(bright triumphant music) (audience applauding) - [Man] There we go.

(indistinct chatter) I like it.

(indistinct chatter) (bright triumphant music) (audience applauding) - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, the president of Michigan State University, Samuel L. Stanley Jr. (audience applauding) - Good afternoon and welcome to spring convocation.

The beginning of Michigan State University's commencement activities for graduating seniors.

I'm pleased to share this joyful milestone with graduates, friends, and family in person here at the Breslin Center.

This is a site of so many Spartan triumphs and I count this among them, To the class of 2022, congratulations, you made it.

(audience applauding) Before I continue, I want to acknowledge the support of our graduates' families and friends who have been such a big part of their success.

Will you please accept our appreciation families, friends.

(audience applauding) I also want to acknowledge the dedicated MSU faculty and staff who inspired, guided, and supported our graduates through their years here.

Let's show our appreciation to them too.

(audience applauding) Today, we honor our graduates and salute those who have achieved academic distinction.

We celebrate the special unity and diversity of the Spartan family represented by the flags of our students' native lands and by the banners herding our colleges.

Graduates you came to MSU from 43 countries and 44 states.

The youngest of you isn't yet 20, the most seasoned among you almost 60.

More than 5,500 of you were on the dean's list.

(audience applauding) And 828 were part of the honors college.

(audience applauding) And I wanna give the special acknowledgement to the 89 military veterans in this group.

Thank you for your service.

(audience applauding) Our graduates include engaged scholars like urban and regional planning graduate Wisdom Henry whose research included urban redefining and its effect on Black families.

Wisdom.

(audience applauding) Psychology and political science major, Brenda Pilar Ayala, who won her citizenship in 2019 and whose campus and community leadership took her to the homecoming court last year.

(audience applauding) And mechanical engineering major and marching band member, Ryan Kouche who working at the Hatch 3D printed more than 1,200 articles of personal protective equipment for health organizations during the pandemic shortage.

(audience applauding) A third of you graduate today from a different college than the one you started in.

Nearly two thirds of you earn in degrees in different majors than you started in.

And that's part of the intellectual journey here to prepare for lives as globally engaged citizens and leaders.

Your education here has prepared you well for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

So too is your experience navigating these last two years of uncertainty and COVID.

Our honorary degree recipients who you will meet shortly are great examples of Spartan who aimed high and are making a difference for others in the worlds of business, philanthropy and sports.

Look to them for inspiration, draw on what you've learned here and always remember that I and so many other MSU faculty and staff believe in you and your future.

At this time, I ask our guests to join students and faculty in rising if you are able and singing one stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by the MSU Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Kevin Kevin Sedatole, professor and director of bands in the College of Music.

The singing will be led by Phoenix Miranda, a junior in music performance.

♪ O say, can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rocket's red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ (audience applauding) Thank you so much, Phoenix.

That was outstanding, thank you.

Please be seated everyone.

Now I invite Teresa Woodruff, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs to present the candidates for honorary degrees.

- Mr. And Mrs. Gilbert, please come forward.

President Stanley, I have the privilege to present Mr. Dan Gilbert and Mrs. Jennifer Gilbert for awarding of the honorary degree doctor of business.

(audience applauding) - Mr. Gilbert, you are a highly accomplished business leader who has helped millions of individuals secure the finances to achieve their dreams.

You are the founder and chairman of Rocket Companies and Quicken Loans.

As the CEO of the nation's largest mortgage lender, you developed a great community for Rock families and companies including its 100 affiliated companies across the country that employ more than 30,000 team members.

You helped lead the transformation of a great American city by moving the Rock Family of Companies to Detroit's central business district.

Your dedication to building a corporate home extends to your customers.

In 2020, Quicken Loans closed $320 billion in home loan volumes across all 50 states and for the 11th consecutive year were in JD Power's highest rating for client satisfaction among all U.S. mortgage lenders.

You are an active investor in financial technology, sports related and consumer direct companies.

You are the owner of the National Basketball Association of Cleveland Cavaliers and other sports teams.

You found the Detroit Venture Partners to fund startup and early technology companies.

And in 2016, you co-founded Detroit based StockX, the world's first stock market of things combining the visible liquid anonymous and transparent benefits of the stock market with the online consumer secondary market.

Your creativity in business and commitment in the venture capital firm truly motivates young entrepreneurs and your partnership with MSU through the Gilbert Family Foundation and your company last year was pivotal in bringing North America's first Apple Developer Academy to Detroit opening a world class opportunity for training and high demand technology careers to people throughout Michigan.

For all of your contributions to your local state and national communities and continue supporting inspiration from the next generation of leaders, I am pleased to award you the honorary doctor of business degree from Michigan State University.

(audience applauding) Mrs. Gilbert, you are an inspiring business leader and problem solver who's devoted your career to building stronger communities.

Your innovative ideas and philanthropic heart have created many positive changes, not only for your immediate community but across the nation.

With your academic background of a bachelor's degree in interior design from Michigan State University, (audience applauding) your passion to improve lives through creativity has been well cultivated.

You founded Doodle Home, a digital platform for residential interior designers in 2015.

And as a founder of Amber Engine, you have contributed to making product data that is easy to manage for businesses of all sizes and across many industries.

Its services and solutions technology has brought accessibility to many businesses.

You also serve as the founder and creative director of Detroit based Pophouse, a commercial design firm that specializes in utilizing data and research to provide strategic solutions for workforces of all sizes.

Utilizing your strong expertise in interior design, you continue to pursue societal issues and seek lasting solutions.

As the president of NF Forward, co-founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation and chair of the board of governors of the Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum.

Your philanthropy provides lasting support and economic mobility to communities.

It encourages the investment in art to elevate and inspire public spaces to bring joy to people's lives.

It provides an ongoing focus on enhancements to the research and development of a neurofibromatosis cure and it lifts up every resident, every regional community.

For your contributions from the local to the national level that continue to inspire support and improve the lives of countless individuals, I am pleased to honor you the honorary doctor of business degree from Michigan State University.

(audience applauding) - Thank you members of the board of trustees, President Stanley, Provost Woodruff, faculty, graduating students, family and distinguished guests.

Also congratulations to Todd Penegor, Linda Hubbard and our keynote speaker, the NBA's Steven Smith and Spartan of course.

We appreciate this valuable honor from the university we love.

My wife, Dr. Jennifer, I've never dated a doctor and I had amazing experiences as student at Michigan State that helped prepare us for the future.

Commencement is a day to reflect on the values, knowledge you have learned on your early journey along the banks of the Red Cedar River.

- I always appreciated time I spend on this campus.

Today in particular, is especially enjoyable as I'm reminded that commencement day is a day to look forward to the opportunities that are in front of you to impact your community and your life.

You may hear that today is the first day of the rest of your life and while painfully cliche, it is also profoundly accurate.

Today marks a moment of transition and one that Dan and I remember well.

Michigan State University played a large role in both of our lives and we are honored to support our university.

It is important that students of all backgrounds realize their maximum potential and are stewarded toward the opportunities that higher education provides.

MSU was key to our abilities to grow a business and empower others to realize their full potential.

Graduates of Michigan State University have proven over and over again that we have the ability to impact our neighborhoods, communities and the world in a big way.

We are all connected in this pursuit.

Spartans move the world, right Dr. Dan?

- Correct, Professor Jennifer.

Spartans Will.

(audience applauding) Graduating from Michigan State University was the start of a great adventure for Jennifer and me.

The relationship we built here on campus during our undergraduate years allowed us to move forward and bring others along the way in business philanthropy and through challenging times.

In addition to Jennifer and me, our son Nicholas was fortunate to receive the education and care from the university and the resource center for persons with disabilities which is second to none in this country.

(audience applauding) - Yes, they deserve a big hand.

(audience applauding) Our family truly appreciates the people of our university.

Again, we accept these degrees with honor and humility.

We hope that our story encourages today's graduating class to pursue greatness, have compassion for others, celebrate success graciously and make a lasting positive impact on this world.

Thank you, good luck to everyone and Go Green.

- [Graduates] Go White.

(audience applauding) - [Dan] Thank you very much, a lot of green out here.

Somebody said go to the green room before we speak.

I said, every room is the green room here.

(audience applauding) - Mr. Penegor, please come forward.

President Stanley, I have the honor to present Mr. Todd Penegor for the awarding of the honorary degree doctor of business.

(audience applauding) - You are a highly accomplished business leader who inspires people to find meaning in their community and unite them with their even stronger bonds.

As Wendy's President and CEO, you have cultivated an empowering company culture that helps the people of Wendy's feel valued.

Your guidance will build a strong and collaborative partnership with the franchise community and inspired a new franchisees to join Wendy's for a more impactful development of a family business culture.

You served in a multitude of positions at Kellogg Company, where you work to grow the company on an international level as well as develop several multi-million dollar products to increase company revenue.

You employed a spirit of altruism.

You help prepare members of the snacks leadership team to acquire higher positions within the Kellogg Company.

You shared your expertise with Ford Motor Company for over 12 years, serving in five different roles across finance and accounting.

You have made significant contributions to your Alma Mater by serving on the MSU Financial Advisory Board.

Your many influential works have been recognized by receiving the 2018 Gold Stevie Award for Executive of the Year in Food and Beverage in the 2017 MSU Eli Broad College of Business Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

With your academic background at MSU, you continue to be a role model for fellow Spartans.

For your unwavering dedication to innovative products, empowering employees and creating the leaders of tomorrow, I am pleased to award you the honorary degree of doctorate of business from Michigan State University.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, President Stanley.

I truly appreciate the recognition and the special honor.

I'd also like to thank Dean Gupta for his partnership and pushing me to get even more involved in Michigan State.

It's been an honor and a privilege to give a few commencement speeches to students over the past several years, spend time on campus with students and faculty and to serve on the Broad School of Business Advisory Board.

As a kid who grew up in a small town in the upper peninsula, iron mountain, go mountaineers.

(audience applauding) I truly felt lucky to be accepted into Michigan State University.

The opportunity which I was very proud to announce to my family and friends to further my education, first as an undergraduate and then as a graduate student.

I grew up at this university spending almost six years on campus.

I made so many great friends MSU and I've always been very proud to call myself a Spartan and to be associated with my Alma Mater.

I am proud that Michigan State created not just strong educational foundation for me but also helped mold me as a person and as a leader.

I always appreciated the humbleness of our Spartan nation and the strong work ethic and collaborative environment the university instilled in me.

My experiences growing up as a young man on campus molded me into the person I am today.

Someone who believes in the power of we and believes in winning as a team which I have brought to all the companies and the boards that I've been part of over the last several years.

I appreciate beyond words being recognized with all the other great leaders that are here with us today.

Thank you Michigan State for setting me up for long term success.

Spartans Will, Go Green.

- [Graduates] Go White.

(audience applauding) - Mr. Smith, please come forward.

(audience applauding) President Stanley, I have the privilege to present Mr. Steven Smith for awarding of the honorary degree doctor of education.

(audience applauding) - You are not only an extraordinary athlete but a philanthropists who drive sustainable social change.

You made history on Michigan State University's basketball team by scoring 2,263 points earning the title of the Spartan's all time leading scorer.

(audience applauding) You were also a two time first team All American.

You continued your successful basketball career with the Miami Heat where you were drafted in the first round and fifth overall.

You earned several awards for your accomplishments, winning an NBA championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs, a gold medal during the 1994 FIBA World Championships in Toronto and a second gold medal as part of the 2000 Olympic basketball team in Sydney, Australia.

(audience applauding) You excelled not only in your technical abilities but in your outstanding integrity earning four awards for your good sportsmanship and humanitarian efforts as well as a place in the world sports humanitarian hall of fame.

And you gave back to your Alma Mater by donating to create the Clara Belle Smith Student Athlete Academic Center which at the time was the largest gift given by a professional athlete to any college or university.

(audience applauding) And you've given as well to the Steve Smith Persian High School MSU Scholarship.

Additionally, you raise money to support the Steve Smith's Charitable Fund, MSU and local charities in Atlanta, Georgia and several cities across Michigan.

You now share your expertise as an analyst with Turner Sports NBA TV, CNN and the big Ten Network.

You are the vice chairman of the nsoro Educational Foundation helping to provide education to youth who are aging out of foster care.

You exemplify leadership by serving on boards for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Atlanta Tipoff Club, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Community Board of the Hughes Spalding Hospital and Westminster School.

For your charitable efforts, specifically focused on academic success and the education community as well as your athletic accomplishments, I am honored to award you the honorary degree of doctor of education from Michigan State University.

(audience applauding) - I have to put it up a little higher.

Good afternoon.

President Stanley, Provost Woodruff and the board of trustees, thank you for inviting me back home.

To the administration, faculty and staff, thank you for all you do.

To the proud families and friends who traveled here to celebrate your loved ones, this is your day also.

And to each and everyone of you in the resilient, inspiring class of 2022, I am so proud to be your fellow Michigan State alum, congratulations.

(audience applauding) I am deeply honored that you have let me be apart of your special day and I am so grateful for this honorary degree.

We all came to Michigan State for different reasons.

I came for two, Magic Johnson and my mom, Clara Belle Smith.

I'm still a mama's boy.

(audience applauding) I wanted to be on this campus because I wanted to stay close to family.

By the time I graduated, the people I met here and had become family.

To this day, they still are.

They're my closest friends, they were my groomsmen.

They were the people who called me when things are going well and who show up when things get a little rough.

Above all else, graduates, I hope that for many years from now, you still feel as close to one another as you do today.

Even through the long, lonely months that kept so many of us apart, you went through this once in a lifetime chapter together and these Spartans will always be there for you.

(audience applauding) Now maybe you didn't choose Michigan State because of magic or because of your mom but in coming here, you chose to surround yourself with good and giving people.

Your roommates and friends, your classmates and teammates, your professors and TAs.

You chosen to surround yourself with smart and supportive Spartans.

Spartans who stand up for what's right and who speak out against what's wrong.

Spartans who are courageous and effective and who deserve credit for pushing the school to be more multicultural and more inclusive and to take nice words about diversity in a strategic plan and make sure they are made real.

As you walk together this weekend in the same way that you stuck by each other through an extraordinary and exhausting experience, you are fulfilling my favorite Proverb 13:20.

"They who walk with the wise, will become wise "but a companion of fools will suffer harm."

In choosing to come to this campus, you chose to walk with the wise.

When you cross the stage and take hold of your diplomas, you'll be doing it one more time.

And when you stay in each other's lives in the years ahead, you'll grow even wiser, thanks to one another.

But once you go out into the wider world, how can you make sure you're still surrounding yourself with good, giving, grounded people?

How do you even figure out who is wise and who to walk with?

Here's one thing I know for sure, you can't tell that by someone's age, race or gender.

You can't tell it by their degrees, their title or the car that they drive.

You certainly can't tell it by the number of followers they have.

Although sometimes it feels easier to walk with people who look and think like you, that's not the only way.

The equity and inclusion we value has many dimensions, race, nationality, gender, wealth, education.

At its heart, it's about giving everyone an opportunity, everyone.

So as you leave Michigan State and go to great things, I hope you'll find a way to give an opportunity to someone who doesn't look like you.

Another thing I've come to realize about the people I want to be around and the person I wanna be is something I learned from my coaches including Johnny Gosten, Jud Heathcote and Tom Miso, thanks Eyes.

(audience applauding) Who made me his recruit some 35 years ago, whew.

It's something that I found myself learning all over again from the kids I've coached, covered and cheered for including my sons.

And that is what I wanted to talk to you about today.

President Stanley was kind enough to recall that when I graduated, I held Michigan State's all time scoring record.

I can remember the intensity growing as I got closer and closer to that number.

A teammate told me how many points I needed to average my senior year.

Reporters noticed when I was 200 points and then 100.

And then I was in striking distance, then the big moment came.

Usually this will be the part of the story where I tell you about the feeling of breaking the record, how I felt to weave down the lane, lose my defender with a half spin move, The Smithy and see the ball switch through the net.

But here's the honest truth, I don't actually remember the shot that broke the record.

To this day, I don't know if it was a free throw, a floater or a three from deep.

I don't know if it happened in the first half or the second half, I truly don't remember.

And maybe that sounds surprising but here's what I do remember.

My mind immediately flash back to playing in my backyard on Detroit's east side.

My dad, Donald Smith, had poured concrete behind our house and put up a hoop.

On that little court, I learned to dunk by jumping off milk crates and I learned how to pivot and dribble around cracks in the concrete.

That's where my mind went at the end, it went to the beginning.

To my sixth grade championship at Coralville Elementary School to the pickups games all over the city to scrimmages at Hawthorne Recreation Center to the tournaments and games playing for Persian High School and to the thousand upon thousands of shots I practiced.

All those baskets were part of this record, even if they weren't recorded anywhere but in my heart.

People like to celebrate the shots you make in the last game of a season or the closing seconds of a game or in the final moment as you mark a milestone but what I but what I remember more than those last shots are the ones I took at the start.

The reason I think is this, there's a difference between achievement and fulfillment.

People like to collect accolades and polished trophies and yes, gold medals might be valuable but that's not what makes them meaningful.

The work is what makes the achievement feel fulfilling and loving the journey is what makes us happy.

The truth is I wasn't ever trying to break anyone's record, I was only pushing myself to see how high I could climb while doing what I love.

So when you think about walking with the wise, I think about walking with people who know these two truths.

First, the joy is in the journey, not in the result.

And second, you should only compete against yourself, not against anyone else.

Watching people who love their work respect the process and find joy in the journey is one of the reasons I love covering college basketball as a broadcaster and I love coaching youth teams.

A few weeks ago, I was covering March madness and I noticed a certain look in so many of the players' eyes.

Some of them knew they were playing in their last game ever.

They were playing for the pure joy of it.

Years ago when I coached my sons Brayden and Davis' teams, I saw the same look.

Kids who were living in the now and giving it their all, not in pursuit of any trophy or title, just enjoying the journey of getting better.

As I watched them learn what they were capable of, I learned something too and it's this lesson.

The thing about most achievements that is that someone else created them and someone else is doing the counting.

So if you're asking who's the best at this, who's the most successful at that, you also have to ask who decides what those measures mean?

When we define ourselves by someone else's goals, we might miss out on the experiences that matter the most to us as individuals.

But when we write our own definition of success and compete against our own limits, we can't lose, we can only grow.

What stuck with me most about breaking the scoring record was an experience of getting to the top, it was the experience of going to the top.

And the moment I broke it, I started to think about what could I top next?

Not because I wanted another achievement but because I needed a new journey.

The reality is that anyone can work really hard at something and still not reach the top.

You might study really hard, research really hard, practice really hard and still not be the best, fastest or greatest.

In fact, by definition, only one of us will be the best at something.

So my question is, how do you still find the drive to push yourself?

How do you still sustain excellence?

That's the second trait I found in the people I considered wise, they make sure that the person they're competing against the hardest is themselves.

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them that in the NBA, practice was harder than the games.

Why?

Because it was just about the work, the work, the work.

There's no score, no fans, no cameras, it was just us versus us.

One year in the NBA playoffs, I was matched up against Michael Jordan for entire series.

Sports Illustrated called it my week of hell but that's not how I felt about it.

The only way I could play my best against Michael was not to think of it as competing against him at all.

The competition was to see if I could be the best I could be.

Every night I walked onto the court and said, today I'm better.

And on the nights when Michael got the best of me, I didn't let that change my mind.

No matter what I always said to myself, this is the year, this is the day, this is the game, this is the play, this is the moment.

And thanks to that competition with myself, I did have my moments.

It's just that Michael had a few more.

I used Jordan to push me but I didn't let him define me.

You can set high standards and use them to motivate you too but they're only useful if they focus you, not if they distract you.

It's good to set goals but class of 2022, I'm asking you to remember that is more fulfilling to find purpose in the process and in the process to know that you are your most important competitor.

There are a lot of mountain tops you won't reach.

You can strive to be selfless but you can always do more.

You can dream of being a perfect person but you will always find flaws.

You can fight for a more equal society but you will always have more work to do.

Perfection isn't a realistic goal but growth, growth is always a worthy one.

Achievements shouldn't be your only measure of success but fulfillment, fulfillment is undefeated.

When you find fulfillment, you're more likely to find wisdom.

And in the end, you'll be the kind of person who others want to walk with too.

Congratulations graduates and Go Green.

- [Graduates] Go White.

Go Green?

- [Graduates] Go White.

- Go Green?

- [Graduates] Go White.

- Thank you.

(audience applauding) - Thank you so much, Mr. Smith or maybe I should say Dr. Smith, thank you so much.

And thank you to our other honorary degree recipients.

Let's hear it again for them and everything they do from Michigan State.

(audience applauding) We will now have the privilege of hearing the Michigan State University Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Kevin Sedatole perform "Fantasy on MSU" by James Curnow.

(bright orchestra music) ♪ Go right through for MSU ♪ - [Man] Stand up.

♪ Watch the points keep growing ♪ ♪ Spartan teams are bound to win ♪ ♪ They're fighting with a vim, rah!

Rah!

Rah!

♪ ♪ See their team is weakening ♪ ♪ We're going to win this game!

♪ ♪ Fight!

Fight!

Rah team fight!

♪ ♪ Victory for MSU ♪ (bright orchestra music) (audience applauding) - Thank you, Dr. Sedatole and members of the Wind Symphony.

That was outstanding.

Let's hear it again.

(audience applauding) The chairperson of the Michigan State University board of trustees, the Honorable Diane Byron from Onondaga Township will address the graduates and guests After trustee Byron, Provost and executive vice president Teresa Woodruff will present members of the platform party.

(audience applauding) - Thank you President Stanley.

On behalf of the MSU board of trustees, I welcome graduates and your family and friends who have joined us today.

Under the Michigan constitution, the board of trustees is the governing body of the university by whose authority degrees are awarded.

At this time, I would like to recognize my colleagues who have joined us today.

The Honorable Melanie Foster.

(audience applauding) The Honorable Renee Kanaki Jefferson.

(audience applauding) Today's ceremony represents the culmination of your academic achievement.

The degrees you have earned acknowledges your success and honors those that have encouraged and supported you along the way.

Our wish is that you will use your knowledge and understanding to improve the quality of life in your community and to advance the common good.

Our faculty, administrators and trustees are proud of you.

Thank you for allowing us to share in this very special time and Go Green.

- [Graduates] Go White.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, Trustee Byron.

I would now like to present the members of the platform party who will not be coming forward to the microphone.

All of them fulfill a very important series of university jobs and join us this afternoon to celebrate our graduates accomplishments.

Please remain standing as your name is read and I ask the audience to hold your applause until all are introduced.

Norman Beauchamp, executive vice president for health sciences.

Bill Beekman, vice president for strategic initiatives.

Jabbar Bennett, vice president and chief diversity officer.

Pero Dagbovie, associate provost for graduate and post-doctoral studies and dean of the graduate school.

Vennie Gore, senior vice president for student life and engagement.

Emily Guerrant, vice president for media and public information and university spokesperson.

Mark Largent, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies.

Nick McLaren, executive director of the MSU alumni office.

Joseph Salem, dean of libraries and interim associate provost for teaching and learning innovation.

Eric Scorsone, secretary to the board of trustees.

Kim Tobin, vice president for university advancement.

Dave Weatherspoon, associate provost for enrollment and academic strategic planning.

Melissa Woo, executive vice president for administration and chief information officer.

And Karen Kelly-Blake, associate professor, chairperson of the faculty Senate, MSU academic governance and the university may sparer.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

And now deans of the degree granting colleges, please stand and remain standing as you are introduced.

Kelly Millenbah, interim dean College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

(audience applauding) Dylan AT Miner, interim dean Residential College in the Arts and Humanities.

(audience applauding) Christopher Long, dean College of Arts and Letters and dean of the Honors College.

(audience applauding) Sanjay Gupta, dean the Eli Broad College of Business.

(audience applauding) Eric Hunter, associate dean College of Communication, Arts and Sciences.

(audience applauding) Kristy Dumont, director of undergraduate student affairs, College of Education.

(audience applauding) Leo kempel, the College of Engineering.

(audience applauding) Cameron Thies, dean James Madison College.

(audience applauding) Kendra Spence Cheruvelil, dean Lyman Briggs College.

(audience applauding) James Forger, dean College of Music.

(audience applauding) Philip Duxbury, dean College of Natural Science.

(audience applauding) Lee Small, interim dean College of Nursing.

(audience applauding) Andrea Amalfitano, dean College of Osteopathic Medicine.

(audience applauding) And Mary Finn, dean College of Social Science.

(audience applauding) And now I am pleased to invite graduating senior Danielle McClain from the college of social science to deliver the student's address.

Danielle was selected by the Senior Class Council to represent you the class of 2022.

Danielle.

(audience applauding) - To President Stanley, Provost Woodruff, the board of trustees, respective deans, faculty, staff, the indigenous Anishinaabe, The Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Ottawa and Bodewadmi people whose ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands Michigan State University occupies, distinguished guests and my fellow graduates, greetings.

My name is Danielle McClain and it is an honor to stand before you at this moment.

Today, I will be graduating from this illustrious institution with a BS in political science and a minor in African American studies and matriculating to Georgetown University Law School with plans to serve and advocate for a global community as an international human rights attorney.

(audience applauding) It's been a journey for sure but I'm immensely grateful for all of my experiences at this university.

And I would be remiss if I did not extend gratitude, thanks and appreciation to my mother, all my family and friends and my phenomenal support system.

(audience applauding) To every graduate under the sound of my voice, I say congratulations.

Today is the day that all your hard work has finally paid off.

Today is the culmination of every late night spent studying and every frantic call to friends and family when you didn't know how you were gonna make it through until you did.

Today is the reward for all the times you put in the work, to achieve your goals and all of the obstacles you've overcome to attain your successes.

Today is the day we have been looking forward to for the last few years of our lives.

Class of 2022, we made it.

(audience applauding) As I look out into the audience, I see so many faces.

I see so many graduates who while we all may have different stories, experiences, perspectives, identities, and paths, all bleed green and white.

We are all Spartans and we will all forever be Spartans.

You see, Spartans are resilient.

We keep working towards our goals no matter how much adversity we face.

Spartans are exceptional, strong and tenacious.

We stand up for what's right and we fight each day to be the best we can be.

This is how you made it here today.

And this is what will carry you through all the chapters your lives may bring in your bright futures.

MSU is your community and what a community to call home.

Whatever path your destiny may take you on, you can always have pride in the fact that your experience on this beautiful campus played a monumental role in shaping who you are and who you will become.

Spartans, we will never forget the moments of our lives that happened here.

We will always hold in our hearts and minds what it felt like the first time we stepped on campus and it seemed so big and confusing until we conquered it.

We won't forget the first time we had to get on the 30 or the 31 and couldn't believe we would ever understand the CATA bus system until we figured it out.

We won't forget the interesting and challenging classes we took, the D2L assignments we scrambled to submit before deadlines or the friendships we were lucky enough to find which will last a lifetime.

We will never forget the first time we came to appreciate the tranquility of the Red Cedar River or the breathtaking beauty of this campus.

We will never forget the first time we ate in Broady, watched a game from the students section or tailgated for homecoming.

No matter which barriers may have presented themselves in your lives, you made it here today.

Discipline, perseverance and hard work have brought us to this point, so climb every mountain, remembering that you conquered this one.

Whatever the next phase of your life may carry you into, no matter how long it took you, you can have tremendous pride in the fact that during this phase of your life, you dedicated yourself to the pursuit of the education you have earned.

This degree is not just a piece of paper, it represents all of the knowledge you've accumulated through your experiences, all the life lessons you've learned throughout your time here, along with all the book knowledge you carry in your brilliant minds.

As we move forward onto bigger and better things, may we all remember the sacrifices that we've made, all the Ls we took and allow them to encourage us and mold us into better people.

I believe true power is being able to turn the negativity the world may pour into you into positivity that you pour into others.

Anyone can take negativity which they have received and put it back into the world but true strength is being able to transform darkness into light within yourself and spread it to others.

Spartans, I challenge you to move forward in love, power, strength, courage, and knowledge to make your Spartan footprint impactful wherever you may ascend to.

May the class of 2022 leave a bright green mark on the world because that's what we do as Spartans, we prevail.

So when you have a hard day, remember all the hard days you got through to be able to sit where you are sitting today.

Remember all the good ones that came after.

And as my mother always said to me growing up, remember that if you have the desire, dedication, and determination, you can achieve any goal you set your mind to.

Spartans Will.

And though we are all going on our separate paths as individuals, I implore you to consider our collective passion, potential purpose and dreams.

While it may be the end of an era for us, it's the beginning of one too.

One that is going to be phenomenal.

The page is turning, your next chapter starts now.

So hug your families and friends a little tighter today.

Thank your crew.

Appreciate your people.

Be proud of your accomplishments.

Be fearless in the pursuit of whatever sets your soul on fire and celebrate yourselves.

We've got work to do Spartans, the future is now.

Let's go change the world.

(audience applauding) - Danielle, thank you so much.

That was just a brilliant and inspiring words and we also want to offer you happy birthday.

(audience applauding) The senior class has worked tirelessly in support of the Senior Class Gift Campaign.

The presentation of your class gift will be made by Maxim Jenkins and Sammy Liu.

(audience applauding) - Good afternoon class of 2021.

I hope you and your loved ones on this day are happy and excited for what's to come.

I'm Senior Class Council President Maxim Jenkins.

- And I am Senior Class Council Treasurer, Sammy Liu.

Good afternoon, everyone.

- On behalf of the Senior Class Council from ASMSU, the Associated Students of Michigan State University, congratulations on reaching the summit of the mountain and completing your courses of studies.

It took yeoman's effort to get here and you should rightly be proud of your accomplishments.

- As we prepare to start a new chapter, as we leave MSU, the Senior Class Council wanted to ensure the gift that we chose to donate today would affect real impact towards a cause that represents what it means when we say Spartan Will.

- In working to advocate for so many students, the Senior Class Council has seen and indeed themselves felt the many challenges and struggles that I'm sure many of you have also felt.

We stumbled together, we adapted together and we will cross the finish line today together.

You should all be so proud of your high achievements.

Congratulations, Spartans.

- As we stated earlier, the Senior Class Council picks a senior gift and chooses a charitable organization to donate that gift to.

Given how severe the pandemic has been on some communities more than the others, we wanted to ensure this donation will be able to support those who have been affected most by the pandemic.

Everyone involved in higher education knows of the pandemic's toll or many of us.

And as college students, the parents that supported them, faculty and the staff sit together here today in this space, I know you can emphasize with this statement.

- After months of difficult determination, we ultimately decided to make the class donation to the Diversity Research Network.

The initiative connects faculty of color and scholars interested in diversity research to create scholarly communities, facilitate new interdisciplinary collaborations and to advance the growth and visibility of research by underrepresented faculty as well as research on diversity across Michigan state.

- With this in mind, we are proud to award this check to President Stanley and to the institution.

We broke a record this year, raising the most funds since 2017 and we couldn't be prouder of this class for that.

(audience applauding) - The work only begins from this point.

As we go forward from this day, it is up to all of us to ensure a future where we all stand together, side by side, unafraid of the challenges before us because when no one else will, people the world over will hear our refrain when we say, Spartans Will.

Go Green.

- Go White.

(audience applauding) - Well, thank you so much Maxim and Sammy and to all of you, thank you so much class of 2022.

(audience applauding) Now we turn to the recognition of you, our graduates.

We wish to recognize 181 graduating seniors who completed their academic program successfully and have the distinction of maintaining the highest grade point average in the class, thereby meriting the Board of Trustees Award.

To be eligible for this award, at least three fourths of the credits for the degree must be earned in residents at Michigan State University.

All 181 recipients earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average at the close of the fall semester.

Will the students who are present, who are Board of Trustees recipients, please stand.

(audience applauding) To these students, we are proud of you and I hope you are also and take pride in the outstanding academic record that honors you and this university.

On behalf of your classmates, the faculty and the officers and trustees of the university, I extend our congratulations and best wishes.

Thank you, you may be seated.

(audience applauding) Next, I would like to recognize the students who earned major national and international scholarships and fellowships.

Will those esteemed students please rise.

(audience applauding) Congratulations and we bid you well as you continue on your journey from MSU.

Students who participated in and fulfilled the requirements of the honors college by completing enriched programs of study are identified as graduating with Honors College distinction and wear a white stole with an HC designation.

All students graduating as members of the Honors College, please stand and accept our congratulations.

(audience applauding) You may be seated.

Students who attain grade point average of at least 3.95 are awarded university high honor.

University honor is awarded to students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.82.

These honors are designated by the gold cord worn with the academic gown.

All students who are graduating with high honor and with honor, please stand and accept our congratulations.

(audience applauding) Thank you, you may be seated.

I would like to commend those who have worked diligently during the past year representing the senior class.

We congratulate each of you for your outstanding contributions to the class of 2022.

Members of the Senior Class Council, please stand so we may honor you and show appreciation.

(audience applauding) Students who are selected to represent their college by carrying the college banner in both the processional and the recessional, please stand and accept our appreciation and congratulations.

(audience applauding) In recognition of Michigan State's ongoing commitment to study abroad, I ask all graduates to stand who have had an international experience either by studying abroad or as an international student who has traveled from around the world to study at MSU.

(audience applauding) In recognition of students who served in leadership or service roles while here at MSU, I ask all graduates who participated in an organization such as Tower Guard, ASMSU or any other service organization to please stand and accept our thanks.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

Lastly, I would like to thank our sign language interpreters who are with us this afternoon, Emily Godeo and Katie Core.

Thank you very, very much.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, Provost Woodruff.

We are proud of the achievements of all of our graduates.

Your degrees will be conferred at your college commencement ceremonies.

Now members of the graduating class of 2022, please rise as you are able so that we can thank you again for being important part of MSU now and forever, please rise.

(audience applauding) You join a distinguished line of Spartans who have contributed so much to their families, communities, state, nation, and world in the last 161 years.

It's your turn.

I wish all your following days to be rewarding, productive, joyful, and loving.

I now invite you to join and singing the first stanza of the Alma Mater "MSU Shadows" which you will find in your program.

Ms. Miranda will lead us in the singing.

Following the singing, we request that students and guests be seated during the recessional of the platform party.

Thank you all so much for being here to help celebrate this very special day, thank you.

(audience applauding) ♪ MSU, we love thy shadows ♪ ♪ When twilight silence falls ♪ ♪ Flushing deep and softly paling ♪ ♪ Over ivy covered halls ♪ ♪ Beneath the pines we'll gather ♪ ♪ To give our faith so true ♪ ♪ Sing our love for Alma Mater ♪ ♪ And thy praises MSU ♪ (audience applauding) (bright orchestra music)