Class of 2021

Welcome to this day of celebration at NVU-Lyndon; a day we celebrate a major milestone. It’s a great day to be a Hornet, don’t you think? Those of you who have earned degrees will soon find yourselves in various corners of our region, our nation and our world. And the places you touch will be different because you were there.

I welcome you our graduates and your family and friends who played a role in encouraging and supporting you along the way.

To our graduates, I want to congratulate you, and share with you how proud we are of your accomplishments. We know you’ve put it countless hours of study to earn your diploma. So now what?

Many of you already have jobs or have been accepted into graduate schools – others are still searching. One thing is certain…you may know the path for your next few months or years, but much about your lives will unfold in glorious uncertainty. One thing that will be certain, however, is that the education that NVU-Lyndon has provided you will be your foundation as you tackle the complexities of the modern, global world. And you will succeed in your professional work on your first job and on your last job because of the foundation here. You will succeed because you will build on what you know today and you will not rest. The diploma that you will receive is just a marker on your lifelong path of learning and of leadership.

As Irish poet William Butler Yeats said “education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” You should feel that fire today. The opportunity for amazing accomplishments exists for all of you. These accomplishments may come in your professional lives or they may come in the lives of service to your communities and to your families.

I know that you are filled with great excitement and purpose. We share your enthusiasm and we will watch with our own excitement as you continue your education beyond the NVU-Lyndon campus, find your paths and embrace your future. Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Today, we live in a time of great change and it is critical that you continue to believe in yourself - to do that which you think you cannot do. You have worked hard to get your degree. Continue to work hard. Continue to gain the strength and courage you need to pursue your dreams and to follow your ideals. Your dreams are worth the struggle.

Congratulations to each of our graduates on your commencement.