RELAX, THEY'RE ALL
GOOD SEATS.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR
SEAT IMMEDIATELY,
THE CEREMONY IS
STARTING.
ROLL THE VIDEO.
[ MUSIC ]
GOTCHA!
936 ACRES.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES
UP THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT
THE UW IS MADE OF.
THIS IS AN
INSTITUTION THAT
PAYS NO ATTENTION
TO BOUNDARIES --
EXCEPT WHEN IT'S
PUSHING THEM.
WHERE OTHERS SEE
LIMITS, BADGERS SEE
NEW FRONTIERS --
AND ARE LIMITED
ONLY BY THE
IMAGINATION.
BECAUSE WISCONSIN
IS INSPIRED BY AN
IDEA -- THE
WISCONSIN IDEA.
HERE
COMES RON DAYNE!
"I SHALL NEVER BE
CONTENT UNTIL THE
BENEFICENT
INFLUENCE OF THE
UNIVERSITY REACHES
EVERY FAMILY OF THE
STATE."
A GUIDING
PHILOSOPHY -- THAT
DEFIES THE ODDS.
A CALLING -- TO GO
BEYOND.
IT'S WHAT DRIVES US
TO TAKE THE ROADS
LESS TRAVELED.
IT'S HOW WE CAN
UNEARTH A NEW
CHAPTER IN HUMAN
HISTORY.
IT'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN FOUR QUARTERS
OF FOOTBALL WEREN'T
ENOUGH.
IT'S HOW WE'RE
WIRED --
TO TUNE OUT THE
NAYSAYERS, SO
INNOVATIONS CAN BE
CHANNELED.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU
EXPLAIN A
UNIVERSITY THAT'S A
LEADING PRODUCER OF
FORTUNE 500 CEOS
AND PEACE CORPS
VOLUNTEERS.
MAYBE THE WISCONSIN
IDEAL IS A BETTER
WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
BECAUSE THE UW IS A
HOTBED FOR THOSE
WHO --
CHALLENGE THE
STATUS QUO --
STRIVE FOR THE
GREATER GOOD --
CHANGE THE WORLD.
BUT BREAKTHROUGHS
CAN'T HAPPEN IF
YOU'RE NOT WILLING
TO PUSH.
WITH THE WISCONSIN
IDEA AS OUR GUIDE,
EXPECT NOTHING
LESS.
BECAUSE BADGERS
KEEP CHARGING
FORWARD --
ALL WAYS FORWARD.
ON, WISCONSIN!
>> CAROLINE MATKOM:
MATKOM:WELCOME,
FRIEND, FACULTY,
AND FELLOW
GRADUATES.
MY NAME IS CAROLINE
MATKOM, THE SENIOR
CLASS VICE
PRESIDENT FOR THE
CLASS OF 2019.
WHOO!
ON BEHALF OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON,
I WELCOME YOU TO
THE 2019 SPRING
COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONY AT CAMP
RANDALL STADIUM!
(APPLAUSE)
TODAY IS TRULY
BITTERSWEET - IT
MARKS THE END OF A
CHAPTER FILLED WITH
HARD WORK AND GOOD
TIMES, BUT IT ALSO
TURNS US TO
UNWRITTEN PAGES,
WAITING ONLY TO BE
OVERFLOWED WITH
EVEN BRIGHTER
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
FONDER MEMORIES.
EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU IS
CELEBRATING THE
UNIQUE MARK YOU
HAVE LEFT ON
CAMPUS.
THE RELATIONSHIPS
YOU CREATED, THE
COMMUNITIES YOU
IMPACTED AND THE
ADVERSITY YOU
OVERCAME, HAS BUILT
YOU INTO WHO YOU
ARE TODAY.
BUT AT TODAY'S
CEREMONY, WE WON'T
JUST BE CELEBRATING
YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE
ARE ALSO MARKING A
MAJOR MILESTONE:
THE 150TH
ANNIVERSARY OF
WOMEN RECEIVING
UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREES FROM
UW-MADISON.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
FROM 1869 ONWARDS,
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
HAVE TRANSFORMED
OUR UNIVERSITY TO
MAKE IT A BETTER
PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
OUR 2019 SENIOR
CLASS GIFT SERVES
AS A COMMITMENT TO
HONORING THESE
WOMEN.
THROUGH GRADUATE
AND DONOR
CONTRIBUTIONS, A
PERMANENT STATUE
CALLED "THE
MONARCH" HAS BEEN
CREATED TO
PHYSICALLY EMBODY
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
IN WISCONSIN AND
THE WORLD.
STATUE
PLACED IN IN
MEMORIAL
UNION
HAMMEL
FAMILY BROWSING
LIBRARY AND IS OPEN
FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.
REMAINING PROCEEDS
WERE DONATED TO THE
"IN HER HONOR"
FUND, A
CHANCELLOR'S
DISCRETIONARY FUND
DESIGNATED FOR
CAMPUS PROGRAMS
THAT PROMOTE GENDER
EQUITY.
OUR SENIOR CLASS
GIFT WILL LEAVE A
LASTING LEGACY TO
HONOR THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF
WOMEN OVER THE PAST
150 YEARS AND FOR
THE NEXT 150 TO
COME.
SPEAKING OF
LEGACIES AT
UW-MADISON, OUR
OPENING PERFORMANCE
GROUP HAS
CELEBRATED 22 YEARS
ON CAMPUS.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
ATTENDED SIX OF
THEIR SHOWS, I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY
THESE MEN ARE
FAMOUS FOR THEIR
DROP INS AT THE
WHITE HOUSE,
IMPECCABLE CHARM
AND OF COURSE,
THOSE RED BLAZERS.
SINGING "SWEET
CAROLINE," A
PERSONAL FAVORITE,
PLEASE WELCOME THE
MADHATTERS!
>> HOW IS IT GOING,
GRADUATES?
WHERE IT BEGAN, I
CAN'T BEGIN TO
KNOWING
BUT NOW I
KNOW IT'S
GOING
STRONG WAS IT THE
SPRING, THEN SPRING
BECAME THE SUMMER,
WHO'D HAVE BELIEVED
WE'D COME
ALONG
HANDS, TOUCHING
HANDS
REACHING OUT,
TOUCHING ME,
TOUCHING YOU
SWEET CAROLINE
CAROLINEBA BA BA
GOOD TIMES NEVER
SEEMED SO GOOD
I'VE
BEEN INCLINED
TO BELIEVE THEY
NEVER WOULD
AND NOW
I'M ...
>> ALL RIGHT, GUY,
FIRST OF ALL,
CONGRATULATIONS,
EVERYBODY!
WE'RE GOING TO SING
THIS 99 MORE TIMES!
SWEET CAROLINE,
BA BA BA, GOOD
TIMES NEVER SEEM SO
GOOD.
I'VE BEEN INCLINED,
J.J. WATT, TO
BELIEVE THEY NEVER
WOULDN'T, AND NOW
WE'RE DONE!
THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH.
WE'RE THE
MADHATTERS.
HAPPY GRADUATION!
>> PLEASE RISE FOR
THE 2019 SPRING
COMMENCEMENT
ACADEMIC
PROCESSIONAL.
THE PROCESSIONAL IS
LED BY JEFF GORSKI
AN ALUM FROM THE
CLASS OF 1969, AND
A MEMBER OF THE
HALF-CENTURY
BADGERS -- A PROUD
REPRESENTATIVE OF
ALL OUR BADGERS
AROUND THE WORLD.
[TRUMPETS]
(BAND PLAYING
PROCESSIONAL MUSIC)
PLEASE REMAIN
STANDING FOR THE
SINGING OF OUR
NATIONAL ANTHEM,
PERFORMED BY MASTER
OF MUSIC, VOCAL
PERFORMANCE, CLASS
OF 2019 DEGREE
CANDIDATE, SHADDAI
SOLIDUM.
O, SAY, CAN YOU SEE
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY
LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE
HAIL'D
AT THE TWILIGHT'S
LAST GLEAMING
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES
AND BRIGHT STARS
THRO' THE PERILOUS
FIGHT
O'ER THE RAMPARTS
WE WATCH'D, WERE SO
GALLANTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKETS'
RED GLARE
THE BOMBS BURSTING
IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THRO'
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)
>> PROVOST
MANGELSDORF:
GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO CAMP
RANDALL STADIUM AND
TO THE 2019 SPRING
COMMENCEMENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON!
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE
TO HONOR AND
CONGRATULATE
TODAY'S GRADUATES -
THE CLASS OF 2019.
(APPLAUSE)
WE BROUGHT
COMMENCEMENT BACK
TO CAMP RANDALL
FIVE YEARS AGO,
RE-ESTABLISHING A
LONG-TIME
TRADITION.
IT'S GREAT TO BE
GATHERED IN ONE
PLACE WITH ALL OF
THE GRADUATES AND
THEIR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS.I APOLOGIZE
THE FOR WEATHER.
YOU WOULD THINK AS
THE BIRTH PLACE OF
WEATHER SATELLITE
TECHNOLOGY THAT WE
WOULD HAVE SOME
CONTROL OVER THESE
THINGS.
BUT, AT LEAST IT'S
NOT
SNOWING!
AT THIS TIME, IT'S
MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU
THE MEMBERS OF OUR
OFFICIAL PARTY.
I'M GOING TO ASK
EACH OF THEM TO
RISE WHEN THEIR
NAME IS CALLED AND
REMAIN STANDING.
AND I'LL ASK THE
AUDIENCE TO PLEASE
HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL ALL MEMBERS
OF THE PARTY HAVE
BEEN INTRODUCED.
REBECCA BLANK,
CHANCELLOR
JOHN BEHLING,
PRESIDENT, UW
SYSTEM BOARD OF
REGENTS
CORA MARRETT,
ALUMNA SPEAKER
WILLIAM KARPUS,
DEAN OF THE
GRADUATE SCHOOL
KATHRYN
VANDENBOSCH, DEAN
OF THE COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND
LIFE SCIENCES
IAN ROBERTSON, DEAN
OF THE COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
J.J. WATT, KEYNOTE
SPEAKER
(APPLAUSE)
YOU ARE ALLOWED
THAT EXCEPTION.
THAT'S FINE.
DIANA HESS, DEAN OF
THE SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION
MARGARET RAYMOND,
DEAN OF THE LAW
SCHOOL
KARL SCHOLZ, DEAN
OF THE COLLEGE OF
LETTERS AND SCIENCE
SOYEON SHIM, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
HUMAN ECOLOGY
STEVEN SWANSON,
DEAN OF THE SCHOOL
OF PHARMACY
SCOTT OWCZAREK,
REGISTRAR
RAYMOND TAFFORA,
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
LEGAL AFFAIRS
CHARLES HOSLET,
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
UNIVERSITY
RELATIONS
LORI REESOR, VICE
CHANCELLOR FOR
STUDENT AFFAIRS
BARRY GERHART,
INTERIM DEAN OF THE
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
LINDA SCOTT, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
NURSING
(CHEERING)
RONALD STEINHOFF,
SENIOR CLASS
PRESIDENT
CAROLINE MATKOM,
SENIOR CLASS VICE
PRESIDENT
MACKENZIE RABAS,
SENIOR CLASS EVENTS
DIRECTOR
MARA MATOVICH,
SENIOR CLASS
COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR
ZACH KALYMAN,
SENIOR CLASS
PHILANTHROPY
DIRECTOR
LAURENT HELLER,
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION
NORMAN DRINKWATER,
INTERIM VICE
CHANCELLOR FOR
RESEARCH AND
GRADUATE EDUCATION
PATRICK SIMS,
DEPUTY VICE
CHANCELLOR FOR
DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION
MARK MARKEL, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE
ROBERT GOLDEN, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH
ARGYLE WADE,
INTERIM DEAN OF
STUDENTS
JEFFREY RUSSELL,
DEAN OF THE
DIVISION OF
CONTINUING STUDIES
KARL MARTIN, DEAN
OF EXTENSION
PAUL ROBBINS, DEAN
OF THE NELSON
INSTITUTE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
GUIDO PODESTA, VICE
PROVOST AND DEAN OF
THE INTERNATIONAL
DIVISION
JOHN BALDACCHINO,
DIRECTOR OF THE
DIVISION OF THE
ARTS
SARAH SCHUTT,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE WISCONSIN
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
RICHARD AMASINO,
PROFESSOR OF
BIOCHEMISTRY, AND
CHAIR OF THE
UNIVERSITY
COMMITTEE OF THE
FACULTY SENATE
STEVE SMITH,
SECRETARY OF THE
FACULTY
AT THIS TIME, I'D
ALSO LIKE TO THANK
THE MEMBERS OF OUR
FACULTY WHO ARE
PRESENT, AND ASK
THEM TO STAND.
(APPLAUSE)
AND FINALLY, THE
GRADUATES WHO WERE
CHOSEN BY THEIR
DEAN TO REPRESENT
THEIR SCHOOL OR
COLLEGE BY CARRYING
ITS FLAG IN THE
ACADEMIC
PROCESSION, PLEASE
STAND.
(APPLAUSE)
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO
INTRODUCE REBECCA
BLANK, CHANCELLOR
OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON.
(APPLAUSE)
LAST SUMMER,
CHANCELLOR BLANK
CELEBRATED HER 5TH
ANNIVERSARY OF
LEADING THIS GREAT
UNIVERSITY.
SHE IS AN
INTERNATIONALLY
RESPECTED ECONOMIST
WHO HAS ALSO SPENT
TIME IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., WORKING IN
THREE DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATIONS.
MOST RECENTLY SHE
WAS DEPUTY
SECRETARY AND
ACTING SECRETARY OF
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE UNDER
PRESIDENT OBAMA,
PRIOR TO HER
SELECTION TO LEAD
THIS UNIVERSITY IN
2013.
CHANCELLOR BLANK
RECEIVED HER
UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREE IN ECONOMICS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA AND
HOLDS A DOCTORAL
DEGREE IN ECONOMICS
FROM M.I.T.
SHE HAS SERVED ON
THE FACULTY AT
PRINCETON,
NORTHWESTERN AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN, WHERE SHE
ALSO SERVED AS DEAN
OF THE GERALD R.
FORD SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC POLICY.
AS CHANCELLOR, SHE
HAS COMMITTED
HERSELF TO
MAINTAINING THE
UNIVERSITY'S
POSITION AS ONE OF
THE WORLD'S TOP
CENTERS FOR
DISCOVERY AND
RESEARCH --
EDUCATING STUDENTS
TO COMPETE IN A
GLOBAL ECONOMY --
AND HELPING UW
EXPERTS TO SHARE
KNOWLEDGE AND
INNOVATION WITH THE
STATE, THE NATION
AND THE WORLD --
WHAT WE CALL THE
WISCONSIN IDEA.
PLEASE WELCOME
CHANCELLOR REBECCA
BLANK.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR
BLANK:
GOOD AFTERNOON.
EVERYONE WELCOME TO
CAMP RANDALL
STADIUM,
THE 166TH SPRING
COMMENCEMENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN AT
MADISON.
TODAY, 7,881--
PLUS OR MINUS --
BACHELOR'S,
MASTER'S, AND LAW
DEGREE CANDIDATES
WILL BECOME ALUMNI
OF ONE OF THE
WORLD'S GREATEST
UNIVERSITIES -
MAKING THE CLASS OF
2019 QUITE POSSIBLY
THE LARGEST IN OUR
HISTORY!
(APPLAUSE)
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
- YOU HAVE THE BEST
SEATS IN THE HOUSE
- WHERE FANS HAVE
BEEN CHEERING ON
THE BADGERS FOR 102
YEARS
-- JUST FOR THE
RECORD, THAT FIRST
GAME IN CAMP
RANDALL WAS A
SHUTOUT:  WE
TROUNCED THE
UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA.
(APPLAUSE)
TODAY THESE SEATS
ARE FILLED WITH
LOYAL SUPPORTERS
WHO HAVE HELPED
TODAY'S STUDENTS
ARRIVE AT
GRADUATION.
LET'S GIVE YOUR
FRIENDS AND
FAMILIES A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
FOR EVERYTHING THAT
THEY'VE DONE.
(APPLAUSE)
THE CLASS OF 2019
HAS LEFT ITS MARK
AT THE UNIVERSITY.
THIS CLASS HAS SET
NEW RECORDS FOR
COMMUNITY SERVICE
AND HELPED MAKE
UW-MADISON THE #1
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
IN THE NATION FOR
STUDENTS STUDYING
ABROAD.
TOGETHER --
AND I HAVE HELPED
YOU ON THIS --
WE'VE EATEN 400,000
GALLONS OF BABCOCK
ICE CREAM IN YOUR
TIME HERE --
YOU'VE BATTLED FOR
BASCOM IN EPIC
SNOWBALL FIGHTS --
AND WHEN MADISON
GOT COLDER THAN
ANTARCTICA FOR A
FEW DAYS LAST
WINTER, YOU BUILT
IGLOOS --
LEARNED THE TERM
'FROST QUAKE' --
AND A FEW OF YOU
EVEN FIGURED OUT
THAT TOSSING
BOILING WATER INTO
VERY COLD AIR
CREATES SNOW.
AND JUST THIS
SPRING, YOU WATCHED
THE BADGER WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAM WIN THE
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP!
(APPLAUSE)
THEY ARE GREAT
ATHLETES AND GREAT
STUDENTS.
AND
THE CO-CAPTAINS AND
ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
OF THAT TEAM ARE
GRADUATING TODAY --
ANNIE PANKOWSKI AND
SOPHIA SHAVER
ALONG WITH EMILY
CLARK AND MADDIE
ROLFES.
ROLFES.CONGRATULATI
ONS TO ALL OF THEM.
(APPLAUSE)
FOR SOME TODAY'S
COMMENCEMENT IS
BITTERSWEET.
THERE ARE MEMBERS
OF THIS CLASS WHO
PASSED AWAY BEFORE
GRADUATION.
THEY WERE FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES AND
WE PAY TRIBUTE TO
THEIR MEMORY AS
WELL.
2019 MARKS AN
HISTORIC
ANNIVERSARY AT UW.
150 YEARS AGO, IN
1869, THE FIRST
WOMEN EARNED
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN BEEN
THERE WERE SIX OF
THEM:
CLARA BEWICK
ANNA HEADEN
JANE NAGLE
HELEN NOBLE
ELIZABETH SPENCER
AND ELLA URSULA
TURNER
WE HONOR THEM FOR
FOR THEIR
EXTRAOLDER
INDIVIDUAL
ACHIEVEMENTS BUT
ALSO AS
TRAILBLAZERS FOR
GENERATIONS OF
EXTRAORDINARY UW
WOMEN.
SOME OF WHOM YOU'LL
MEET IN JUST A FEW
MINUTES IN OUR
VIDEO.
WOMEN LIKE:
SISTER MARY KENNETH
KELLER A ROMAN
CATHOLIC NUN WHO IN
1965 BECAME THE
FIRST PERSON IN THE
UNITED STATES TO
EARN A
PH.D. IN COMPUTER
SCIENCES.
AND SHE DID IT
RIGHT HERE AT UW.
(APPLAUSE)
SISTER MARY KENNETH
WAS A FIERCE
ADVOCATE FOR
BRINGING MORE WOMEN
INTO COMPUTER
SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY FIELDS.
MABEL WATSON RAIMEY
THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMAN TO GRADUATE
FROM UW.
(APPLAUSE)
SHE EARNED HER
DEGREE 101 YEARS
AGO AND WENT ON TO
BECOME THE FIRST
BLACK WOMAN LAWYER
IN WISCONSIN.
SHE WAS A ROLE
MODEL FOR HUNDREDS
WHO FOLLOWED HER.
(APPLAUSE)
AND ETHEL KULLMAN
ALLEN, A THREE-TIME
UW ALUMNA WHO DID
GROUNDBREAKING
BOTANY RESEARCH
HERE IN THE 1930S
AND HELPED TO
CREATE ONE OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL
SPOTS ON THIS
CAMPUS - THE ALLEN
CENTENNIAL GARDENS.
(APPLAUSE)
THESE REMARKABLE
WOMEN AND SO MANY
MORE - INCLUDING
THE MULTI-TALENTED
CORA MARRETT, WHO
WILL SHARE HER
STORY LATER IN THIS
PROGRAM - ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR HISTORY.
THEIR WORK HAS
SHAPED THIS
UNIVERSITY, THIS
STATE, AND OUR
NATION.
BUT OUR CELEBRATION
IS ABOUT MORE THAN
ANY SINGLE
ANNIVERSARY EVENT
OR INDIVIDUAL
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
IN RECOGNIZING OUR
WOMEN ALUMS AT UW,
WE ARE CELEBRATING
OPPORTUNITY - AN
OPENING UP OF
POSSIBILITIES THAT
THOSE FIRST
WOMEN EXPERIENCED
AND THAT MANY OF
OUR GRADUATES,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR
GENDER, EXPERIENCE
IN THEIR TIME HERE.
EVERY ONE OF YOU
CAME TO UW WITH
YOUR OWN DREAMS,
AND YOUR OWN UNIQUE
STORY.
YOU BROUGHT YOUR
OWN SKILLS AND
TALENTS AND
INTERESTS.
AND EACH OF YOU HAS
HAD DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES HERE.
BUT THERE IS ONE
THING I HOPE EVERY
ONE OF YOU
DISCOVERED ON THIS
CAMPUS.
IT'S THE SAME THING
THOSE FIRST SIX
WOMEN
FOUND HERE 150
YEARS AGO.
BY IDENTIFYING
SKILLS, PASSIONS
AND ABILITIES YOU
MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN
YOU POSSESSED, YOU
DISCOVERED
OPPORTUNITY.
AND TODAY, WE
CELEBRATE SOME OF
THE EXTRAORDINARY
THINGS YOU'VE DONE
WITH THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
FOR
INSTANCE,
WHEN LEAH JOHNSON
SAW WAYS TO MAKE
OUR CAMPUS MORE
SUSTAINABLE, SHE
CO-FOUNDED CLEAN -
CAMPUS LEADERS FOR
ENERGY ACTION NOW.
LEAH AND CLEAN HAVE
PLAYED A ROLE IN A
NUMBER OF CHANGES,
FROM INSTALLING
BOTTLE FILLERS ON
WATER FOUNTAINS TO
BRINGING IN OUR
FIRST-EVER DIRECTOR
OF SUSTAINABILITY.
LEAH ALSO
SPEARHEADED A
CLOTHING SWAP THAT
IS NOW ON ITS THIRD
YEAR BRINGING IN
THOUSANDS OF ITEMS
FOR STUDENTS TO
EXCHANGE.
SHE HAS JUST
ACCEPTED A POSITION
AT AN INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTING FIRM IN
CHICAGO.
CHICAGO.CONGRATULAT
IONS, LEAH.
(APPLAUSE)
KENT MOK CAME TO
THIS COUNTRY FROM
THE PHILIPPINES
WHEN HE WAS 13.
HE DREAMED OF
BECOMING A DOCTOR,
BUT AFTER HIS
FATHER PASSED AWAY,
KENT WASN'T SURE HE
WOULD GET TO
COLLEGE AT ALL.
HE FOUND A WAY -
THANKS TO A POSSE
SCHOLARSHIP - AND
HE MADE A DECISION
TO DEDICATE HIMSELF
TO HELPING OTHERS
SUCCEED.
HE'S BEEN A
-- TODAY, HE
GRADUATED WITH
HONORS AND IS
APPLYING TO MEDICAL
SCHOOL.
(APPLAUSE)
ABBY CATANIA
CAME TO THE UW TO
STUDY
AGRICULTURAL AND
APPLIED ECONOMICS -
BUT SHE NOTICED
THAT THERE WERE FEW
STUDENTS OF COLOR
IN MOST OF HER
CLASSES, SO SHE DID
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
FIRST, SHE
ORGANIZED A PROGRAM
TO BRING STUDENTS
FROM ONE OF
MILWAUKEE'S
HIGHEST-POVERTY
HIGH SCHOOLS FOR A
THREE-DAY OVERNIGHT
ON CAMPUS TO LEARN
ABOUT THE THINGS WE
HAVE TO OFFER.
AND SECOND, SHE
TOOK $500 OUT OF
HER OWN SAVINGS TO
START A SCHOLARSHIP
FUND TO ENCOURAGE
MORE STUDENTS LIKE
HER TO PURSUE
MAJORS IN
AGRICULTURE.
SHE BROUGHT IN
OTHER DONORS, AND
THE FIRST ABAGAIL
CATANIA DIVERSITY
SCHOLARSHIP WAS
GIVEN LAST SUMMER.
SUMMER.CONGRATULATI
ONS, ABBY.
(APPLAUSE)
WE OFTEN SAY THAT
UW IS A PLACE THAT
CHANGES LIVES.
BUT THE UNIVERSITY
IS JUST A
COLLECTION OF
BUILDINGS ON A
 LAKE.
IT'S THE PEOPLE AT
THE UNIVERSITY WHO
CHANGE LIVES.
PEOPLE LIKE LEAH,
KENT, AND ABBY, AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU
WHO EMBRACED THE
OPPORTUNITY YOU
WERE GIVEN TO LEARN
FROM WORLD-RENOWNED
FACULTY -- AND THEN
SHARED THAT
KNOWLEDGE WITH
OTHERS TO HELP THEM
SUCCEED.
PARAGRAPH PRACH
THAT'S THE PROUD UW
MISSION OF OUTREACH
AND PUBLIC SERVICE
- WHAT WE CALL THE
WISCONSIN IDEA.
AND IT'S GIVEN YOU
OPPORTUNITIES TO
LEARN THINGS WE
SIMPLY CAN'T TEACH
IN A CLASSROOM.
THINGS LIKE HOW TO
BE RESILIENT WHEN
THINGS DON'T GO
WELL --
HOW TO ASK FOR HELP
WHEN YOU NEED IT --
AND HOW TO WORK
EFFECTIVELY WITH
PEOPLE WHO COME
FROM DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS --
AND HOW TO BE A
LEADER.
THOSE ARE SKILLS
EVERY ONE OF YOU
WILL NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN WORK
AND IN LIFE.
WHICH LEADS ME TO
OFFER YOU TWO
PIECES OF ADVICE.
FIRST, LEARN TO BE
UNCOMFORTABLE AT
TIMES.
REMEMBER WHEN BRYAN
STEVENSON CAME TO
CAMPUS?
MOST OF YOU WERE IN
YOUR FIRST YEAR
HERE WHEN WE READ
"JUST MERCY" AS OUR
GO BIG READ BOOK.
BRYAN TALKED ABOUT
WHAT HE'S LEARNED
FROM HIS WORK AT
THE SOUTHERN
POVERTY LAW CENTER.
ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT LESSONS
IS THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO ACCOMPLISH
REALLY IMPORTANT
THINGS ARE THE ONES
WHO CAN TOLERATE
DISCOMFORT.
HE SAID:
WE ALL LIKE TO SEEK
THE THINGS THAT ARE
COMFORTABLE RATHER
THAN UNCOMFORTABLE.
BUT, IF I WANT TO
CREATE JUSTICE,
THEN I HAVE TO GET
COMFORTABLE WITH
STRUGGLE.
THOSE FIRST SIX UW
WOMEN KNEW
SOMETHING ABOUT
GETTING COMFORTABLE
WITH STRUGGLE.
THEY HAD A HARD
TIME HERE.
THEY WERE
FRUSTRATED THAT
THEY COULDN'T TAKE
CLASSES FIRST THING
IN THE MORNING -
THEY HAD TO WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE
MEN'S CLASSES WERE
DONE.
THEY HAD TO DEAL
WITH SOME OF THE
MALE STUDENTS
TREATING THEM LIKE
THEY DIDN'T BELONG
HERE --
AND SOME OF THE
FACULTY OPENLY
QUESTIONING WHETHER
ADMITTING WOMEN
WOULD DILUTE THE
VALUE OF THE
DEGREE.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EASIER TO LEAVE.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU
HAVE HAD THAT SAME
FEELING.
BUT THEY DIDN'T RUN
AWAY - AND NEITHER
DID YOU.
YOU LEARNED TO HAVE
DIFFICULT
CONVERSATIONS.
YOU LEARNED TO
ADVOCATE FOR
YOURSELF.AND I HOPE
YOU'VE LEARNED HOW
TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE
AT TIMES.
IN THOSE MOMENTS
WHEN YOU STRETCH
BEYOND YOUR COMFORT
ZONE - THAT'S WHEN
YOU ARE MOST LIKELY
TO LEARN AND GROW.
GROW.SECOND PIECE
OF ADVICE.
KNOW WHO YOU ARE
AND BE THAT PERSON.
DON'T TRY TO BE
SOMEONE YOU ARE
NOT.
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS
TELLS THE STORY OF
COMING HERE AS AN
ENGINEERING MAJOR
AND STRUGGLING
DURING HIS FIRST
YEAR TO ADMIT TO
HIMSELF THAT HE
DIDN'T REALLY LIKE
ENGINEERING, AND
WASN'T VERY GOOD AT
IT.
WITH A LOT OF
INTROSPECTION AND
HELP FROM HIS
ADVISER, HE'S NOW A
VERY HAPPY SPEECH
PATHOLOGY MAJOR.
I
KNOW THAT SOME OF
YOU HAVE HAD
SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE.
COLLEGE ISN'T JUST
LEARNING ABOUT AN
ACADEMIC SUBJECT -
IT'S LEARNING ABOUT
YOURSELF.
AND LEARNING TO
ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE
RATHER THAN TRYING
TO BE SOMEONE ELSE.
YOUR STUDENT
SPEAKER TODAY WILL
SHARE HIS STORY
ABOUT TRYING TO
BECOME - AS HE PUTS
IT - A REAL PERSON,
RATHER THAN JUST A
HAPPY IMAGE ON
INSTAGRAM.
WHEN YOU'RE HONEST
WITH YOURSELF ABOUT
WHO YOU ARE, WHAT
YOU LOVE TO DO, AND
WHAT YOU ARE GOOD
AT, THAT'S WHEN YOU
ARE BEST PREPARED
TO MAKE THE RIGHT
CHOICES FOR YOUR
CAREER AND YOUR
LIFE.
I WANT TO CLOSE
WHERE I BEGAN -
WITH OUR FIRST SIX
WOMEN GRADUATES.
IN MANY WAYS, THEY
WERE NO DIFFERENT
THAN ALL OF YOU --
THEY CAME HERE FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE EDUCATED AT A
GREAT UNIVERSITY.
THEY WERE SHAPED BY
THE SAME ENDURING
VALUES THAT HAVE
GUIDED YOUR
WISCONSIN
EXPERIENCE.
AND THE LETTERS
THEY WROTE HOME
WEREN'T SO
DIFFERENT FROM THE
TEXT MESSAGES YOU
SEND TO YOUR
FAMILIES --
THOUGH I'M TOLD
THEY WERE ASKING
THEIR PARENTS FOR
THINGS LIKE A FRESH
BATCH OF PICKLES
AND A NEW SLOP
BUCKET.
CLARA BEWICK WAS
THE VALEDICTORIAN
OF THAT GROUP OF
SIX - YOU CAN READ
ABOUT HER IN YOUR
PROGRAM.
SHE BECAME A
JOURNALIST AND A
RENOWNED ADVOCATE
FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
AS HER GRADUATION
APPROACHED, SHE
WROTE A LETTER TO
HER GRANDPARENTS.
I WANT TO END WITH
A PASSAGE FROM THAT
LETTER.
SHE WROTE:
HOW STRANGE IT IS
THAT THE YEARS FLY
SO QUICKLY BY.
THE CLOSE OF EACH
YEAR BRINGS US TO A
STOPPING PLACE,
WHERE JUST FOR A
MOMENT WE MAY TARRY
AND GLANCE BACK
OVER THE ROAD WE
HAVE PASSED;
A MILESTONE
MEASURING OFF THE
PAST FROM THE
FUTURE,
THE ACTUAL FROM THE
IDEAL.
IT IS VERY PLEASANT
TO TURN TO A NEW
LEAF, AS YET CLEAN
AND BRIGHT.
SO "FORGETTING THE
THINGS WHICH ARE
BEHIND," WE WILL
"RUN WITH PATIENCE
THE RACE SET BEFORE
US."
I WISH YOU ALL THE
BEST AS YOU TURN
OVER THE NEXT NEW
LEAF IN YOUR LIFE.
KEEP IN TOUCH.
LET US KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE DOING AND
HOW YOU'RE DOING.
AND REMEMBER TO
COME BACK AND
VISIT.
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN HERE IN
MADISON, AND I HOPE
THAT UW WILL ALL Z
ALWAYS BE PART OF
YOU.
I CAN'T WAIT TO
HEAR WHAT YOU
ACCOMPLISH IN THE
YEARS AHEAD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE CLASS OF 2019!
2019!AND ON
WISCONSIN!
(APPLAUSE)
IT IS MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE JOHN
ROBERT BEHLING,
PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM
BOARD OF REGENTS.
REGENT BEHLING
GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-RIVER
FALLS WITH A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE AND
ECONOMICS, AND
RECEIVED HIS LAW
DEGREE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN LAW
SCHOOL IN MADISON.
HE IS THE FIRST
REGENT PRESIDENT
FROM THE CHIPPEWA
VALLEY AREA, WHERE
HE IS AN ATTORNEY
WITH THE EAU CLAIRE
LAW FIRM OF WELD
RILEY.
HE SERVES AS THE
FIRM'S PRESIDENT
AND CHAIRS ITS
GOVERNMENT AND
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
PRACTICE.
EVEN AS HIS
TERM ON THE BOARD
OF REGENTS IS
COMING TO A CLOSE,
I WANT TO THANK HIM
FOR HIS SERVICE AND
FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING HIM.
(APPLAUSE)
>> REGENT BEHLING:
THANK YOU,
CHANCELLOR BLANK,
FOR THAT VERY KIND
INTRODUCTION.
IT'S ALWAYS A
PLEASURE TO BE BACK
ON CAMPUS.
WHEN PREPARING MY
REMARKS THIS
MORNING, MY SPOUSE
LOOKING OAMP MY
SHOALTDER, YOU WILL
BE SPEAKING AT THE
WORLD FAMOUS CAMP
RANDALL STADIUM,
ARE YOU NERVOUS?
I AM CONFIDENT.
FEEL GOOD.
THE CHANCELLOR SAID
OVER 50,000 PEOPLE
WILL BE IN
ATTENDANCE.
I SAID, I THINK I
GOT THIS.
I AM FEELING PRETTY
GOOD.
AND THEN SHE
SHOUTED OUT, J.J.
WILL BE THERE!
NOW I AM NERVOUS.
(LAUGHTER)
I KNOW WE ARE ALL
LOOKING FORWARD TO
J.J.'S PLANNED OR
UNPLANNED REMARKS
LATER TODAY. 
(LAUGHTER)
ON BEHALF OF THE
REGENT COLLEAGUES
IN THE UW SYSTEM, I
OFTEN EACH OF IT'S
GRADUATES SIN EAR
CONGRATULATIONS.
GRADUATING IS AN
IMPORTANT
MILESTONE.
I KNOW YOU ALL
WORKED VERY HARD TO
GET HERE TODAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE JUST
YESTERDAY I WALKED
AIR CROSS THE
STAGE.
IT'S NOW BEEN 20
YEARS, BUT TO THIS
DAY I KNOW THAT I
COULD NOT HAVE
WALKED AIR CROSS
THE STAGE WITHOUT
THE LOVER AND
SUPPORT OF MY
SPOUSE AND FAMILY
MEMBERS.
I KNOW FOR EACH
GRADUATE HERE,
THERE'S A SPOUSE, A
MOM, A DAD, A I
LOVE -- ALLOVED
ONE, FAMILY,
COLLEAGUE, THAT
HELPED GET THEM
THROUGH THE TOUGH
TIME.
GRADUATE, GIVE A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE
TO THAT SPECIAL
SOMEONE THAT IS
HERE WITH US TODAY.
(APPLAUSE)
JUST A FEW WORDS
ABOUT THE BOARD OF
REGENTS AND THE UW
SYSTEM.
THE UW SYSTEM
CONSISTS OF OVER
170,000 STUDENTS
AND # 4,000
EMPLOYEES, --
44,000 EMPLOYEES
AND TEMPERATURE
CAMPUSES.
 THE UW SYSTEM IS
TRULY ONE OF THE
ECONOMIC GENERATORS
OF THE MIDWEST. 
THE BOARD OF
REGENTS OVERSEES
THE SYSTEM,
18-MECHANIC BOARD,
APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR.
CONFIRMED BY THE
SENATE.
JOSEPH SEEING THE
UW SYSTEM.
THE LAST TWO YEARS
I HAVE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF SERVING
AS PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF REGENTS.
EACH DAY WHEN I
HAVE WOKE UP IN THE
LAST 24 MONTH, I AM
THRILLED, AMAZED AT
THE BRILLIANCE AND
ABILITIES OF OUR
GRADUATES.
THE MADISON CAMPUS,
OUR FLAGSHIP, IS
THE PRIDE AND JOY
OF WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU
TRAVEL OR TAKE YOUR
DEGREE, NO ONE CAN
TAKE IT AWAY FROM
YOU.
IT'S A DEGREE THAT
CARRY WORLD-WIDE
RECOGNITION,
RESPECT, AND
MOACHTS IMPORTANTLY
THESE -- AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY,
INTEGRITY.
AND ONE FINAL
POINT.
EVEN THOUGH THE
WORLD IS CHANGING
QUICKLY, ONE THING
THAT HAS NOT
CHANGED IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF
HIGHER EDUCATION, A
DEDICATED FACULTY,
LIKE WE HAVE AT
MADISON, INSPIRES
STUDENTS.
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH
EXPANDS
POSSIBILITIES AND
WHERE STUDENTS
ENCOURAGE EACH
OTHER.
UW-MADISON
EXEMPLIFIED THAT
WHEN HE WALKED
ACROSS THE STAGE 20
YEARS AGO, AND I
KNOW IT'LL CONTINUE
TO DO SO FOR
GENERATIONS TO
COME.
GRADUATES, I AM
VERY PROUD OF EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU.
THANK YOU FOR
CHOOSING UW, THANK
YOU FOR BEING BEING A
BADGER, AND ON,
WISCONSIN!
(APPLAUSE)
>> PROVOST:
THANK YOU, REGENT
BEHLING, FOR YOUR
REMARKS.
IT IS NOW MY
PLEASURE TO WELCOME
TO THE PODIUM THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE SENIOR CLASS,
CAROLINE MATKOM,
WHO WILL INTRODUCE
OUR KEYNOTE
SPEAKER.
CAROLINE IS A
MILWAUKEE NATIVE
WHOSE TIME ON
CAMPUS BEAUTIFULLY
ILLUSTRATES THE
GLOBAL REACH OF
UW-MADISON.
AS A JUNIOR, SHE
STUDIED ABROAD IN
SCANDINAVIA AND
TRAVELED TO ISRAEL
WITH OTHER STUDENT
LEADERS TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THE
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN
CONFLICT.
SHE IS THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT OF
PROJECT MALAWI, A
CAMPUS GROUP THAT
AIMS TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
WOMEN IN THE
AFRICAN COUNTRY,
AND SHE FOUNDED THE
UW-MADISON CHAPTER
OF CIRCLE OF
SISTERHOOD.
THE CHAPTER SO FAR
HAS RAISED $25,000
TOWARD ITS GOAL OF
$40,000 TO OPEN A
SCHOOL FOR YOUNG
WOMEN IN SENEGAL.
DURING HER TIME
WITH US, CAROLINE
HAS BEEN A POWERFUL
AMBASSADOR TO THE
WORLD, AND WE THANK
HER FOR PROVING YET
AGAIN THAT THE
WISCONSIN IDEA
EXTENDS FAR BEYOND
THIS STATE AND THIS
COUNTRY.
POST-GRADUATION,
CAROLINE WILL BE
JOINING GOOGLE'S
HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT IN
MOUNTAIN VIEW,
CALIFORNIA.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING CAROLINE
MATKOM.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CAROLINE MATKOM:
THANK YOU, PROVOST
IT IS TRULY AN
HONOR TO INTRODUCE
OUR KEYNOTE
SPEAKER, A FORMER
BADGER WHO HAS GONE
ON TO GREAT ACCLAIM
AS BOTH A
WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE
AND ONE OF THE MOST
SELFLESS, GENEROUS
PLAYERS IN THE NFL.
JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO, J.J. WATT WAS
PLAYING DEFENSIVE
END FOR UW RIGHT
HERE AT CAMP
RANDALL.
(APPLAUSE)
HE STARTED AS A
WALK-ON, BUT
THROUGH HARD WORK
AND PERSEVERANCE,
HE ROSE TO BECOME
THE TEAM'S MOST
VALUABLE PLAYER AND
THE 11TH OVERALL
PICK IN THE 2011
NFL DRAFT.
(APPLAUSE)
HIS STRONG
WISCONSIN WORK
ETHIC HAS CONTINUED
TO SERVE HIM WELL
IN THE NFL, WHERE
HIS TEAMMATES ON
THE HOUSTON TEXANS
HAVE NICKNAMED HIM
"THE MILKMAN,"
BECAUSE HE ALWAYS
DELIVERS.
(LAUGHTER)
HE'S QUICKLY BECOME
LEGENDARY,
CONSIDERED BY MANY
AS THE GREATEST
DEFENSIVE PLAYER
EVER.
BUT IT'S THE WAY
HE'S USED HIS NFL
STARDOM FOR GOOD
THAT REALLY SETS
HIM APART.
AS A COMMUNITY AND
NONPROFIT
LEADERSHIP MAJOR, I
AM PERSONALLY
INSPIRED BY THE
J.J. WATT
FOUNDATION, WHICH
FUNDS AFTER-SCHOOL
ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
IN
COMMUNITIES WHERE
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
HAVE BEEN LACKING.
HE STARTED THE
FOUNDATION WHILE
STILL A STUDENT
HERE.
TWO YEARS AGO,
AFTER HURRICANE
HARVEY DEVASTATED
HOUSTON, MR. WATT
LAUNCHED A
FUNDRAISING EFFORT
THAT HAS NOW RAISED
MORE THAN $41
MILLION FOR
HURRICANE RELIEF.
(APPLAUSE)
IT'S EFFORTS LIKE
THESE, COMBINED
WITH HIS SUPERIOR
ATHLETICISM, THAT
LED SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED TO NAME
HIM THE 2017
SPORTSPERSON OF THE
YEAR.
THE SAME YEAR, HE
RECEIVED THE WALTER
PAYTON NFL MAN OF
THE YEAR AWARD.
PLEASE HELP ME IN
WELCOMING TO THE
PODIUM THE MAN WHO
HAS BEEN CALLED A
BEAST ON THE FIELD
AND A SAINT OFF IT,
J.J. WATT.
(APPLAUSE)
>> J.J. WATT:
I BROKE IT.
SORRY.
HANG ON.
WE'RE FIXING IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOOD.
I THINK.
MADISON, IT IS
ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE TO BE
HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR HAVING ME IN
THIS BEAUTIFUL
CITY.
(APPLAUSE)
I'VE OBVIOUSLY
LIVED IN TEXAS FOR
THE LAST EIGHT OR
SO YEAR, AND IT'S
BAN FANTASTIC.
THE PEOPLE ARE
GREAT.
THE FOOD IS
DELICIOUS.
AND THEY LOVE
FOOTBALL, WHICH IS
OBVIOUSLY GOOD FOR
ME.
BUT I HAVE TO
ADMIT, THAT IT'S
GREAT TO BE BACK IN
A PLACE TO ORDER
FRIED CHEESE CURDS
AND CHOCOLATE
CUSTARD AND NOT GET
LOOKED AT LIKE I
HAVE THREE HEADS
PPS
(LAUGHTER)
I HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO SPREAD THE WORD.
FRIED CHEESE CURDS
DON'T CATCH ON.
I SAT DOWN TO A
FRIDAY FISH FRY,
WITH POTATO
PANCAKES AND A
DLIRNS SPOTTED COW.
D DELICIOUS SPOTTED
COW.  YEAH, YOU
HAVE HAD ONE OR
TWO
YOURSELVES, I KNOW.
YOU DON'T REALIZE
HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO GET SPOTTED COW
OUTSIDE OF THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN,
UNTIL YOU LIVE
OUTSIDE OF THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
EVERY TIME I COME
BACK HERE, I PACK
IT IN MY SUITCASE
AND SMUGGLE IT OUT
LIKE I A PABLO
ESCOBAR.
ANYONE HERE LIVING
IN TEXAS, MY FRIDGE
IS STOCKED!
IN OWE SERIOUSLY, I
AM EXTREMELY
HUMBLED AND HONORED
TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE PROVOST,
THE FACULTY, THE
SENIOR CLASS
OFFICIALS, AND, OF
COURSE, TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN
GRADUATING CLASS OF
2019.
(APPLAUSE)
WHEN I WAS FIRST
ASKED TO BE THE
COMMENCEMENT
SPEAKER --
WHEN
FIRST ASKED TO THE
COMMENCEMENT
SPEAKER, I HAD
MEDIA A COUPLE DAYS
AFTER.
A PRESS CONFERENCE
IN HOUSTON AND THE,
HAVE YOU WRITTEN
YOUR SPEECH YET,
AND I SAID, NO.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO VOLUNTARY ON THE
TOAL PROMPTER, AND
I SAID, NOTHING,
YOU CAN LEAVE IT
BLACK.
I DON'T CARE.
AND THEN PEOPLE
REACHED OUT.
MANY, MANY PEOPLE
REACHED OUT, AND
SAID, I WANT TO
HELP YOU WRITE YOUR
SPEECH.
PROFESSIONAL SPEECH
WRITERS WANTED TO
HELP ME WRITE THE
SPEECH.
WHATTER DO YOU
WANT.
I CAN WRITE IT FOR
YOU.
MY RESPONSE, AND I
HOPE I AM RIGHT, I
THINK THEY ASKED ME
TO BE THEIR
SPEAKER, BECAUSE
THEY WANT TO HEAR
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
NOT WHAT YOU HAVE
TO SAY.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU.
PARAGRAPH PRACH NOT
WHAT A SPEECH
WRITER CAN WRITE
FOR ME.
NOT WHAT I CAN SIT
DOWN AND WRITE OUT
OVER THE COURSE OF
MULTIPLE MONTHS
WHAT I THINK YOU
WANT TO HEAR.
I THINK, AND I
HOPE, THAT YOU WANT
TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED THROUGHOUT
MY TIME, AND WHAT
THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN TAUGHT
ME.
AND MY CAREER HAS
TAUGHT ME, AND SOME
OF THE THINGS I
HAVE BEEN THROUGH
IN MY LIFE HAVE
TAUGHT ME.
ONE PERSON ON
SOCIAL MEDIA, WHO I
ASSUME IS HERE
TODAY, REACHED OUT
AND SAID, HOW DARE
YOU?
I WORKED FOR FOUR
YEARS FOR MY
DEGREE.
HOW DARE YOU NOT
PREPARE FOR YOUR
SPEECH?
FIRST OFF, CALM
DOWN.
(LAUGHTER)
OKAY?
CALM DOWN.
I GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT?
JUST BECAUSE I
DIDN'T WRITE A
SPEECH DOWN DOES
NOT MEAN THAT I
DIDN'T PREPARE.
I SPENT TIME
WATCHING YOUTUBE
VIDEOS OF
COMMENCEMENT
SPEECHES FROM MANY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
(LAUGHTER)
JUST LIKE YOU, READ
A WHOLE LOT OF THE
WIKIPEDIA PAGES.
(LAUGHTER)
AND LAST NIGHT,
CRAMMED IT ALL IN
AND WROTE SOMETHING
DOWN ON THIS LITTLE
PIECE OF PAPER.
(LAUGHTER)
BUT I AM PREPARED
PPPED I DID THINK
IT THROUGH.
I WATCHED THE
VIDEOS, AND I
LEARNED A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THING.
ONE OF THING I SAW,
WAS THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE MADE LISTS.
LISTS OF LIFE RULES
AND GOALS AND
THINGS YOU SHOULD
FOLLOW.
AND I THOUGHT TO
MYSELF -- I DON'T
THINK I AM A LIST
GUY.
I DON'T KNOW IF I
AM GOING TO WRITE A
LIST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
THE AUDIENCE ARE A
HELL USKA LOT
SMARTER THAN IN HE
AND I SHOULDN'T
TELL THEM HOW TO
LIVE LIFE.
I WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT WAS DREAM BIG
AND WORK HARD.
STARTED MY
FOUNDATION AT THIS
UNIVERSITY AS A
JUNIOR.
I GOT A WHOLE LOT
OF HELP FROM THE
LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT
THIS SCHOOL.
THEY HELPED ME WORK
THROUGH THE 501 C 3
PAPER WORK, HOW TO
START A FOUNDATION,
AND DREAM BIG WORK
HARD WAS MY MOTTO.
I TRULY BELIEVE YOU
SHOULD HAVE AS BIG
OF DREAMS AS YOU
WANT IN THE WORLD.
NEVER LET ANYONE
TELL YOU YOU KARNLT
ACCOMPLISH THOSE
DREAM.
I ONCE HAD A
TEACHER THAT TOLD
ME MIRE DREAM OF
PLAYING IN THE NFL
ONE DAY WAS
UNREALISTIC.
WELL, HELLO.
(LAUGHTER)
I ALSO HAVE PEOPLE
WHO BELIEVED IN ME.
THEY HELPED ME TO
GET WHERE I WAS.
BE SURE TO HAVE AS
BIG AS DREAMS AS
YOU WANT TO HAVE,
AND DON'T LET
ANYONE TELL YOU
OTHERWISE.
TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE
DREAMS YOU MUST BE
WILLING TO PUT IN
THE WORK.
YOU MUST BE WILLING
TO PUT IN THE TIME,
THE EFFORT, THE
ENERGY, AND THE
SACRIFICES THAT IT
DAYS TO MAKE THE
BIG DREAMS COME
TRUE.
AND SO AS I SAT
THERE, AND I
STARTED GOING
THROUGH WHAT I
WANTED TO SAY TO
YOU TODAY, AND HOW
TO GET THE MESSAGE
ACROSS, I THOUGHT
TO MYSELF, WELL,
SON OF A GUN, IT
SOUNDS A AN AWFUL
LOT LIKE A LIST.
(LAUGHTER)
SO WHAT I HAVE IS
FOUR FOR YOU TODAY,
IS FOUR LESSONS ON
FOLLOWING MY
DREAMS.
I FOLLOWED MID
DREAMS TO WHERE I
AM TODAY, AND I
HAVE A WHOLE LOT
MORE THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO DO, BUT
ALONG THE WAY TO
THIS POINT, I HAVE
LEARNED A LOT, AND
I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE THAT WITH YOU
TODAY.
I GREW UP 45
MINUTES FROM THE
STADIUM, IN
PEWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN.
(CHEERING).
OKAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT
MANY PEOPLE IN THE
TOWN, SO I KNOW YOU
ARE LYING.
THANK YOU, I
APPRECIATE BEEN.
BORN IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN,
CHILDHOOD CLOSET
CONSISTSES OF GREEN
AND GOLD, RED AND
WHITE, AND CAMO.
(LAUGHTER)
MAYBE SOME BLAZE
ORANGE IN 2019.
I DON'T KNOW ...
I HAD THE OWE
OBLIGATORY BRETT
FARCH JERSEY BUT I
GRAVITATE TO THE
RED AND WHITE
WHITE.
I WANTED TO BE BE A
BADGER.
I DID THE SKATE AS
A BADGER.
WANTED TO BE A
HOCKEY PLAYER.
IT CHANGED TO
FOOTBALL.
CAME TO THE FIRST
FOOTBALL GAME IN
2005 IN THE
STADIUM.
I REMEMBER
EVERYTHING ABOUT
IT, JUST LIKE I AM
SURE YOU REMEMBER
EVERYTHING ABOUT
YOUR FIRST TIME ON
THIS CAMPUS OR AT
THIS STADIUM.
HOPEFULLY, I AM NOT
INVOLVED, BECAUSE
THAT WILL MAKE ME
FEEL REALLY OLD.
SOME GUY HERE TODAY
BROUGHT A PICTURE
OF ME, AND HE SAID
HE PAINTED IT WHEN
HE WAS IN EIGHTH
GRADE.
THAT HURT.
THAT HURT.
(LAUGHTER)
JUST TURNED 30, AND
I AM HAVING A TOUGH
TIME DEALING WITH
IT, GUYS.
(LAUGHTER)
ANYWAYS, THE FIRST
DAY HERE, CAME TO
THE GAME AND DID
THE TAILGATING.
CAN STILL SMELL THE
BRAT WAFTER.
CORN HOLT WE
PLAYERED AND CRISP
IN THE AIR, AND
IMAGINE CAL.
YOU ALL KNOW.
IT'S IMAGINE
CATHOLIC.
I COULD HEAR THE --
IT'S MAGICAL, AND
YOU COULD HEAR THE
BAND PLAYER.
SHOUT OUT TO
LECKRONE, 50 YEARS.
WHAT IS?
HELL, YEAH.
PARAGRAPH
(APPLAUSE)
I COULD FEEL THE
TRADITION, AND I
COULD KNEEL THE
HISTORY, THIS PLACE
HAS SOMETHING
SPECIAL ABOUT IT.
ON THAT DAY, JOHN
STOCCO IN THE
FOURTH QUARTER WITH
45 SECONDS LEFT, IN
THAT END ZONE, RAN
A QUARTERBACK DRAW
TO BEAT MICHIGAN.
I WAS SITTING OVER
THERE, IN THOSE
SEATS.
I THOUGHT TO
MYSELF, THIS IS IT.
THIS IS MY DREAM.
WHERE I WANT TO BE.
I AM A WISCONSIN
BADGER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE
COACHING STAFF
DIDN'T QUITE AGREE.
(LAUGHTER)
THEY SAID I WAS TOO
SMALL TO PLAY TIGHT
END AND DIDN'T HAVE
A SCHOLARSHIP FOR
ME.
IN FAIRNESS, I WAS
6'5" AND VERY
SKINNY AND LANKY.
LOOKED LIKE ONE OF
THOSE BLOW UP
THINGS AT A CAR
DEALERSHIP.
(LAUGHTER)
SO, I WENT TO
CENTRAL MICHIGAN.
I STARTED I MY
CAREER THERE AS A
TIGHT END.
A STARTER.
WON THE COLLEGE
CHAMPIONSHIP BUT
SOMETHING ALWAYS
FELT OFF.
I FELT I BELONGED
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I FELT THAT
SOMEWHERE ELSE WAS
HERE.
I WANTED TO BE A
BADGER.
HE I TRANSFERRED
IN, AND WALKED ON
TO THE UNIVERSITY.
MANY PEOPLE KNOW I
GLIFERRED PIZZAS TO
TRY TO MAKE MONEY
AND HELP OUT.
BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE
KNOW THIS STORY,
BECAUSE IMER PRETTY
SURE I DIDN'T TELL
THIS PUBLICLY.
THAT YEAR, I WALKED
ON TO WISCONSIN, I
WAS A MAINTENANCE
WORKER IN THE VERY
STADIUM.
YOU CAN ASK, ASK,
DICK, DARRYL, JEFF.
I DON'T KNOW IF
THEY STILT WORK
HERE.
I HOPE THEY'RE
STILL WITH US.
THE BEST GUYS.
I LOVE THEM.
INSIDE JOKES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE
GOOD.
WE WOULD CLEAN
SEATS, AND POWER
WASH THE FLOORS AND
PAINT THE RAILINGS.
I SPECIFICALLY
REMEMBER ONE DAY IN
SECTION AA,
PAINTING THAT
RAILING.
YEAH, I PAINTED IT,
SO DON'T MESS IT
UP.
YOU GET A 15 MINUTE
BREAK.
SAT THERE ON THE
BREAK, AND LOOKING
OUT OAMP THE EMPTY
FIELD, AND I
THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
IMAGINE RUNNING OUT
OF THAT TUNNEL.
IMAGINE BEING ON
THAT FIELD WEARING
THAT UNIFORM.
THAT IS MY DREAM.
AND EVERY DAY
DURING SPRING
PRACTICE TRAINING
CAMP, I WOULD GO UP
TO THAT OFFICE, AND
SEE THE BALCONY,
FIVE WINDOWS, WAS
CHARLIE PARTRIDGE'S
OFFICE, THE
DEFENSE, LINE
COACH.
I SWITCHED FROM
TIGHT END TO
DEFENSE.
AND AFTER DONE WITH
STARTERS AND
COACHES, AND LONG
AFTER EVERYBODY
WENT HOME, HE WOULD
GO OVER THE SCOUT
WITH ME.
SHOWING ME WHERE TO
PLACE MY HANDS AND
WHAT TOO LOOK FOR
IN OPPOSING
OFFENSES.
HE TAWGHTS ME HOW
TO PLAY THE
DEFENSIVE LINE.
I TELL YOU THIS FOR
TWO REASONS.
TO TELL YOU WHAT AN
HONOR IT IS TO BE
HERE TODAY.
I WAS SITTING IN
SECTION AA PAINTING
THOSE RAILINGS, I
COULDN'T EASTERN
HAVE DREAMED THAT I
WOULD BE STANDING
HERE IN FRONT OF
YOU AS YOUR
COMMENCEMENT
SPEAKER.
I TELL YOU THAT,
BECAUSE THAT'S THE
FIRST LESSON THAT I
LEARNED ABOUT
CHASING YOUR
DREAMS.
THE PATH TO YOUR
DREAMS OFTEN NEVER
GOES THE WAY YOU
IMAGINE IT WILL.
WHEN I DREAMED
ABOUT COMING FOR
WISCONSIN, I
DREAMED OF A
SCHOLARSHIP OUT OF
HIGH SCHOOL.
AND STARTING EARLY,
AND GOING IN AND
WINNING ROSE BOWLS,
AND THERE WERE NO
OBSTACLES AND
CHALLENGES.
OF COURSE, I NEEDED
TO DO THE WORK
OUT,
AND.
I DIDN'T IMAGINE
PAINTING RAILINGS
AS A WALK-ON.
THAT'S MY MESSAGE
TO YOU.
EVEN AT THIS POINT
IN YOUR LIFE, YOU
MAY NEVER HAVE
IMAGINED HOW THE
COLLEGE CAREER
WOULD GO.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
START IN THE MAJOR
YOU FINISHED.
TOUGH TIME,
ADVERSITY AND
OBSTACLES ALONG THE
WAY, BUT HERE YOU
ARE ACCOMPLISHING
ONE OF YOUR DREAMS.
IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT.
IT WILL NOT LOOK
THE WAY YOU WANT IT
TO LOOK.
BUT IN THE END, IF
YOU STAY FOCUSED,
STAY TRUE, IF YOU
HAVE THE PASSION
FOR YOUR DREAM, YOU
WILL GET THERE.
NO MATTER HOW
DIFFICULT THAT PATH
MAY BE.
THAT LEADS ME TO MY
SECOND LESSON THAT
I LEARNED, AND
THAT'S THAT NOBODY
ACCOMPLISHES THEIR
DREAM ALONE.
I IMPLORE YOU TO
FIND SOMEBODY ON
THE PLANET WHO HAS
ACCOMPLISHED THEIR
DREAMS WITHOUT THE
HELP OF ANOTHER
HUMAN BEING.
NOBODY DOES.
YOU NEED HELP.
BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE.
POSITIVELY, MY
PARENTS HELPED ME
FINANCIALLY WHEN I
WALKED ON HERE,
LEAVING A
SCHOLARSHIP BEHIND.
COACH PARTRIDGE
HELPED ME LEARNED
DEFENSIVE LINE.
I HAVE FAMILY,
PARENT, FRIENDS,
TEACHERS, COACHES,
TEAMMATES THAT HAVE
HELPED MED ALONG
THE WAY IN SO MANY
POSITIVE WAYS.
YOU MIGHT WONDER
HOW COULD YOU BE
NEGATIVELY HELPED?
IN 2011 I WAS
DRAFTED IN THE
FIRST ROUND BY THE
HOUSTON TEXANS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST
DAYS OF MY LIFE.
ONE DREAM HAD COME
TRUE.
I WAS ECSTATIC.
I HUGGED MID
FAMILY.
MY HIGH SCHOOL
COACHES WERE THERE
WITH ME.
THE PEOPLE WHO
HELPED GET ME THERE
WERE THERE.
AND THEN I WENT
BACK TO THE HOTEL
ROOM THAT NIGHT,
CHECKED THE PHONE,
AND WANTED TO SEE
WHAT TWITTER WAS
SAYING AND THE HOW
THE REACTION IN
HOUSTON WAS.
I CLIQUED THE VOOF
THE DRAFT PARTY AT
THE STADIUM IN
HOUSTON.
THE FIRST THING I
SAW WAS SOME DUDE
AT THE TOP OF HIS
LUNGS BOOING HIS
HEART OUT.
THEY SHOWED THE
VIDEO OF THE WHOLE
DRAFT PARTY.
THE WHOLE PLACE
BOOED ME EXCEPT FOR
TWO PEOPLE.
I REMEMBER WATCHING
THE VIDEO THINKING,
ALL RIGHT.
>> IT IS.
THAT'S MY
MOTIVATION.
YOU CAN TAKE
NEGATIVITY ONE OF
TWO WAYS.
I COULD HAVE SAID,
OH, NO, HOW DO I
WIN THESE PEOPLE
OVER?
THIS IS TERRIBLE
BEEN BUT INSTEAD I
SAID THIS IS MY
MOTIVATION.
MY ENTIRE GOAL IS
TO COME TO HOUSTON
AND TO WORK AND
EARN THOSE PEOPLE'S
RESPECT.
YOU CAN USE
NEGATIVE ENERGY TO
POWER YOUR DREAM.
THE MOST RECENT
EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE
HELPING ME CAME
WHEN MY 2016 AND
2017 SEASONS WERE
CUT SHORT BY
INJURY.
2016 I HAD A SECOND
BACK SURGERY THAT
ENDED THE SEASON.
2017 I BROKE MY
LEG.
IN BETWEEN THOSE
TWO THINGS, MY
GIRLFRIENDER TO HER
ACL.
I RECOVERED FROM MY
BACK INJURY ENOUGH
TO HELP HER WITH
HER ACL IN THE
BEGINNING.
THEN, AS SHE GOT
OFF CRUTCHES AND
STARTED TO WALK,
AND STARTED TO WEAR
A BRACE, I BROKE MY
LEG.
I COULDN'T WALK.
I HAD TO LAY ON THE
COUCH FOR TWO
MONTHS STRAIGHT AND
NOT WALK.
MY GIRLFRIEND, AND
STILL RECOVERING
FROM HER OWN ACL
INJURY, HAD TO TAKE
CARE OF ME.
REMEMBER
SPECIFICALLY
SITTING IN THE
KITCHEN ONE DAY AND
BROKE DOWN AND
CRIED.
I WAS DESK DEVASTATED.
IN TEARS, AND JUST
LET THEM THROW.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE THE ONE TAKING
CARE OF HER.
I AM SUPPOSED TO
BED ONE TAKING CARE
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
I AM NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE THE ONE OF
GETTING HELP.
THAT'S THE DAY I
LEARNED THAT NO
MATTER HOW BIG YOU
ARE, NO MATTER HOW
STRONG YOU ARE, NO
MATTER HOW TOUGH
YOU MAY BE,
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO
ASK FOR HELP AT
SOME POINT IN THEIR
LIVES.
WE ALL COULD USE A
HELPING HAND BEEN
WE ALL CAN USE --
(APPLAUSE)
WE ALL CAN HELP
SOMEBODY ELSE.
ON THE PATH TO YOUR
DREAM, YOU WILL NOT
DO IT ALONE.
YOU NEED THE HELP
OF SOMEBODY ELSE.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO
ASK FOR IT.
PERSONAL,
PROFESSIONAL,
WHATEVER IT MAY BE,
DON'T BE AFRAID TO
ASK FOR HELP.
AND, ALSO, DON'T BE
AFRAID TO LEND A
HELPING HAND TO
OTHERS.
THERE'S NO REASON
WE CAN'T ALL
ACCOMPLISH OUR
DREAMS AND THAT WE
CAN'T ALL HELP EACH
OTHER ACCOMPLISH
OUR DREAMS.
THE THIRD THING
THAT I REALIZED
THAT JUST AS YOU
CAN LEARN FROM
CHASING YOUR
DREAMS, YOU CAN
ALSO LEARN FROM
YOUR NIGHTMARES.
IN 2017, AUGUST,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST
STORMS IN U.S.
HISTORY HIT
HOUSTON.
THE CITY UNDER
WATER.
FLOODING, PEOPLE
LOSING HOMES AND
PEOPLE STRANDED.
MY TEAM WAS IN NEW
ORLEANS.
WE WERE FLYING
BACK.
WE GOT DIVERTED TO
DALLAS.
WE WERE STUCK AT
DALLAS AND COULDN'T
GET HOME.
ON TV, WE WATCHED
AS WE DROVE ON, THE
HOUSES WE KNEW, AND
EVERYTHING WAS
UNDERWATER.
WE HAD FAMILIES
STRANDED BACK
THERE, TEAMMATES
WITH WIVES,
CHILDREN, STRANDED
IN THEIR HOME.
THERE WAS NOTHING
WE COULD DO.
WE FELT HELPLESS.
I FELT HELPLESS.
THE CITY I LOVED,
THE CITY THAT
SUPPORTS ME WAS IN
NEED, AND I COULD
NOT HELP THEM.
I GOT MY CELLPHONE
OUT, AND SAT IN THE
HOTEL ROOM, AND I
ASKED SOCIAL MEDIA
IF IT WOULD HELP ME
RAISE $200,000.
I KNEW WHAT I WOULD
DO WITH $200,000.
I WAS GOING TO BUY
FOOD, WATER.
DIE PERS AND PAPER
TOWELS.
AND HELP IN NE WAY
I COULD.
I KNEW I WOULD DO
THAT.
IS IT STARTED TO GO
UP A LITTLE BIT,
AND UP, AND UP, AND
UP, AND IN THE END,
IT WAS OVER
$41 MILLION.
TO BE HONEST, I
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I
WOULD DO WITH
$41 MILLION.
(APPLAUSE)
ONE OF THE FIRST
PEOPLE I REACHED
OUT TO WAS A FELLOW
BADGER.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SURPRISED AT HOW
MANY FELLOW BADGERS
YOU HAVE IN THE
WORLD AND HOW TIGHT
THIS FRATERNITY IS.
I REACHED OUT TO
JAKE WOOD, STARTED
TEAM RUBE CON.
HE HAS DONE
INCREDIBLE WORK IN
DISASTER RELIEF AND
HELPING OUT
DIFFERENT DISASTER,
HURRICANE
KATRINA
AND EVERYTHING.
HE WAS ONE OF MIRE
FIRST CALLS.
WE MADE A PLAN.
BEFORE THE
HURRICANE AND
SPHUND RAISER, I
HAD DEVELOPED A BIT
OF A NEGATIVE
ATTITUDE, CYNICAL
ATTITUDE TOWARDS
THE WORLD.
WE LIVE IN A VERY
NEGATIVE TIME.
THE NEWS IS
NEGATIVE.
THE LEAD STORIES
ARE ALWAYS
DIVERSIVE.
THRNGS DIVIDING AND
PULLING US APART.
I WAS WORRIED.
I DIDN'T HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF HOPE.
BUT IN AN INSTANT,
WITH THAT
FUNDRAISER, WITH
THE LETTERS, THE
DONATIONS, HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE POURING IN
THEIR SUPPORT FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
AND NOT CARING
ABOUT THE RELIGION,
THE RACE, THE
ETHNICITY, THE
FINANCIAL STATUS OF
THE PEOPLE THEY
WERE HELPING AND
NOT KNOWING THE
PEOPLE THEY WERE
HELPING.
THE WILLINGNESS TO
STEP UP AND HELP
OUT THEIR FELLOW
HUMAN GAVE ME HOPE.
THERE'S REASON.
THERE GOOD.
THERE IS THERE IS
GOOD, THERE IS TRUE
HUMANITY.
SHINE A LIGHT ON
IT.
THAT HURRICANE
FUNDRAISER FOR ME
SHINED THE LIGHTS
ON HOW MANY GOOD
PEOPLE ARE IN THE
WORLD.
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS
MAKE HEADLINES.
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS
DOMINATE OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA FEEDS.
BUT I PROMISE YOU,
THERE'S SO MUCH
MORE GOOD OUT IN
THE WORLD THAN WE
REALIZE.
THE MORE THAT WE
CAN HELP TO GET THE
GOOD OUT THERE,
SHINE THE LIGHT ON
THAT GOOD, WE TRULY
CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
SO I LEARNED FROM
THAT.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
I LEARNED FROM
THAT, THAT EVEN ON
YOUR DARKEST DAY,
EVEN THROUGHOUT
YOUR NIGHTMARE,
WHEN THE SKY IS
LIRMLY FALLING, YOU
CAN LEARN FROM IT.
YOU CAN GROW FROM
IT.
THERE IS A SILVER
LINING THAT YOU CAN
FIND.
I IMPLORE YOU.
GOING THROUGH YOUR
JOURNEY, CHASING
YOUR DREAMS, BE
SURE TO FINE THE
SILVER LININGS ON
YOUR DARKEST DAYS.
THERE ARE GOING TO
BE NIGHTMARES.
I WISH I COULD SAY
THERE AREN'T.
BUT IT'S JUST THE
TRUTH.
YOU'LL GO THROUGH
SOME VERY DIFFICULT
TIMES AS YOU
NAVIGATE THESE
WATERS MOVING
FORWARD.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH
THROUGH THESE TOUGH
DAYS AND DIFFICULT
TIMES, REMEMBER TO
LEARN SOMETHING
FROM THEM.
REMEMBER THAT YOU
CAN RISE ABOVE
THEM.
AND REMEMBER THAT
THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW.
THE FINAL THING
THAT I LEARNED FROM
CHASING MY DREAMS,
IS THAT I HAVE A
WHOLE LOT MORE LEFT
TO LEARN.
I KNOW THAT I DON'T
KNOW EVERYTHING.
NOBODY IN THE WORLD
HAS ALL THE
ANSWERS.
THEY CAN LIE TO YOU
AND SAY THAT THEY
DO.
THEY CAN POST ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND
ACT LIKE THEY HAVE
A PERFECT LIFE.
BUT NOBODY DOES.
THERE'S A LOT THAT
HAVE GREAT LIVE,
AND I AM FORTUNATE
TO BE ONE OF THEM.
BUT NOBODY IS
PERFECT.
NOBODY HAS IT ALL
FIGURED OUT.
WHEN YOU CAME TO
MADISON, YOU MAY
HAVE HAD AN IDEA OF
WHAT YOU WANTED
YOUR MAINLY TO BE.
BUT I AM SURE A LOT
OF YOU DIDN'T BEEN
I SIT HERE,
THINKING WHAT I
WANT TO DO AFTER
THE FOOTBALL CAREER
SOME DAY, SOME DAYS
I THINK I HAVE ALL
THE ANSWERS AND I
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE
I AM GOING.
OTHER DAYS I SIT
THERE WITH MY CUP
OF COFFEE, STARING
BLANKLY, AND I
THINK, WHAT THE
HELL AM I GOING TO
DO WITH MY LIFE?
I AM SURE YOU HAVE
ALL BEEN THERE.
YOU ARE AT THE
POINT WHERE YOU
HAVE YOUR ENTIRE
LIFE AHEAD OF YOU.
JUST EARNED A A
DEGREE FROM ONE OF
THE BEST
UNIVERSITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE
WORLD, AND SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES
SITTING IN FRONT OF
YOU.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW
WHAT YOUR DREAM IS,
WHAT EXACTLY YOU
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH,
AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT WHEN YOU DO
FIGURE IT OUT, WHEN
YOU DO REMEMBER,
THE FOUR THINGS I
TALKED ABOUT TODAY,
WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT
YOUR DREAM,
REMEMBER, IT WILL
NOT BE A STRAIGHT
PATH.
STAY COMMITTED.
NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF
WHAT IT IS THAT YOU
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO
ASK FOR HELP ALONG
THE WAY.
AND DON'T BE AFRAID
TO HELP OTHERS
ALONG THEIR PATH.
REFRESH THAT THERE
WILL BE DARK DAYS.
YOU WILL GO THROUGH
DIFFICULT TIMES.
BUT THEY ARE
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES,
GROWING
OPPORTUNITIES, AND
YOU CAN COME OUT ON
THE OTHER SIDE
BETTER THAN YOU
WENT IN.
REMEMBER THERE'S
STILL A WHOLE LOT
LEFT FOR YOU TO
LEARN.
NOBODY HAS ALL THE
ANSWERS.
YOU PROBABLY NEVER
WILL.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
KEEP LEARNING.
KEEP INSPIRING.
KEEP STRIVING TO BE
THE BEST VERSION OF
YOURSELF.
TODAY, YOU ARE
ACCOMPLISHING ONE
OF YOUR PARENTS
BIGGEST DREAMS.
AND HOPEFULLY ONE
OF YOUR OWN AS
WELL.
HOPEFULLY -- LAWCH
LAWF.
WE HOPE.
AND TOMORROW, AND
WHEN YOU WAKE UP
TOMORROW, PROBABLY
AROUND LIKE
2:00 P.M.
(LAUGHTER)
... YOU ARE GOING
BEGIN A JOURNEY
TOWARDS NEW DREAMS.
YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE NEW GOALS.
YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE NEW THINGS YOU
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
AS YOU GO ALONG
THAT JOURNEY
TOWARDS YOUR NEW
DREAM, REMEMBER TO
HELP A FEW PEOPLE
OWT ALONG THE WAY.
TRY TO CHANGE THE
WORLD FOR THE
BETTER AS YOU GO.
THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLE PLACE
THAT WE LIVE IN.
AN INCREDIBLE TIME.
IF WE EACH DO A
LITTLE BIT, IF WE
EACH TRY AND HELP
REACH OTHER OUT, IF
WE'RE EACH NOT
AFRAID TO ASK FOR
HELP, WE CAN DO
SOME UNBELIEVABLE
THINGS.
TOGETHER, WE CAN
CHANGE THE WORLD.
ONE PERSON AT A
TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS AND
THANK YOU TO THE
CLASS OF 2019!
ON, WISCONSIN!
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU
(APPLAUSE)
>> PROVOST:WELL
OVER MY CAREER IN
THE ACADEMY, AND I
HAVE HEARD A LOT OF
GREAT COMMENCEMENT
SPEECHES, BUT THAT
ONE WAS REALLY
INSPIRING.
THANK YOU, JJ, FOR
THE
INSPIRING
SPEECH.
(APPLAUSE)
AT YESTERDAY'S
COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONY FOR
DOCTORAL
CANDIDATES, WE
AWARDED TWO
HONORARY DEGREES.
THESE DEGREES ARE
AWARDED NOT FOR THE
COMPLETION OF A
COURSE OF STUDY,
-- LIKE THE DEGREES
THAT WE HAVE TODAY,
BUT FOR LIVING AN
EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.
THIS YEAR'S
RECIPIENTS ARE
THOMAS BROCK, A
PIONEERING
SCIENTIST WHOSE
RESEARCH HELPED
USHER IN MODERN
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
AND STEVE MILLER, A
LEGENDARY MUSICIAN
(APPLAUSE)
WHOSE ADVOCACY ON
BEHALF OF ALL
ARTISTS IS MAKING
THE PATH EASIER FOR
THE NEXT GENERATION
OF MUSICIANS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
READ THE PROFILES
IN THE PROGRAM OF
THESE TWO
EXCEPTIONAL
INDIVIDUALS, BOTH
OF WHOM HAVE STRONG
TIES TO UW-MADISON.
I THINK YOU WILL
AGREE THAT THEY
RICHLY DESERVE THIS
SPECIAL
RECOGNITION.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
IT IS MY PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE
SOMEONE WHO DOES
NOT NEED WAN
INTRODUCTION AT
CAMP RANDALL.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL
LECKRONE AND
MEMBERS OF THE
UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL
OF MUSIC BAND WHO
WILL PLAY OUR
MUSICAL SELECTION
THIS AFTERNOON:
'SONGS TO THEE
WISCONSIN,'
ARRANGED BY MIKE
LECKRONE.
, PROAMPS
THIS IS A
BITTERSWEET MOMENT
FOR US.
MIKE IS STEPPING
DOWN AFTER 50 YEARS
AS DIRECTOR OF THE
UW-MADISON MARCHING
BAND.
THIS WILL BE ONE OF
THE LAST TIMES HE
LEADS THE BAND.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
THANKING A GIFTED
TEACHER AND
COMPOSER, AND
LEGENDARY SHOWMAN
WHO WILL FOREVER BE
PART OF THIS
UNIVERSITY -
PROFESSOR MICHAEL
LECKRONE.
(APPLAUSE)
(BAND PLAYING
"SONGS TO THEE
WISCONSIN")
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
THANK YOU,
PROFESSOR LECKRONE
AND ALL THE BAND
MEMBERS FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTION
TODAY.
THIS YEAR, WE
COMMEMORATE AN
HISTORIC MOMENT FOR
FEMALE GRADUATES ON
THIS CAMPUS, AND WE
ARE REMINDED OF ALL
THE INCREDIBLE,
ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN
WHO HAVE CALLED
THIS UNIVERSITY
HOME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
CORA MARRETT, IS
ONE OF THOSE
REMARKABLE WOMEN.
DR. MARRETT EARNED
A MASTER'S DEGREE
AND A PH.D.
IN SOCIOLOGY FROM
UW-MADISON, THEN
LATER SERVED ON OUR
FACULTY FOR MORE
THAN 20 YEARS.
SHE PUBLISHED
WIDELY IN THE FIELD
OF SOCIOLOGY WHILE
SERVING IN A HOST
OF PUBLIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
POSITIONS,
INCLUDING A LONG
AND DISTINGUISHED
ASSOCIATION WITH
THE NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
MOST RECENTLY, SHE
WAS THE
FOUNDATION'S DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, SERVING
UNTIL 2014.
UNDER HER
LEADERSHIP, THE
FOUNDATION
INCREASED ITS
EFFORTS TO BROADEN
REPRESENTATION IN
THE FIELDS OF
SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND
MATHEMATICS.THIS
COMING FALL -- TOO
BAD YOU ARE ALL
LEAVING -- I AM
EXCITED TO
ANNOUNCE, DR.
MARRETT HAS AGREED
TO RETURN TO CAMPUS
TO TEACH AN
IMPORTANT CLASS ON
THE WISCONSIN IDEA,
PAST AND PRESENT.
PLEASE HELP ME IN
WELCOMING DR. CORA
MARRETT.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CORA MARRETT:
MARRETT:THANK YOU
SO MUCH, PROVOST
 CHANCELLOR
BLANK
I HAVE BEEN CALLED
A TRAILBLAZER.
BUT DO MY EFFORTS
TO BROADEN
BOUNDARIES IN
SCIENCE, INTEGRATE
FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE
AND CULTIVATE
DIVERSITY MERIT ME
THE BADGE,
TRAILBLAZER?
NOT IF THE TERM, AS
OFTEN DEFINED,
DEPICTS SOMEONE WHO
RIDS TRAILS OF
POISONOUS GROWTH OR
CLEARS WILD,
BARBAROUS CREATURES
FROM PATHS.
BUT IF TRAILBLAZING
SIGNALS EFFORTS TO
WIDEN PATHWAYS AND
DIVERSIFY
PATH-TAKERS, THEN I
EMBRACE THE
MONIKER.
KEY CHALLENGES IN
THE CONTEMPORARY
WORLD CALL FOR
ADVANCES IN
SCIENCE.
THE DEMAND IS FOR
SYSTEMATIC ANALYSES
ON LIFE, THE
PHYSICAL UNIVERSE,
BEHAVIOR, AND THE
ENTITIES THAT
PEOPLE CREATE.
THE IMPERATIVE IS
FOR INCLUSION - OF
FIELDS OF
KNOWLEDGE, AND FOR
ALL OF HUMAN
TALENT.
THE LESSONS I HAVE
LEARNED - ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF AND
POTENTIAL FOR
INCLUSION -- DERIVE
FROM VARIED
EXPERIENCES.
AMONG THOSE
EXPERIENCES:
SERVICE ON THE
PRESIDENTIAL
COMMISSION THAT
INVESTIGATED THE
NUCLEAR POWER
ACCIDENT IN
PENNSYLVANIA;
EXTENDED YEARS ON
THE BOARD OF THE
ARGONNE NATIONAL
LABORATORY - A
DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY OPERATION;
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
SOCIAL SCIENCE
RESEARCH COUNCIL -
AND COUNTLESS OTHER
ROLES.
I MOVED FROM BEING
AN OBSERVER AND
STUDENT OF THE
SCIENTIFIC
ENTERPRISE TO
SOMEONE SEEKING TO
AFFECT THAT
ENTERPRISE.
ENTERPRISE.IMPORTAN
TLY, I LEARNED THAT
INCLUSION CAN BE
ACHIEVED THROUGH
IDENTIFIABLE
STRATEGIES,
COLLABORATIONS, AND
DETERMINATION.
MY YEARS AT THE
NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION WERE
ESPECIALLY PIVOTAL
AS I EMBRACED ITS
CHARGE TO PROMOTE
THE PROGRESS OF
SCIENCE AND ADVANCE
NATIONAL HEALTH,
PROSPERITY, AND
WELFARE.
PERSONS LABEL AS
TRAILBLAZERS DON'T
SET OUT
SPECIFICALLY TO
CHANGE THE WORLD,
RATHER, IT IS
DISCONTENT WITH
EXISTING OPTIONS,
ALONG SIDE A VISION
OF POSSIBILITIES
FROM WHICH ACTIONS
SPRINGS, BUT THIS
IS HOW I IMAGINE
THE SITUATION OF
THE FIRST WOMEN
GRADUATES FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN.
THE SIX WHO
IN
1869ED THE FIRST
BACHELORS DEGREES
AWARDS TO WIN.
AGO REGARDED THE
CONSTRAINTS OF THE
DAY AS
UNACCEPTABLE.
THE UNIVERSITY HAD
ADMITTED MEN FROM
ITS FOUNDING IN
1848 - BUT NOT
WOMEN.
IN 1871 IT
CREATED A SEPARATE
FEMALE COLLEGE
THROUGH WHICH WOMEN
COULD TAKE A
LIMITED SET OF
COURSES.
PRESIDENT PAUL
CHADBOURNE HAD
APPROVED THE
ARRANGEMENT,
CERTAIN THAT
CO-EDUCATION WOULD
DISTRACT AND IMPEDE
THE PROGRESS OF
MALE STUDENTS.
STUDENTS.SUBSEQUENT
LY, THE REGENTS
DISBANDED THE
FEMALE COLLEGE AND
ADMITTED WOMEN INTO
THE LARGER
UNIVERSITY.
SIGNIFICANTLY, THE
CHANGE OCCURRED FOR
WHITE WOMEN - BUT
NOT FOR OTHERS.
AND,
IN FACT, IT WAS
1918 BEFORE THE
FIRST WOMAN OF
COLOR GRADUATES
FROM THE
UNIVERSITY.
INCLUSIONARY
EFFORTS, THEN, DO
NOT INEVITABLY
REACH ACROSS ALL
BOUNDARIES.
OBSTACLES TO
INCLUSION REMAIN IN
THE CURRENT ERA.
BUT
WEKS DRAW
INSPIRATION FROM
THE PIONEERING
SPIRIT THAT
PROMPTED THE
CONTINUED QUEST TO
REMOVE
OBSTACLES.
DEDICATION TO
TRAILBLAZING
APPEARS TIME AND
AGAIN IN THE ANNALS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
PLAQUES ON THE
CAMPUS AND
ELSEWHERE RECORD
THE MEMORABLE WORDS
THAT PRESIDENT
CHARLES VAN HISE
ISSUED IN 1905: "
THOSE WORDS, WHICH
I AM SURE YOU HAVE
MEMORIZED.
I SHALL NEVER BE
CONTENT UNTIL THE
BENEFICENT
INFLUENCE OF THE
UNIVERSITY REACHES
EVERY FAMILY IN THE
STATE."  FACULTY,
STAFF AND STUDENTS
HAVE EMBRACED AND
ENLARGED THE
MANTRA, STRIVING TO
HAVE THE UNIVERSITY
WORK TO BENEFIT THE
LARGER NATION AND
 INDEED, THE ENTIRE
WORLD.
THAT SPIRIT PROMMED
LISA HECT TO ATTEND
THIS CEREMONY, A
CEREMONY SHE MISSED
WHEN RECEIVING HER
DEGREE IN
ENGINEERING 40
YEARS AGO.
NOW ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL, I CHERISH MY
AFFILIATION WITH AN
INSTITUTION WHERE
THE DEDICATION TO
INCLUSION IS
LONG-STANDING AND
THE PURSUIT OF IT
PERSEVERES.
AND I AM CONFIDENT
THAT THE
TRAILBLAZERS WHO
BROUGHT US TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY, 150
YEARS AFTER WOMEN
FIRST RECEIVED
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN DEGREES,
WOULD BE PROUD TO
-- AS AM I -- TO
SEE THE PATH
MAKERS, ALL
OF YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO
BE, AND THAT YOU
HAVE ALREADY
BECOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
EVER WONDER WHAT
PUTS THE "W" IN UW?
WHY, WOMEN, OF
COURSE.
WE'RE CELEBRATING
UW WOMEN AT 150.
IMAGINE WISCONSIN
150 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS 1863, THE
HEIGHT OF THE
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
THE FLEDGING
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN HAD LOST
MUCH OF ITS MALE
POPULATION TO THE
BATTLEFIELD.
THE TIMES WERE
RIGHT TO ADMIT
WOMEN.
SUCH A GREAT START,
EXCEPT WOMEN WERE
LATER PUT INTO
SEPARATE CLASSES IN
THE "FEMALE
COLLEGE."
BY 1869, THE FIRST
GROUP OF
TRAILBLAZERS WAS
READY TO GRADUATE.
WE KNOW THEY BECAME
A LAWYER, A HIGH
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL,
AND A PROMINENT
SUFFRAGIST WHO
WORKED WITH SUSAN
B. ANTHONY.
BUT BEFORE
COMMENCEMENT, THERE
WAS A HOLD UP.
PRESIDENT
CHADBOURNE SCOFFED
AT THE IDEA OF
CONFERRING
"BACHELOR'S"
DEGREES TO WOMEN.
DID YOU EVER WONDER
WHY IT'S CALLED A
"BACHELOR'S" DEGREE
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
FORTUNATELY THE
BOARD OF REGENTS
DECIDED THAT WOMEN
SHOULD RECEIVE THE
SAME DEGREE AS MEN.
THEY ALSO DECIDED
TO "HONOR"
PRESIDENT
CHADBOURNE BY
NAMING A BUILDING
AFTER HIM!
THE FIRST ALL-WOMEN
DORMITORY,
CHADBOURNE HALL.
WOMEN OFFICIALLY
RECEIVED FULL
CO-EDUCATIONAL
STATUS IN 1874, AND
BEGAN TAKING
CLASSES WITH MEN.
THEY STARTED
WORKING IN BIOLOGY
LABS, AND STUDYING
GEOLOGY.
AT LAST, WOMEN HAD
THEIR CHANCE TO
DELVE INTO SCIENCE.
ONE OF OUR ALUMNAE
BECAME THE FIRST
WOMAN GEOLOGIST IN
THE U.S.
FLORENCE BASCOM,
DAUGHTER OF FORMER
UW PRESIDENT JOHN
BASCOM.
THE WORK OF ANOTHER
ALUMNA,
BACTERIOLOGIST
ALICE EVANS, LED TO
ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ADVANCES
IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN
THE 20TH CENTURY -
PASTEURIZED MILK.
AT THE UW, WOMEN IN
SCIENCE WERE HERE
TO STAY.
THE FIRST KNOWN
AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN GRADUATED
FROM THE UW IN
1918.
MABEL WATSON RAIMEY
WAS FIRED FROM HER
FIRST JOB AS A
TEACHER BECAUSE SHE
WAS BLACK.
SHE WENT ON TO
BECOME THE STATE'S
FIRST FEMALE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LAWYER.
SOON OTHER UW WOMEN
FOLLOWED IN HER
FOOTSTEPS.
WOMEN LIKE VEL
PHILLIPS, THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN TO GRADUATE
FROM THE UW LAW
SCHOOL, AND THE
FIRST WOMAN AND
AFRICAN AMERICAN TO
BE ELECTED TO
MILWAUKEE'S COMMON
COUNCIL.
PHILLIPS CHAMPIONED
FAIR HOUSING AND
CIVIL RIGHTS AND
WENT ON TO BECOME
MILWAUKEE'S FIRST
FEMALE JUDGE AND
WISCONSIN'S FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN
JUDGE.
WE NAMED A
RESIDENCE HALL
AFTER HER.
IN EVERY ASPECT OF
THE COLLEGIATE
EXPERIENCE, UW
WOMEN EXCELLED.
THEY PROVED THEIR
STRENGTH IN
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
AND SHOWED THEIR
APTITUDE FOR 3-D
DESIGN.
WOMEN PARTICIPATED
IN SPORTS LIKE
BASKETBALL AS EARLY
AS 1900.
ALL ACROSS CAMPUS,
WOMEN PURSUED THEIR
PASSIONS.
THEY DIDN'T HOLD
BACK ON HAVING FUN.
AND STILL DON'T.
BUT UW WOMEN ALSO
TOOK LIFE
SERIOUSLY.
DURING WORLD WAR
II, IN THE ARMY
NURSE CORPS, SIGNE
SKOTT COOPER SAW
THAT NURSES WERE
MUCH MORE THAN
"PHYSICIAN'S
HANDMAIDENS."
SHE DEVOTED 60
YEARS TO NURSING
EDUCATION AT UW,
AND SUPPORTED A
21ST CENTURY VISION
FOR THE SCHOOL OF
NURSING.
THE THEATER WAS THE
STAGE FOR A
DIFFERENT BATTLE -
CIVIL RIGHTS.
ALUMNA LORRAINE
HANSBERRY'S
AWARD-WINNING
DRAMA, "A RAISIN IN
THE SUN," BECAME
THE FIRST PLAY BY
AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN TO BE
PRODUCED ON
BROADWAY.
IN THE ARTS, UW
WOMEN TRANSFORMED
MODERN DANCE.
MARGARET D'HOUBLER
FOUNDED THE FIRST
ACADEMIC DANCE
DEPARTMENT IN THE
NATION.
ZONA GALE WAS THE
FIRST WOMAN TO
RECEIVE THE
PULITZER PRIZE FOR
DRAMA.
GERDA LERNER
FOUNDED THE
NATION'S FIRST
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN
WOMEN'S HISTORY.
ADA DEER WAS THE
FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD
A TRIBAL NATION AND
THE FEDERAL BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
THE FIRST FEMALE
DRUM MAJOR IN THE
BIG TEN WAS UW'S
DEE WILLEMS.
THE FIRST WOMAN AND
YOUNGEST PERSON TO
HEAD A BIG TEN
UNIVERSITY POLICE
FORCE: SUE
RISELING.
THE FIRST FEMALE
CHANCELLOR IN THE
BIG TEN?
UW-MADISON'S DONNA
SHALALA.
BIDDY MARTIN WAS
UW'S SECOND FEMALE
CHANCELLOR, AND
NOW, ME.
THERE ARE SO MANY
MORE FIRSTS FOR UW
WOMEN!
AND, WHEN IT COMES
TO NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS?
BADGER WOMEN WIN!!
LOOKING BACK, WE
REALIZE HOW FAR UW
WOMEN HAVE COME IN
150 YEARS.
WHERE WILL YOU GO
NEXT?
FORWARD!
AND ON WISCONSIN!
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I LOVE THAT
VIDEO.
NOW WE'RE AT THE
POINT FOR THE
CONFERRAL OF OUR
GRADUATE DEGREES.
I CALL UPON
MARGARET RAYMOND,
DEAN OF THE LAW
SCHOOL.
>> DEAN RAYMOND:
CANDIDATES FOR THE
DEGREES DOCTOR OF
JURIDICAL SCIENCE,
JURIS DOCTOR,
MASTER OF LAWS AND
MASTER OF
LAWS-LEGAL
INSTITUTIONS WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN RAYMOND.
>> DEAN RAYMOND:
THESE SCHOLARS HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE
COURSES IN LAW.
UPON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
LAW SCHOOL, I
PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR
DEGREES.
>> CHANCELLOR:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
LAW SCHOOL AND
UNDER THE AUTHORITY
GRANTED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM
BOARD OF REGENTS, I
CONFER ON YOU THE
DEGREE DOCTOR OF
JURIDICAL SCIENCE,
JURIS DOCTOR,
MASTER OF LAWS OR
MASTER OF
LAWS-LEGAL
INSTITUTIONS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
RECOGNIZING THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR
LAW DEGREE
CANDIDATES.
(APPLAUSE)
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO
CALL UPON WILLIAM
KARPUS, DEAN OF THE
GRADUATE SCHOOL WHO
WILL PRESENT THE
CANDIDATES FOR
MASTER'S DEGREES.
>> DEAN KARPUS:
CANDIDATES FOR
MASTER'S DEGREES
WILL PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN KARPUS.
>> DEAN KARPUS:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE GRADUATE
FACULTY, I PRESENT
THESE CANDIDATES
FOR THE MASTER'S
DEGREE IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE FIELDS:
MASTER OF
ACCOUNTANCY 
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF
ENGINEERING
MASTER OF
INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
MASTER OF MUSIC
MASTER OF
PROFESSIONAL FRENCH
STUDIES
MASTER OF PUBLIC
AFFAIRS
MASTER OF SCIENCE
MASTER OF SOCIAL
WORK
>> CHANCELLOR:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
GRADUATE SCHOOL AND
UNDER THE AUTHORITY
GRANTED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM
BOARD OF REGENTS,
YOU WILL BE
ADMITTED TO THE
APPROPRIATE DEGREE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
RECOGNIZING THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR
-- AND CONGRATULATE
THESE CANDIDATES.
(APPLAUSE)
PLEASE BE SEATED.
>> PROVOST:
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO
INTRODUCE OUR
STUDENT SPEAKER,
RON STEINHOFF, WHO
WILL DELIVER
REMARKS ON BEHALF
OF THE SENIOR
CLASS.
RON, OF EDEN
PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA,
IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CLASS OF 2019.
HE EMBODIES WHAT WE
LIKE TO CALL THE
WISCONSIN
EXPERIENCE, WHICH
IS OUR DESIRE FOR
STUDENTS TO EMBRACE
LEARNING INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE THE
CLASSROOM.
RON STUDIED ABROAD
TWICE AND SPENT
TIME IN WASHINGTON
AS A PRESTIGIOUS
MOUNT VERNON
LEADERSHIP FELLOW.
HIS INTELLECTUAL
CURIOSITY AND
EMPATHY LED HIM TO
UNDERTAKE AN HONORS
THESIS IN WHICH HE
SURVEYED HISPANIC
AND LATINX STUDENTS
ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH
MENTAL HEALTH CARE
SERVICES ON CAMPUS.
HIS CONCLUSIONS
WILL HELP US MAKE
THOSE SERVICES MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND
INCLUSIVE.
RON INITIATED THE
POSITION OF HEALTH
AND WELLNESS CHAIR
AT HIS FRATERNITY
AND THIS PAST YEAR
SERVED AS A STUDENT
VOICE ON A
UNIVERSITY
COMMITTEE PROMOTING
CAMPUS WELLNESS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, RON
HAS MADE UW-MADISON
A BETTER PLACE, AND
WE SINCERELY HOPE
WE HAVE HAD A
SIMILAR IMPACT ON
HIM.
I WOULD BE REMISS
WITHOUT ALSO
MENTIONING THAT
WHILE EARNING A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE AND
SPANISH, RON
SIMULTANEOUSLY HAS
BEEN PURSUING A
MASTER'S DEGREE
THROUGH THE
LAFOLLETTE SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ON CAMPUS.
HE IS ABOUT HALFWAY
TO COMPLETING A
MASTER'S DEGREE IN
INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, A
FIELD OF STUDY THAT
WILL SERVE HIM WELL
THIS SUMMER AS HE
WORKS AT THE
PENTAGON.
I AM PLEASED TO
INVITE RON TO OFFER
REMARKS ON BEHALF
OF THE CLASS OF
2019.
(APPLAUSE)
>> RON STEINHOFF:
THANK YOU PROVOST
MANGELSDORF FOR
THAT KIND
INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I
HAVE A PROMISE TO
FULFILL.
EXACTLY TWO YEARS
AGO, I WAS SITTING
IN THIS STADIUM--
RIGHT OVER THERE --
YOU CAN'T REALLY
SEE IT, BUT WHEN
THAT YEAR'S SENIOR
CLASS PRESIDENT WAS
SPEAKING MY MOM
TAPPED MY SHOULDER
AND SAID, "IF
YOU
EVER DO THIS, YOU
BETTER THANK
ME.
I ROLLED MY EYES AT
HER AND SAID, "MOM
I WILL NEVER SPEAK
AT COMMENCEMENT.
BUT AS JJ SAID,
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.
MOM, HERE IT IS.
THANK YOU.
I WOULD BE NOWHERE
WITHOUT YOUR'S AND
DAD'S SUPPORT, AND
I AM ALSO A LITTLE
CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT ELSE YOU MAY
KNOW ABOUT MY
FUTURE.
SO NOW I'M SUPPOSED
TO TELL YOUHOW
WITH THIS DEGREE
YOU WILL CHANGE THE
WORLD.
AND LIKELY, MANY OF
YOU
WILL.
 BUT I WAN TO
TAKE THIS TIME TO
TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT,
SOMETHING THAT
EVERYONE IN THE
STADIUM CAN DO, AND
THAT'S BEING REAL.
TO TAKE YOUR MASK
OFF.
AT THE START OF MY
SENIOR YEARS AGO
EVERYTHING WAS
GOING REALLY WELL.
AND I WAS SO
EXCITED TO BE BACK
ON CAMPUS.
THE ANXIETY I
STRUGGLED WITH THIS
HIGH SCHOOL I HAD
OVERCOME.
IT WAS UNDER
CONTROL.
I WAS NOMINATED BY
UW FOR
A RHODES
SCHOLARSHIP, WAS
PRESIDENT OF THREE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND
HAD A CLEAR IDEA OF
WHO I WAS AND WHERE
I STOOD IN THE
WORLD.
WHEN FRIENDS WOULD
ASK HOW I DID IT
ALL, I'D JUST
SMILE, BUT
SECRETLY, I ENJOYED
THE COMMENT.IT
SHOWED THAT I HAD
MY LIFE
TOGETHER.
YET THINGS BEGAN TO
UNRAVEL.
I RECEIVED THE NEWS
THAT I DIDN'T
RECEIVE
THE RHODES
SCHOLARSHIP.
THEN I GOT HIT WITH
A JOB REJECTION,
ANOTHER SCHOLARSHIP
REJECTION --
AND THE BAD NEWS
KEPT COMING.
MY FUTURE WAS
UN-PHONE AND THAT
SCARED ME.
 THE FUTURE WAS
UNKNOWN AND SCARED
ME
I FELT A GROWING
SENSE OF ANXIETY
WITHIN ME BUT I
REFUSED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT
BECAUSE TO ME,
ADMITTING THAT MY
ANXIETY WAS GETTING
WORSE WOULD BE
ADMITTING WEAKNESS AND I REFUSED
TO
ASK FOR HELP.
ON THE OUTSIDE, I
ACTED LIKE I HAD
EVERYTHING
TOGETHER.
I WAS WEARING A
MASK THAT SAID
EVERYTHING IN MY
LIFE WAS PERFECT.
BUT ON THE INSIDE,
I WAS
DROWNING.
I WOULD GO THROUGH
MY DAY, AND LEAD
THE MEETINGS I HAD
TO LEAD, AND DO IT
ALL WITH A SMILE.
BUT, I STILL DIDN'T
ASK FOR HELP.
THINGS GOT SO BAD
THAT I ONE DAY
QUESTIONED IF MY
OWN LIFE WAS WORTH
LINKING.
AS -- WORTH LIVING.
AND AS HARD AS IT
IS TO ADMIT TODAY,
IF NOT FOR MY
CHRISTIAN FAITH AND
AMAZING FRIENDS AND
FAMILY, I DON'T
KNOW IF I WOULD BE
HERE
TODAY.
IT CAME TO A
BREAKING POINT.
THE FAKE
"EVERYTHING IS
OKAY" MASK I WAS
WEARING WAS
SUFFOCATING
ME.
I BROKE DOWN IN
FRONT OF ONE OF MY
BEST FRIENDS.
I SHARED THAT THE
THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE
TERRIFIED ME.
I WAS WEAK,
VULNERABLE, AND
BROKEN.
BUT FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A LONG TIME
I WAS
REAL.
IT WAS ME.
THE GUY WHO ALWAYS
ADVOCATED FOR
MENTAL HEALTHCARE
FOR OTHERS, AND WHO
DEDICATED HIS
ENTIRE THESIS TO
IT, FINALLY
ADMITTED THAT HE,
HIMSELF, NEEDED IT
BEEN A FUNNY THINK
HAPPENED.
AFTER I WAS REAL
WITH MY FRIEND, AND
SHARED MY
STRUGGLES, I
STARTED TO FEEL
BETTER.
TOGETHER WE SOUGHT
MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELING.
WE
DIDN'T --
(APPLAUSE)
-- THANK YOU.
WE DIDN'T IMPROVE
OVER NIGHT, BUT WE
DID IN-PROVE.
THE SIMPLE ACT OF
BEING REAL AND
SHARING MY
STRUGGLES WITH
THOSE AROUND ME
PROVED TO MAKE ALL
THE
DIFFERENCE.
I BEGAN TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT MYSELF,
AS MY THOUGHTS
BEGAN TO BE FREED
FROM ANXIETY'S
GRIP.
OF THE THINGS I
HAVE LEARNED ABOUT
MYSELF, ONE STANDS
OUT.
AND NOT EVERYTHING
I LEARNED WAS
SIMPLE.
BUT ALTHOUGH THIS
IS A VERY DIFFICULT
CONCLUSION TO COME
TO, IN THE PAST
SEMESTER, I
REALIZED I AM
BISEXUAL, AN
IDENTITY THAT
TERRIFIED ME THESE
PAST SIX MONTHS BUT
THROUGH BEING REAL
AND EMBRACING
MYSELF, I CAN SHARE
WITH 50,000 PEOPLE.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU.
IT WASN'T EASY.
BUT IT WAS REAL.
AND IT WAS ME.
I NOW HOPE TO SERVE
AS A MANY HEALTH
ADVOCATE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE HAD THEIR
VOICE TAKEN AWAY,
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
NOT MADE IT TO THE
OTHER SIDE YET, TO
SERVE THEM.
LOOKING BACK, I
REALIZED A COUPLE
THINGS.
I REALIZED THAT IN
MY DESPAIR I FOUND
HOPE.
IN BEING REAL, I
FOUND MYSELF.
AND IN MY WEAKNESS,
I FOUND
STRENGTH.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT
ME.
LET'S TALK ABOUT
YOU, THE CLASS
OF
2019.
WE ALL HAVE OUR
STRUGGLES.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES
US HUMAN.
YOU MIGHT HAVE
GOTTEN REJECTED
FROM A DREAM GRAD
SCHOOL.
OR MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
GET THE JOB YOU SO
RICHLY DESERVED.
NO MATTER THE
SITUATION, THERE'S
ONE THING YOU CAN
DO THAT WILL MAKE
EVERYTHING JUST A
LITTLE BIT EASIER.
AND THAT'S TO BE
REAL.
PUT THE MASK DOWN. 
IN A WORLD
INUNDATED WITH
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
AND WE CAN ALWAYS
PAINT OUR LIVES TO
BE PERFECT, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE
DIFFERENT.
TO MAKE THE
DECISION EACH DAY
TO PUT YOUR MASK
DOWN AND WIPE THAT
FAKE SMILE OFF YOUR
FACE AND BE REAL.
MAYBE TALK TO YOUR
FRIENDS ABOUT ALL
THE JOB REJECTIONS
YOU HAD BEFORE
POSTING ON LINKEDIN
HOW BLESSED YOU ARE
START THE ONE JOB
THAT WORKED OUT.
AND, AGAIN,
FRIENDS, IT ISN'T
EASY, BUT LET ME
TELL YOU, IT IS SO
WORTH IT.
AND IN THE WORDS OF
THE CANADIAN
WRITER, ATTICUS
POETRY.
THE HARDEST STEP WE
MUST ALL TAKE IS TO
BLINDLY TRUST WHO
WE ARE.
IN THE END, OUR
SCARS, OUR
STRUGGLES, OUR
INSECURITIES, HAVE
MADE US INTO WHO WE
ARE TODAY.
THE WORLD DOESN'T
NEED A CHEAP
PLASTIC MASK
VERSION OF
YOURSELF.
IT NEEDS THE REAL,
AUTHENTIC VERSION
OF YOU.
THE REAL YOU.
SO, UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN, MADISON,
CLASS OF 2019,
LET'S SHOW THE
WORLD WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO BE REAL,
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE
WAY WE CAN CHANGE
THIS WORLD.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
BUT BEFORE I GO, WE
WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING SPECIAL
TO CELEBRATE OUR
GRADUATION, AND
WOULD YOU LOOK AT
THAT?
WE'RE ABOUT THREE
QUARTERS OF THE WAY
THROUGH THE
CEREMONY!
AND THAT CAN ONLY
MEAN ONE THING!
HIT IT, BUCKY!
[ MUSIC ]
[JUMP AROUND
PLAYS]
(APPLAUSE)
>> PROVOST:
I HAVE GOT TO CATCH
MY BREATH!
THANK YOU, RON, FOR
YOUR THOUGHTFULAND
HONEST REMARKS, AND
CAN THANK YOU FOR A
CHANCE TO
PARTICIPATE IN JUMP
AROUND ONE LAST
TIME HERE AT CAMP
RANDALL.
THIS IS MY LAST
GRADUATION HERE, SO
IT'S BITTER SWEET
FOR ME.
(APPLAUSE)
AT THIS POINT IN
OUR PROGRAM, I'M
PLEASED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
CANDIDATES WHO HAVE
DISTINGUISHED
THEMSELVES
SCHOLASTICALLY BY
RANKING IN THE TOP
20% OF THEIR SCHOOL
OR COLLEGE OR BY
PARTICIPATING IN
THE HONORS PROGRAM.
THESE STUDENTS ARE
ATTIRED WITH HONORS
STOLES -- SOLID
CARDINAL RED, OR
WHITE WITH RED
CHEVRONS.
I WOULD LIKE THESE
STUDENTS TO STAND
AND HAVE YOU JOIN
ME IN RECOGNIZING
THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
ACHIEVEMENTS.PLEASE
RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
>> CHANCELLOR:WE'RE
NOW AT THE MOMENT
OF CONFERRING
BACHELOR'S DEGREES.
I CALL UPON KATHRYN
VANDENBOSCH, DEAN
OF THE COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND
LIFE SCIENCES.
>> DEAN
VANDENBOSCH:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND
LIFE SCIENCES WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN VANDENBOSCH.
>> DEAN
VANDENBOSCH:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND
LIFE SCIENCES, I
PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
FOLLOWING DEGREES: 
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-
AGRICULTURAL
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-BIOLOGICAL
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-DIETETICS  
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
BARRY GERHART,
DEAN OF THE SCHOOL
OF BUSINESS.
>> DEAN GERHART:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE SCHOOL OF
BUSINESS WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN GERHART.
>> DEAN GERHART:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
I PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
DEGREE BACHELOR OF
BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION.
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
DIANA HESS, DEAN OF
THE SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION.
>> DEAN HESS:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN HESS.
>> DEAN HESS:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION, I
PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
FOLLOWING DEGREES:
BACHELOR OF FINE
ARTS
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ART
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ART
EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ATHLETIC
TRAINING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-DANCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-EDUCATION
STUDIES
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-KINESIOLOGY
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-
REHABILITATION
PSYCHOLOGY
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-THEATRE AND
DRAMA
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON IAN
ROBERTSON, DEAN OF
THE COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING.
>> DEAN ROBERTSON:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>>CHANCELLOR:
DEAN ROBERTSON.
>> DEAN ROBERTSON:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING, I
PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
FOLLOWING DEGREES:
BACHELOR OF NAVAL
SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-CIVIL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-COMPUTER
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ENGINEERING
MECHANICS
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-ENGINEERING
PHYSICS
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-GEOLOGICAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-INDUSTRIAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-MATERIALS
SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-NUCLEAR
ENGINEERING
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
SOYEON SHIM, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
HUMAN ECOLOGY.
>> DEAN SHIM:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE SCHOOL OF
HUMAN ECOLOGY WILL
PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN SHIM.
>> DEAN SHIM:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF HUMAN
ECOLOGY, I PRESENT
THESE CANDIDATES
FOR THE FOLLOWING
DEGREES:
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-COMMUNITY
AND NONPROFIT
LEADERSHIP
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT AND
FAMILY STUDIES
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-HUMAN
ECOLOGY
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-INTERIOR
ARCHITECTURE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-PERSONAL
FINANCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-RETAILING
AND CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-TEXTILES &
FASHION DESIGN
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>>CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
KARL SCHOLZ, DEAN
OF THE COLLEGE OF
LETTERS AND
SCIENCE.
>> DEAN SCHOLZ:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE COLLEGE OF
LETTERS AND SCIENCE
WILL PLEASE RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN SCHOLZ.
>> DEAN SCHOLZ:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
COLLEGE OF LETTERS
AND SCIENCE, I
PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
FOLLOWING DEGREES:
BACHELOR OF ARTS
BACHELOR OF
ARTS-JOURNALISM
BACHELOR OF
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-APPLIED
MATHEMATICS,
ENGINEERING AND
PHYSICS
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-JOURNALISM
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL
WORK
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
LINDA SCOTT, DEAN
OF THE SCHOOL OF
NURSING.
>> DEAN SCOTT:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE SCHOOL OF
NURSING WILL PLEASE
RISE.
(APPLAUSE)
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN SCOTT.
>> DEAN SCOTT:
SORRY
WE'RE ALL EXCITED!
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF NURSING,
I PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
DEGREE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-NURSING.
CANDIDATES MAY BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
I NOW CALL UPON
STEVEN SWANSON,
DEAN OF THE SCHOOL
OF PHARMACY.
>> DEAN SWANSON:
CANDIDATES FOR
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
IN THE SCHOOL OF
PHARMACY, ALL 22 OF
THEM, WILL PLEASE
RISE.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
PRACH PARAGRAPH
CHANCELLOR BLANK.
>> CHANCELLOR:
DEAN SWANSON.
>> DEAN SWANSON:
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY OF THE
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY,
I PRESENT THESE
CANDIDATES FOR THE
DEGREES BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE-
PHARMACOLOGY AND
TOXICOLOGY.
TOXICOLOGY.CANDIDAT
ES MAY CHEER AND BE
SEATED.
(APPLAUSE)
>> CHANCELLOR:
AT THIS TIME, I'LL
ASK ALL BACHELOR'S
DEGREE CANDIDATES
TO PLEASE STAND FOR
THE CONFERRAL OF
DEGREES.
(APPLAUSE)
ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FACULTY AND
UNDER THE AUTHORITY
GRANTED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN SYSTEM
BOARD OF REGENTS,
YOU WILL BEEACH
ADMITTED TO THE
DEGREE APPROPRIATE
TO THE COURSES YOU
HAVE COMPLETED.
COMPLETED.CONGRATUL
ATIONS TO THE CLASS
OF 2019.
CONGRATULATIONS
(APPLAUSE)
CLASS OF 2019, YOU
HAVE NOW MADE THE
TRANSITION FROM
STUDENTS TO
ALUMNI.
TRADITION DICTATES
THAT BEFORE DEGREE
CONFERRAL,
CANDIDATES WILL
WEAR THEIR TASSEL
ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF THE MORTARBOARD.
AFTER COMMENCEMENT,
TO SYMBOLIZE YOUR
STATUS AS
GRADUATES, YOUR
TASSEL IS WORN ON
THE LEFT.IS THIS
THIS IS THE MOMENT
TO MOVE YOUR
TASSELS.
(APPLAUSE)
CONGRATULATIONS!.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
EVERYONE.
(APPLAUSE)
YOU MAY ALL BE
SEATED.
IN A MOMENT, OUR
CELEBRATION WILL
END WITH THE
SINGING OF
"VARSITY
"VARSITY."
AFTER PLEASE
REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL THE STAGE
PARTY AND FACULTY
PROCESSIONAL HAVE
ALL GONE DOWN THE
AISLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALL OUR GRADUATES
AND A SPECIAL
THANKS TO THE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WHOSE SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGEMENT MADE
THIS PROUD DAY
POSSIBLE.CAN GOOD
LUCK TO EACH ONE OF
YOU -- GOOD LUCK,
TO EACH ONE OF YOU,
AND ON, WISCONSIN!
PARAGRAPH
(APPLAUSE)
PLEASE JOIN
PROFESSOR LECKRONE
AND THE UNIVERSITY
BAND IN SINGING
"VARSITY."
VARSITY! VARSITY!
U-RAH-RAH!
WISCONSIN,
PRAISE TO THEE WE
SING!
WE SING!
PRAISE TO THEE, OUR
ALMA MATER,
U-RAH-RAH!
WISCONSIN!
(CHEERING AND
APPLAUSE)
(RECESSIONAL MUSIC)
