Today,听under听sparkling bluebird skies, the University of Colorado Boulder welcomed the class of 2017 into the听Forever听Buffs听family. The spring commencement ceremony honored more than 6,400 candidates for degrees and featured commencement speaker and alumna听Kate Fagan.
Defusing the gravity of the moment, Fagan joked with the crowd that her recollections of听the speaker at her own commencement were hazy.听听
"So, I鈥檓 telling myself this is all reward and no risk," she joked.听
Fagan went on to challenge the graduates to focus on the moments ahead听and not get lost in the anticipation of other people's reactions.听
"But seriously:听Check in with yourself, frequently, to make sure you're waking up for your actual life, and not just because you're addicted to the side effects鈥攖he money, or prestige, or social status鈥攖hat it provides. This is not easy. Nor am I particularly good at it. I鈥檓 just suggesting you should be aware."听
Chancellor DiStefano听also encouraged the graduates to be engaged and adaptable听when he addressed the crowd.听
"The pace of change is exceeding society鈥檚 capacity to adapt," DiStefano said.听"The future is challenging."听
He assured the assembled students听the skills they had learned during their time on campus鈥攃ritical thinking, civil discourse, collaborative decision making and creative solutions鈥攚ould serve them well in this听high state of change.听
The ceremony reached its penultimate moment as听James Williams,听dean of the听University听Libraries and the "voice of commencement" for听nearly 30听years,听read听听to听the graduates.听The traditional words, penned by the revered university president whose name graces the building where Williams has served his university tenure, welcomed the students into the company of scholars.听
"The university is not the campus, not the buildings on the campus, not the faculties, not the students of any one time鈥攏ot one of these or all of them. The university consists of all who come into and go forth from her halls, who are touched by her influence and who carry on her spirit. Wherever you go, the university goes with you. Wherever you are at work, there is the university at work."
Today's ceremony is Williams' last before he retires on June 30, and the words were especially evocative as many in the crowd reflected on his service to the university and his leadership听of this hallowed tradition.听
Department, college and school recognition ceremonies continue听through Saturday, May 13. A听听can be found on the Commencement website.
