THE PIECE OF THE PROJECT WAS? >> I DID A LOT OF LIGHTING AND HOW IT RELATES TO MUSIC. IN THIS SITUATION IT WAS A MASSIVE ROBOTIC SCULPTURE WITH A LOT OF LIGHTS, MUSIC AND ROBOTIC STUFF GOING ON.
PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED IT. EVAN: SPEAKING OF, IN YOUR SPARE TIME YOU STARTED A MULTIMEDIA COMPANY. COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR HOPE FOR THAT MULTIMEDIA COMPANY AND WHAT THE VISION IS? >> VERSATILITY. IF I WANTED TO RECORD AN ALBUM WE COULD DO IT NO PROBLEM. IF WE WANT TO DO IT IN THE GREEN, WE CAN DO THAT TOO.
JUST OF A BUNCH OF CREATIVITY AND OPTIONS FOR THAT. EVAN: THAT IS COOL. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU TOO. THE COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED YOU EVEN LONGER.
SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU TO THOSE PEOPLE. >> I HAVE MY PARENTS SITTING SOMEWHERE OUT HERE. AND MY GIRLFRIEND AND MY SISTER AND THE HALLS WHO GAVE ME A FELLOWSHIP.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO SEND YOU TO A VIDEO ABOUT ANOTHER STUDENT WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS. ANDREW: MY NAME IS ANDREW ROGERS AND I AM GRADUATING AT GEORGIA TECH IN THE MEDICAL PROSTHESIS PROGRAM. WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD I HAD A VERY RARE LIVER CANCER SO AT AGE THREE I HAD TWO LIVER TRANSPLANTS, FULL ON RADIATION AS WELL AS SURGERY AND IT METASTASIZED. AND THEREFORE I GO THROUGH SURGERY AND I ALWAYS START TO FEEL -- AND WHEN I GOT TO THE IT INSPIRED ME TO GO IN THAT FIELD BECAUSE THAT WAS A ONE TIME I FELT LIKE A KID. THE DOCTORS THERE INSPIRED ME TO HELP OTHERS THE WAY THEY HELPED ME AND MY FAMILY.
EVERY TIME WE WOULD GO DOWN AND WE WOULD ALREADY SET OUT AND WE COULD SEE THE TECH TOWER AND FOOTBALL STADIUM AND I DREAMED WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO COME TO SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL. IT IS A LOT OF PRESSURE BUT I KEPT IT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AND I WAS LIKE I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO GOD. AND I GOT HERE IN MY FIRST TRY.
GEORGIA TECH MEDICAL PROGRAM IS INTENSE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY WANT YOU TO MEMORIZE ALSO TO APPLY IT IN REAL LIFE. HONESTLY, IT IS UNREAL. I MEAN, JUST THINKING THAT 15 OR 18 YEARS AGO I WAS TOLD I HAVE ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE IN SURVIVAL AND ONE WEEK TO LIVE. JUST BEING HERE IS REALLY A DREAM.
I HONESTLY DID NOT THINK I WOULD MAKE IT THIS FAR. I EVEN WENT TO THE FOOTBALL STADIUM THE OTHER DAY WHEN THEY WERE HAVING A GRADUATION CEREMONY AND I JUST PEEKED IN AND I WAS LOOKING AROUND AND I WAS LIKE THIS IS UNREAL AND I AM REALLY HERE AND I MADE IT THIS FAR. IT IS CRAZY. I HAVE TO THANK MY DOCTORS AND MY PARENTS AND -- FOR HELPING ME GET HERE.
BRYCE: JUST A TREMENDOUS STORY. I AM HERE WITH ANDREW ROGERS WHO HAD OVER 50 SURGERIES BEFORE YOU WERE 13 YEARS OLD. COMING TO ATLANTA. WE POSTED YOUR STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK AND THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE HERE ON THIS STAGE A LOT LONGER THAN ONE WEEK AFTER YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS. ANDREW: IT IS UNREAL. WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OLD I WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LIVE A WEEK. AND THIS IS JUST A DREAM AND I REALLY DID NOT THINK LIKE I WOULD BE HERE AT ALL. JUST REALLY SPEECHLESS. AND IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
REBECCA: DURING YOUR TIME HERE YOU STUDIED MEDICAL PHYSICS AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIME STUDYING THE MAJOR. ANDREW: IT WAS A DIFFICULT PROGRAM BUT I LOVED EVERY MOMENT. THE PROFESSORS WERE GREAT. AND IT HELPED ME DEVELOP A GREAT PASSION FOR IT. BRYCE: I KNOW THAT WE SAW SOME PICTURES, YOU ARE A BIG LSU FAN.
WE WILL FORGIVE THAT FOR NOW. IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE YOU ADOPTED GEORGIA TECH. WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING ABLE TO COME TO THE GAMES AND BE A PART OF THAT EXPERIENCE? ANDREW: IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE I GRADUATED A GUST OF UNIVERSITY AND THEY NEVER HAD A FOOTBALL TEAM. ONCE I CAME HERE I WAS LIKE I FINALLY CAME TO THE SCHOOL WITH A DECENT FOOTBALL TEAM. I LIKE GOING TO THE GAMES INTO THE STUDENT SECTION AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT AND GEORGIA TECH.
BRYCE: AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AS YOU LEAVE GEORGIA TECH AND START ON THE CAREER JOURNEY. YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND IT WAS HELP PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS AS YOU AND YOUR NEXT PART OF THE CAREER.
ANDREW: YES MAINLY BECAUSE MY DOCTORS CAME THROUGH ATLANTA AND JUST THE WAY THEY TREATED ME AND THOSE TIMES WHERE THEY MADE ME FEEL LIKE A KID AND FORGET THAT I EVER HAD CANCER, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST FOR A SECOND AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE SURGERIES, IT WAS REALLY A BRIGHT DAY. SO THEM DOING THAT FOR ME MAKES ME WANT TO GIVE BACK. AND JUST TRY TO IMPACT OTHER KIDS' LIVES. REBECCA: IS THERE ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT? ANDREW: I WILL SHOUT OUT MY FAMILY OVER THERE, AND MY FIANCE AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALL MY DOCTORS. WITHOUT THEM I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
BRYCE: FIANCE, CONGRATULATIONS. LET US GO BACK DOWN TO EVAN, A PHENOMENAL STORY AND YOU CAN READ UP ON IT AND CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE SOME OF THE DETAILS OF HIS STORY. LET US SEND IT DOWN TO EVAN ON THE FLOOR. NOPE, WE ARE GOING TO A PACKAGE. THIS IS A REALLY COOL PIECE OF SCIENCE THAT HAS JUST BEEN DISCOVERED PARTLY AT GEORGIA TECH.
♪ C1 >> WE GOT INTO THINKING SILICON IS THE END ALL IN ELECTRONICS, IT IS NOT, IT IS THE BEGINNING. THIS MOST RECENT PAPER WE STARTED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN GRAPHING INTO A SEMI CONDUCTOR. NATURALLY, IT IS NOT A SEMI CONDUCTOR. ♪ THE GOOD THING ABOUT GRAPHING IS NOT ONLY COULD YOU MAKE THINGS SMALLER AND FASTER WITH LESS HEAT, YOU ARE USING PROPERTIES OF ELECTRONS THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE LIKE SILICON. THIS IS A PARADIGM SHIFT.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING ELECTRONICS. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THIS ULTIMATELY WILL END. WE KNOW WE ARE OPENING THE DOOR IN A MAJOR PARADIGM SHIFT IN ELECTRONICS.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE STEPS WILL BE AFTER THAT. GOOD CHANCE IT COULD TAKE OVER AND BE THE PARADIGM FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS. EVAN: WE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO KICKING OFF THIS FRIDAY MORNING COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. MAKE SURE YOU USE THAT HASHTAG WHEN YOU ARE POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE ARE WRAPPING UP WITH OUR STORIES. DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL STUDENTS I'M AWARE OF, WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A VIDEO OF HIM. >> I WAS THAT KID THAT DIDN'T KNOW I COULD GET INTO GEORGIA TECH.
IT WAS A LOT OF PEERS, TEACHERS, RELATIVES THAT TOLD ME TO APPLY. I THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET INTO A SCHOOL LIKE GEORGIA TECH. WHEN I WAS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, I ALWAYS HAD THE PASSION FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP. WHEN I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, I WAS TRYING TO FIND A UNIVERSITY WHERE I COULD CONTINUE THAT.
I WAS INTERESTED IN TECHNOLOGY. I WANTED TO FIND THE PLACE WHERE I COULD GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. THAT IS HOW I FELT ABOUT THE GEORGIA TECH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS. THE CURRICULUM COMBINES BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY. I GOT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS THERE.
THAT IS ALSO WHY I TOOK A MINOR HERE. I AM MINORING IN ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS. I'M A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO COLLEGE. I ACTUALLY COME FROM WEST AFRICA . GROWING UP OVER THERE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS. I WANTED TO LEARN, GO BACK HOME AND HELP THEM DEVELOP OVER THERE.
IT IS VERY SYMBOLIC. PEOPLE ARE BACK HOME IN AFRICA. THEY COULD SEE PEOPLE LIKE US COULD ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO A GREAT INSTITUTION.
I'M HAPPY TO SET THE STAGE FOR THEM. I WANTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE THESE PAST FOUR YEARS. MY CLOTHING BRAND, I STARTED IT IN HIGH SCHOOL. THAT IS BASICALLY OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE FOR YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN LIKE MYSELF.
I WANT TO BE MY OWN BOSS AND DO MY OWN THING. THAT IS HOW I GOT INTO CLOTHING. I WAS INTERESTED IN THE FASHION SCENE. I WANTED TO REPRESENT US IN A POSITIVE LIGHT. I THOUGHT BY OFFERING PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE, THAT COULD CHANGE THE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES. I ACCEPTED THIS OFFER TO JOIN A LOCAL COMPANY.
I WILL BE JOINING THEIR TEAM IN JUNE AS A SALES ANALYST. I WILL BE DOING MY COMPANY, THAT IS MY BABY. I HOPE TO MAKE IT INTO A SUCCESSFUL CLOTHING LINE. I WOULDN'T TRADE THESE FOUR YEARS FOR ANYTHING. THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE BEEN AWARDED HERE WERE AMAZING. EVAN: YOU ALL HEARD A LITTLE BIT.
YOU HEARD HIM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS CLOTHING LINE. I HAVE TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU WEARING ANY OF IT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE THE DRESS SHIRT ON RIGHT NOW.
IT IS AN AMAZING DAY TODAY. EVAN: I EXPECTED AS MUCH. I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE ABLE TO WALK OFF THE STAGE AND REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE? >> MY MOM, DAD, PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I HOPE MY SIBLINGS COULD FOLLOW SUIT.
EVAN: YOUR STORY IS REALLY JUST BEGINNING EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE DONE SO MANY GREAT RINGS. WHAT COULD WE EXPECT NEXT FROM YOU? YOU MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO, WHAT COULD BE EXPECTED NEXT FROM YOU? >> I WILL STILL BE LOCAL IN GEORGIA. I WILL BE MOVING TO THE ROZ WELL AREA TO JOIN A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. I WILL BE BUILDING MY BRAND ON THE SIDE AS WELL.
EVAN: WHERE COULD PEOPLE FIND FOREIGN HEIR IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING CLOTHING? >> THEY COULD DEFINITELY SEARCH US UP ON GOOGLE OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE. EVAN: YOU GUYS HEARD IT. YOU MENTIONED YOUR FAMILY, SAY HI TO THEM AGAIN, SAY THANK YOU. >> MOM, DAD, ALL OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS, I LOVE YOU A LOT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
EVAN: WE WILL SEND YOU BACK TO THE RAMBLER DESK. BRYCE: THE DESK IS GONE. THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL BE SHAKING HANDS WITH DR. ANGEL
CABRERA. WE HAVE TO GO OVER SOME GROUND RULES. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE YOUR GRADUATE IS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE BUT I COULD GIVE YOU A GENERAL AREA. ON MY LEFT, THIS WILL BE YOUR COLLEGE OF SCIENCES, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BACK ROW. ON THIS SIDE OVER HERE.
JUST BEHIND THEM IS THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN. I HAVE THIS MIXED UP. REDO. OVER HERE IS THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES. FLIP IT UPSIDE DOWN. OVER HERE IS IVAN ALLEN.
BEHIND THEM, THE COLLEGE OF DESIGN. BEHIND THEM, MASTERS FOR COLLEGE OF SCIENCES. AND THEN IN THE BACK, UP IN THE STANDS WE HAVE SCHELLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS. BEHIND THEM, MASTERS FOR THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING. NOT AS LOUD FOR THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO YOUR SEATS. WE ARE A FEW MOMENTS AWAY. THERE THEY ARE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG SEMESTER. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO YOUR SEATS.
WE WILL GO OVER WHAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE LIKE. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU WILL SEE SOMEONE FROM OUR WONDERFUL STAFF. THEY WILL GET YOU UP OUT OF YOUR , YOU WILL WALK DOWN AND GO ALL THE WAY AROUND. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THIS LEFT SIDE HERE. THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL START YOUR LINEUP.
GET YOUR PHONE PASSED OUT. PUT YOUR BRIGHTNESS ALL THE WAY UP, 100%. TAKE A SCREENSHOT. THAT WAY YOU ARE NOT FUMBLING WITH WI-FI.
YOU HAVE THAT SCREENSHOT. YOU WILL WALK UP HERE, TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU WILL COME UP WITH YOUR PASS AND YOU WILL SCAN IT. YOU HEARD THE BEEP. EVERYONE HEARD THE BEEP, THAT IS IMPORTANT. THAT MEANS YOUR NAME WILL BE SAID.
THEY WILL TELL YOU TO GO. AS YOU WALK ACROSS, THAT IS WHEN YOU GET YOUR DIPLOMA HANDED TO YOU. YOU WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH DR. CABRERA. THIS IS ALSO WHEN YOU ARE ON THE MAIN SCREEN.
KEEP ON MOVING. DOWN, DOWN, DOWN. ON THIS RIGHT SIDE IS WHERE YOU WILL GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN.
RIGHT HERE. ANOTHER PHOTO IN FRONT OF THE GEORGIA TECH BANNER. IT IS PERFECT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO ASK OF YOU AS A MEMBER OF TODAY'S CEREMONY IS THAT YOU PLEASE RESPECT WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE. NOT TO BE DISRUPTIVE.
WE LOVE TO HEAR YOU GUYS CHEER. PLEASE KEEP IT RESPECTFUL AND DO NOT GET IN THE WAY OF OTHER PEOPLE. YOU COULD SEE SOME OF THOSE UP ON THE SCREEN.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SERVICES. WHO DO WE HAVE HERE OUTFRONT? WE ARE GETTING CLOSE. FAVORITE PART OF COMMENCEMENT, WHAT IS IT? >> MY FAVORITE PART OF COMMENCEMENT IS DEFINITELY SEEING EVERYONE WEARING THEIR REGALIA.
I LOVE THIS EVENT. EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS SO AWESOME. EVAN: WE ARE READY TO GO. WE HAVE EVERYBODY LINED UP TODAY.
TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. FOR THOSE THAT WEAR THE WHITE AND GOLD, IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATION. LET'S HAVE A HELL OF A COMMENCEMENT.
[APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO GEORGIA TECH SPRING COMMENCEMENT. STUDENTS, PLEASE RISE FOR THE FACULTY PROCESSIONAL. ♪ ♪ ♪ -- PRES. CABRERA: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME.
BUENOS DIAS Y BIENVENIDOS. PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. >> ♪ 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, YEAH, 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 AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE. ♪ [APPLAUSE] PRES. CABRERA: PLEASE BE SEATED.
MY NAME IS ANGEL CABRERA. I HAVE HAD 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 THE 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. GRADUATES, IT DOES NOT ESCAPE ME THAT FOUR YEARS AGO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. MOST OF YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT.
THIS COUNTS TWICE. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALL HERE TO CELEBRATE YOU. LET'S HAVE SOME FUN TOGETHER. WELCOME TO THE 266 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT GEORGIA TECH.
WE HAVE A FEW SPECIAL MESSAGES FOR YOU TODAY. THE FIRST ONE IS FROM ONE OF OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS. I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE ST EFFANY ARCOS, WHO WILL GIVE THE REFLECTION. STEFANNY: GOOD MORNING FRIENDS, FAMILY, FACULTY OF THE GEORGIA TECH COMMUNITY. WHILE REFLECTING ON MY TIME, I AM TAKEN BACK TO THE FIRST EXAM I EVER TOOK IN DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS. SPOILER ALERT, I FAILED THAT EXAM, MISERABLY.
THE SHOCK OF THAT GRADE REVERBERATED THROUGH ME ECHOING DOUBTS AND FEARS AND THOUGHTS THAT I WAS NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS. MAYBE GEORGIA TO MADE UP -- TECH MADE A MISTAKE IN ADMITTING ME. FRIENDS AND ADVISERS, I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH TO FINITE MATH AND HAVE NOT HAD TO LOOK AT A LIMIT OR DERIVATIVE SINCE. [APPLAUSE] ALL JOKES ASIDE, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT CLASS. IT TAUGHT ME A VERY VALUABLE LESSON. THE IMPORTANCE OF CELEBRATING LIFE'S LITTLE VICTORIES.
AS TECH STUDENTS WE TEND TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING BINARY, ASKED OR FAILED. WHEN WE SHIFT OUR FOCUS, WE FIND OUR SWELLS -- OURSELVES DWELLING IN BETWEEN. SUCCESS IS NOT MEASURED BY GRAND ACHIEVEMENTS OR MONUMENTAL MILESTONES. IT IS FOUND IN THE SMALL TRIUMPHS ALONG THE WAY LIKE GETTING FOLLOW-THROUGH POINTS ON AN EXAM EVEN THOUGH YOUR FINAL ANSWER WAS WAY OFF. GETTING YOUR CODE TO RUN WITHOUT ANY ERRORS OR FINDING A GOOD STUDY SPOT ON CAMPUS WHEN IT IS SUPER BUSY.
THESE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT SUSTAIN US. THAT FUEL OUR DETERMINATION TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD, EVEN WHEN THE PATH AHEAD SEEMS DAUNTING. IN EMBRACING THE JOURNEY IN LIFE WITH AN APPRECIATION FOR THESE SMALL WINS, WE DISCOVERED EVERY MOMENT HOLDS THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS. IT IS IN THESE MOMENTS WHEN WE PAUSE TO SAVOR THE JOYS, HOWEVER FLEETING THEY MAY SEEM THAT LIFE REVEALS ITS TRUEST BEAUTY CASTING EVERYTHING IN A RADIANT TECH GOLDEN HUE. I URGE YOU TO EMBRACE THE JOURNEY AHEAD. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE COMING MONTHS, KNOW THAT TODAY MARKS A HUGE VICTORY IN THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE.
REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE OVERCOME A TREMENDOUS FEAT BY GRADUATING FROM SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTION. TODAY, WE LEAVE THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND GO OUT INTO THE WORLD SEARCHING FOR WHAT IS NEXT. I HOPE WE COULD ALL CONTINUE TO SAVOR THE LITTLE VICTORIES AND FIND JOY IN OUR FUTURE.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024, I'M HONORED TO GRADUATE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. GO JACKETS! [APPLAUSE] PRES. CABRERA: THANK YOU, STEFANNY. THIS YOUNG WOMAN IS LAW SCHOOL BOUND. I THINK YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT SHE WILL MAKE A HECK OF A LAWYER.
GRADUATES, TODAY YOU WILL BE JOINING THE 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 I KNOW, I HAVE MET SEVERAL OF THEM HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS. WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. ALUMNI HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION.
THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH IT THEMSELVES. TO ALL ALUMNI, PLEASE RISE SO WE COULD RECOGNIZE YOU. [APPLAUSE] AWESOME.
THANK YOU. NOW TO WELCOME YOU FORMALLY INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI, I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE NANCY, -- BETSY BULAT, THE CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. BETSY: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BETSY BULAT.
A PROUD ALUMNA AND CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO ONE OF THE MOST COVETED NETWORKS IN THE WORLD. THE GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. YOU ARE A PART OF A POWERFUL FAMILY OF OVER 200,000 GRADUATES. WHILE EACH OF YOUR PURSUITS IS UNIQUE AND YOUR BACKGROUNDS ARE DIFFERENT, WE SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF RECEIVING OUR RAT CAP, HIKING FRESHMAN HILL, AND GETTING GOOD LUCK FOR OUR EXAMS FROM SIDEWAYS. WE SHARE PERSEVERANCE, HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE, AND REMAIN COOL UNDER PRESSURE.
YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION THAT YOU ARE TODAY. IT IS ONE OF INCREASING POWER AND PRIVILEGE AREA USE IT WISELY. AS PETER PARKER'S UNCLE SAID, WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. THIS CONCEPT HAS MOTIVATED ME SINCE I LEFT GEORGIA TECH.
ONE WAY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE BACK IS THROUGH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. BEHIND THE SCENES GIVING YOU ADVICE WHETHER YOU ASKED FOR IT OR NOT. CELEBRATING YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND RAISING FUNDS.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH US AND GET ENGAGED. LET US CELEBRATE WITH YOU WHEN YOU ACCOMPLISH GOALS. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH CONNECTIONS, JOB LEADS, NETWORKING, EVENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GREAT FRIENDSHIPS.
SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS I MET AFTER I GOT OUT. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL TECH HOME. IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE STEEPED IN TRADITION. AS ALUMNI, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR FAMILY. YOUR TIME MIGHT BE OVER HERE UNLESS YOU ARE PURSUING ANOTHER ADVANCED DEGREE, THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS WITH YOU FOR A LIFETIME. MAY YOUR PURSUITS BE SUCCESSFUL, YOUR FRIENDSHIPS RICH, GO JACKETS! PRES. CABRERA: I KNOW YOU LIKE
NUMBERS, HERE ARE SOME NUMBERS FOR YOU. NO TEST. WE CELEBRATE 6474 GRADUATES. WE ARE AWARDING 2830 SEVEN BACHELORS DEGREES AND MORE THAN 3000 BACHELORS -- MASTERS DEGREES. THE BACHELORS CANDIDATES WE HONOR TODAY REPRESENT 57 COUNTRIES AND THE MASTERS CANDIDATES REPRESENT ABOUT THE SAME.
TOGETHER, THE SCHOLARS KNOW HOW TO BUILD SATELLITES AND ROBOTS. THEY COULD CREATE AND RUN BUSINESSES. THEY COULD SHAPE BETTER POLICIES, THEY ARE VERSED IN BIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, THEY COULD MINE INTELLIGENCE FROM COMPLEX DATA. THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MARKETS WORK, HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY TEACHES US ABOUT OUR FUTURE. THESE GRADUATES HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD. THEY COULD 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 WITH AND LEARN WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEMSELVES. THEY ARE CONFIDENT, CAPABLE, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS. THEY LEARN THE PROWLER -- POWER OF COLLABORATION. THEY HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO LEAD.
FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS THEY MAKE ME EXTREMELY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE. THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER. THE TWO WORDS ON OUR SEAL. PROGRESS AND SERVICE. THOSE TWO WORDS DEFINE US AS A COMMUNITY AND SIGNIFY OUR BELIEF IN THE POWER OF INNOVATION TO SERVE A GREATER PURPOSE.
TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION. WE DON'T BELIEVE IN TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS OWN SAKE. BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL TO HELP PEOPLE. SOME OF YOU WILL JOIN WELL-ESTABLISHED COMPANIES AND HELP THEM DO BETTER.
OTHERS INCREASINGLY MORE OF YOU WILL CREATE YORAM STARTUP. -- YOUR OWN STARTUP. SOME OF YOU ARE BOUND FOR CAREERS IN MEDIA OR GOVERNMENT. WHEREVER YOU GO, I KNOW YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. REMEMBER, 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, MONEY YOU WILL MAKE. SOME OF YOU, A LOT OF IT. WHEN YOU ARE RICH AND FAMOUS, I WILL FIND YOU.
WITH THE HELP OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. I REMIND YOU WHERE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL AND I SHOW YOU A PHOTO OF A GREAT BUILDING THAT COULD HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT. WHAT WILL MAKE YOU PROUD AND WHAT WILL MAKE YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF US PROUD IS WHAT YOU DID TO LIFT OTHERS. WHAT YOU DID TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. NO PRESSURE, WE COULD DO THAT.
I KNOW YOU ARE READY TO TACKLE ANY CHALLENGE THAT WILL COME YOUR WAY. TODAY WE CELEBRATE YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE GREAT THINGS YOU WILL DO.
JOINING US HERE IN PERSON AND ONLINE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. THESE YELLOW JACKETS KNOW PERFECTLY WELL THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU. FOR THAT, WE ALL THINK.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE OFFERED TIME, WISDOM, EXPERTISE TO HELP GRADUATES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WILL MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF RISE SO WE COULD THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM JOINING ME HERE.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE WHEN THEY STAND. LARRY JACOBS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR EDUCATION AND LEARNING. MICHELLE REINHARDT. CHRIS REEVES, JOHN STEIN, LESLIE SHARP, STEPHEN HARMON, JOHN LYON, CHANTE BOLTON, JAN HOWELL, ABIGAIL TEMPE, MARY TIPTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS, WE UNDERSTAND THE OBSTACLES YOU ALL OVERCAME THESE PAST FEW YEARS. WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON CROSSING THE FINISH LINE. MANY OF YOU KNOW I PLAY DIFFERENT ROLES AT GEORGIA TECH OVER THE YEARS. I'VE BEEN A STUDENT, ALUMNI, PARENT, ADVISOR, NOW PRESIDENT. I EVEN FOUND MY WIFE HERE, WHO IS WITH US TODAY. [APPLAUSE] I KNOW VERY WELL THAT BEING A YELLOW JACKET IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.
AT GEORGIA TECH, A DIPLOMA IS SOMETHING YOU WILL TREASURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE. IT WAS FOR ME AND LIKE SO MANY STUDENTS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT NOTHING I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MY CAREER WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAD AT GEORGIA TECH AND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE I MET HERE. NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. YOU ARE FOREVER CONNECTED TO THIS GREAT INSTITUTION, AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
IT IS TIME TO LOOK AHEAD, TO PUSH FORWARD, TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD LIKE ONLY YELLOW JACKETS CAN. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2024. [APPLAUSE] ONE LAST LECTURE BEFORE I LET YOU GO. I BROUGHT YOU A TREAT. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME KIM GREENE. SHE IS A TRAILBLAZER IN THE ENERGY SECTOR AND A PRIME EXAMPLE OF MODEL LEADERSHIP.
AS THE CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF GEORGIA POWER, SHE OVERSEES AND ENSURES THE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO 2.7 MILLION CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE STATE. KIM IS ORIGINALLY FROM KNOXVILLE AND HAS A DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, WITH DEGREES IN ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND MECHANICS, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SHE HAS HELD PIVOTAL ROLES IN ADVOCATING FOR SAFETY, INNOVATION, AND STEM EDUCATION.
PRIOR TO HER CURRENT POSITION, SHE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF SOUTHERN COMPANY GAS AND HELD EXECUTIVE ROLES IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY. KIM HAS BEEN HONORED WITH INDUCTION INTO THE STATE OF ALABAMA ENGINEERING HALL OF FAME AND WAS RECENTLY NAMED ONE OF ATLANTA'S MOST ADMIRED CEOS. TODAY, SHE STANDS BEFORE US NOT ONLY AS A LEADER IN HER FIELD BUT ALSO AS A CHAMPION FOR PROGRESS AND EXCELLENCE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING KIM GREENE.
[APPLAUSE] KIM: THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. PRESIDENT CABRERA, PARENTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL EDUCATION. TO THE DISTINGUISHED FACULTY AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS AND ALL YOU DO FOR THIS UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS CONTINUALLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
TO THE CLASS OF 2024, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU DID IT. [APPLAUSE] I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO BE CELEBRATING WITH YOU TODAY. YOU ARE JOINING AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF GRADUATES THAT CAME BEFORE YOU. I KNOW BECAUSE I WORK WITH A BUNCH OF THEM.
AT GEORGIA POWER, I WORK WITH MORE THAN 200 GEORGIA TECH GRADUATES. SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. MORE THAN 30% OF OUR SENIOR LEADERS ARE GEORGIA TECH GRADUATES.
[APPLAUSE] ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN GEORGIA, OUR ENTIRE ENTERPRISE, WE HAVE MORE THAN 500 GEORGIA TECH GRADUATES. THEY ARE CERTAINLY PROUD TO LET THE REST OF US KNOW OF THEIR ESTEEMED DEGREE. AS THEY SHOULD BE. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I SAT IN YOUR SEAT AS A GRADUATE WHO, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LATELY TO CELEBRATE MY DAUGHTERS AND THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY. I KNOW THE THING THE AUDIENCE LOVED MOST WAS THE LONG AND DETAILED SPEECH FROM THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS TO AROUND 45 MINUTES TODAY.
I'M SERIOUSLY JUST KIDDING. I WILL BE BRIEF AND I WILL BE GONE ALTHOUGH I THINK DR. CABRERA GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO COMMENCEMENT'S. I COULD FILL UP EVEN MORE THAN 45 MINUTE WITH ALL I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
I WILL WHITTLE IT DOWN TO THREE POINTS. NUMBER ONE, LIFE WILL THROW YOU CURVEBALLS. WHICH CAN BE WONDERFUL. NUMBER TWO, WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, OPENED THE DOOR AND FINALLY, NUMBER THREE, CHECK YOUR MORAL COMPASS REGULARLY. LET'S START WITH NUMBER ONE. LIFE WILL THROW CURVEBALLS, WHICH COULD BE WONDERFUL.
I WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A CRYSTAL-CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR DEGREE. SOMETHING YOU HAVE DREAMS TO BE OR A FIELD YOU DREAM TO WORK IN. THE PATH IN FRONT OF YOU SEEMS WELL-PLANNED. THANKS TO YOUR GEORGIA TECH DEGREE, YOU FEEL VERY PREPARED. FOR ME, THE PATH WAS BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.
I HAD AN INTEREST IN THE MEDICAL FIELD BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER. I STILL HAVE FROM THAT GRADUATION CEREMONY AND I WAS REVIEWING IT AS I WAS WRITING THE SPEECH. I WILL READ FOR YOU THE TITLE OF MY THESIS. BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS IN THE LOPRESTI FRACTURE.
I NEVER WORKED IN THAT FIELD. NOT EVEN ONE DAY. LIFE DID WHAT IT OFTEN DOES AND IT THREW ME A CURVE BALL.
MY CURVEBALL AT THAT TIME WAS MY HUSBAND. HE AND I HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED AND HIS LIFELONG DREAM WAS TO BE A PILOT. AT THE VERY YOUNG AGE OF 22, HE LANDED THE JOB OF HIS DREAMS AS A CORPORATE PILOT IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. THE JOB OF MY DREAMS WAS IN WARSAW, INDIANA.
WHAT WERE WE TO DO? SINCE MY HUSBAND HAD DREAMED OF BEING A PILOT LONGER THAN I HAD DREAMED OF BEING A BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER, I DECIDED TO MAKE A SACRIFICE AND PUT MY DREAM ON HOLD AND FIND A JOB IN BIRMINGHAM. I WAS HIRED BY SOUTHERN COMPANY SERVICES. I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THE ELECTRIC UTILITY BUSINESS. I HAVE TO ADMIT I FULLY EXPECTED NOT TO LIKE IT.
I PICTURED MYSELF GOING TO MY HUSBAND AFTER SIX MONTHS AND TELLING HIM I WAS MISERABLE AND WE HAD TO MOVE. TO MY SURPRISE, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. I DID KNOW HOW TO BE AN ENGINEER AND I DID KNOW HOW TO LEARN, HOW TO DO RESEARCH, HOW TO WORK WITH A TEAM. I STAYED POSITIVE AND I LEANED INTO THE ROLE.
THE MORE I LEARNED, THE MORE I LOVED IT. THAT DESIRE THAT I HAD TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER WAS COMPLETELY MET. ELECTRICITY MAKES EVERYONE'S LIVES BETTER. NOW, 34 YEARS AND SEVERAL CURVEBALLS LATER, EVERYTHING HAS WORKED OUT.
MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY VERY SOON. AS A BRIEF ASIDE, LET ME JUST SAY TOO MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE OR WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT OTHER WITH DREAMS THAT ARE JUST AS BIG AND BOLD AS YOURS, THERE WILL LIKELY BE A TIME WHERE ONE OF YOU HAS TO MAKE A SACRIFICE FOR THE OTHER. EMBRACE THAT CURVEBALL.
STAY POSITIVE. IT COULD TURN OUT TO BE WONDERFUL. A FEW YEARS INTO MY CAREER, MY BOSS CAME TO ME AND SAID AND ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT IN ATLANTA. AT FIRST I THOUGHT NO WAY, I'M AN ENGINEER. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FINANCE.
THE JOB IS IN ATLANTA, I LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM. I HAD ALREADY MADE A BIG CHANGE TO POWER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FROM BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING. I LOVE THAT SO I THOUGHT OK, I MIGHT LIKE FINANCE. I DID. SO MUCH SO THAT I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO GET AN MBA.
I BECAME A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. I NEVER WOULD'VE IMAGINED IN A MILLION YEARS WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE SEATS YOU ARE SITTING IN TODAY. YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL GRADUATES.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO WANT TO HIRE YOU. ALONG YOUR CAREER PATH THEY WILL WANT TO PROVIDE YOU OPPORTUNITIES. DIFFERENT ROLES, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, DIFFERENT CITIES, DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES. THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT GOING TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AT TIMES THAT SEEM CONVENIENT. THEY WILL TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE TO GROW, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, OPEN THE DOOR. CHECK YOUR MORAL COMPASS REGULARLY. FAST FORWARD A FEW MORE YEARS INTO MY CAREER TO THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY. THE EARLY 2000'S. ABOUT THE TIME MOST OF YOU WERE BORN.
WE TRADED ENERGY COMMODITIES. NATURAL GAS, OIL, ELECTRICITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HEARD OF A COMPANY CALLED ENRON, ANYBODY HEARD OF THAT? I THINK MOST OF THAT CAME FROM YOUR FAMILY.
LOOK IT UP LATER. IT WAS AN ENERGY TRADING COMPANY BASED IN HOUSTON THAT PERPETRATED ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOUNTING FRAUDS IN HISTORY. PEOPLE USED TO ASK ME ABOUT THE COMPANY I WORK FOR. I WOULD SAY IT IS A LOT LIKE ENRON EXCEPT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CROOKS. I CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE. A MAN WHO WAS MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR'S, BRILLIANT, SUCCESSFUL, FAMILY MAN, EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE HIM, HE IS NOW A CONVICTED FELON.
HOW DOES A REALLY GREAT PERSON MAKE SUCH A REALLY BAD DECISIONS? HOW DOES SOMEONE LOSE TRACK OF WHAT IS CLEARLY RIGHT AND WRONG. I HONESTLY HATE TO BRING THIS TOPIC UP AT ALL. THE FALL OF ENRON AND THIS PERSONAL EXAMPLE HAPPENED OVER 20 YEARS AGO. FAR TOO REGULARLY OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, I READ ABOUT PERSON AFTER PERSON, ACCOUNTANTS, ENGINEERS, EXECUTIVES, CEOS WHO MAKE VERY BAD DECISIONS. SOME OF THEM ARE CONVICTED FELONS.
SOME OF THEM GO TO JAIL. I'M QUITE CERTAIN NONE OF YOU WOULD EVER MAKE SUCH A BAD DECISION. LET ME TELL YOU, IF YOU ARE EVER ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION OR DO SOMETHING YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEAD OR IN YOUR GUT OR IN YOUR HEART IS WRONG, DON'T DO IT. SPEAK UP TO SOMEONE. YOU MAY NEED TO LEAVE THE COMPANY. IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN COMPANY, WHEN IN DOUBT, OVER DISCLOSE.
MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY RARELY, IF EVER EVEN MADE A MISTAKE. THAT DAY WIL
2024-05-07 21:59
