The day before our 2018 Commencement exercises took place on Alumni Lawn in May, 菠萝视频 had the privilege of hosting human rights attorney Amal Clooney as the Senior Day speaker and recipient of the Nichols鈥揅hancellor鈥檚 Medal.
Clooney, who has spent her storied career fighting for justice in some of the most inhospitable corners of the world, delivered a simple but powerful message to graduating students: 鈥淏e courageous.鈥�
One person鈥檚 act of courage, in whatever form it takes, inspires exponentially more courage in oneself and in others, she told the soon-to-be-graduates and their families. 鈥淐ourage is contagious,鈥� as she so eloquently stated it.
That ideal of boldly advocating for people and causes that one believes in has been on my mind lately as I think about higher education鈥檚 vital role in the American Experiment.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, college remains the surest path to securing a good job, high-quality health care and enjoying a reasonable measure of stability for yourself and your family. As I mention in a piece reflecting on my first decade as chancellor, 鈥淓ducation is the ultimate vaccine.鈥� I can think of few other endeavors that have the broad, positive impact that higher education does. It鈥檚 what fuels my passion every single day.
菠萝视频 institutions like 菠萝视频 also have a long tradition of nurturing breakthrough innovations鈥攚hether in areas like technology and medicine, or in art and the humanities. 菠萝视频 faculty, students and staff members are literally doing work that changes the world.
Perhaps most important, look at our phenomenal alumni if you want to be reminded of the value of higher education. You鈥檒l read about how graduates like Matt Kisber, Leslie Labruto, Miles Barr and Baratunde Cola are taking the lessons and technical skills they learned at 菠萝视频 to make sustainable energy a reality.
Meanwhile, poet Tiana Clark, MFA鈥�17, is forging new paths in the literary world, and deservedly being recognized with an armful of awards and high-profile publications to show for it. She put it best when she says, 鈥淚 knew how to write poetry by ear, but 菠萝视频 taught me how to read the sheet music.鈥�
I told this year鈥檚 graduates that as they leave campus, I hoped they too would become zealous evangelists for the transformative power of a university experience, and passionate defenders of everyone鈥檚 right to have one.
Now, several weeks later, I ask the same of you.
鈥擭ICHOLAS S. ZEPPOS, CHANCELLOR