THIS IS A TEST.
THIS IS A TEST.
≫ THIS IS A TEST.
[ MUSIC ]
[ MUSIC ]
THIS IS A TEST.
THIS IS A CAPTIONING TEST.
WE GOT TO PLAY IN FRONT OF A 
COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.
WE HAD CROWDS AROUND US, DANCING
AND SINGING MUCH EVEN IF NO IDEA
WHAT WE WERE PLAYING, I HAD A 
DANCEOFF WITH A GUY MARCHING 
BACK TO THE BUS.
IT WAS
A FANTASTIC, TO SHOW OTHER 
PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST A
BUNCH OF MATH NERD, ENGINEERING 
NERDS, CHEMISTRY NERD, DOING 
THINGS OTHER THAN THAT, SHINE AN
EXCEL AT IT AND COOL TO SEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO OUR
PROFESSOR ROBERT, FOR HAVING TO 
DEAL WITH US
FOR ALL FOUR YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 
2020.
- YEAH!
WE DID IT.
PLEASE WELCOME THE 17TH 
PRESIDENT OF THE COLORADO SCHOOL
OF MINE, DR. JOHNS YORN.
THANK YOU FOR STARTING US OFF 
WITH A GREAT RENDITION OF OUR 
ALMA MATER.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO
JOINED US TODAY.
YES, LET'S GET IT OUT AWAY.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE CAN'T 
GATHER ON CAMPUS BUT LET'S NOT 
STOP US FROM DOING SOMETHING 
THAT IS IMPORTANT HERE AT SCHOOL
OF MINES.
THAT IS RECOGNIZING OUR NEWEST 
GRADUATES AND REFERRAL OF THE 
DEGREES THAT THEY WORKED SO HARD
TO OBTAIN.
SPEAKING OF GRADUATE, ONLY A FEW
YEARS AGO, THEY ASSEMBLED ONE 
AUGUST MORNING TO CARRY 10 POUND
ROCKS.
THE ROUTE WAS ALL UPHILL AND 
ALIGNED WITH ALL STUDENT  
ATHLETES AND CHEERED THEM ON AND
KEPT THEM COOLED OFF WITH WATER 
AND MADE SURE THEY LEARN THE 
SCHOOL FIGHT SONG.
WHEN THEY REACHED THE TOP, THEY 
ADDED THE ROCKS TO THE PREVIOUS 
STUDENTS THAT PRECEDED THEM.
IN TRADITION, THEY PAINTED THOSE
ROCKS AND EACH OTHER.
END CLIMB WAS THE WELCOME TO THE
MINE'S COMMUNITY AND SYMBOLIC 
MINE EDUCATION.
IT WAS
THE FIRST OF MANY CHALLENGES 
THAT GRAD GRADUATES  OVERCAME.
WITH THAT MEMORY IN MIND, WE 
WOULD LIKE TO START THIS 
COMMENCE MANY WITH A MOMENT OF 
REFLECTION OFFERED UP BY STUDENT
ASPEN RICHARDS, WHO IS 
GRADUATING TODAY WITH A BACHELOR
DEGREE IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS.
ASPEN.
≫ MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND 
ADMINISTRATION
, FELLOW STUDENT, FAMILY AND 
FRIENDS, IT IS MY
HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO OFFER  
INVOCATION FOR COMMENCEMENT.
AS WE ARE PREPARED TO PREPARE 
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS WE ARE 
AWARE THAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
THAT SHARED IN SUPPORT OF OUR 
JOURNEY THIS POINT ARE WITH US 
TODAY.
BEFORE I LEAD IN PRAYER, PLEASE 
JOIN ME IN OBSERVING
A MOMENT OF SILENCE OF 
REFLECTION IN THEIR HONOR.
LET US PRAY.
ALMIGHTY GOD, BLESS THIS FINE 
INSTITUTION, THE COLORADO SCHOOL
OF MINES THAT MAY BE A LIVELY 
CENTER FOR LEARNING, NEW 
DISCOVERY AND THE PURSUIT OF 
WISDOM.
GRANT THAT THOSE WHO TEACH AND 
THOSE WHO LEARN MAY FIND JOY IN 
ALL OF THEIR ENDEAVORS.
AS WE CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION 
OF OUR STUDIES TODAY, WE FACE A 
RAPIDLY CHANGING AND UNCERTAIN 
WORLD.
WE ASK FOR GUIDANCE IN THE DAYS 
TO COME, WITH FURTHER STUDIES, 
WORKFORCE OR THE WRITER WORLD 
BECKON, MAY WE ALL LIVE  
FULFILLED LIVES TO SUPPORT  
OTHERS AND CONTRIBUTE TO  
SOCIETY.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR DEAR  
FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO SHARED IN
AND SUPPORTED OUR EDUCATIONAL 
JOURNEY AND ALWAYS BELIEVING IN 
US.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS 
THAT WE ENJOY, TO PURSUE 
LEARNING AND LIFE AND LOVE.
CONSTANTLY RAISE OUR EYES FROM 
THE MUNDANE
AND PREDICTABLE TO CATCH A 
GLIMPSE OF ADVENTURE AND 
DISCOVERY.
GIVE US HUMBLE, THANKFUL HEARTS 
FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS OF THIS
LIFE IN SINCERITY, WE ASK ALL OF
THOSE THINGS.
AMEN.
- THANK YOU ASPEN.
WELCOME AGAIN TO OUR VIRTUAL 
CONVOCATION.
I GATHERED HERE IN MY OFFICE 
EVERYTHING THAT WOULD NORMALLY 
BE ON STAGE AT COMMENCEMENT 
EXCEPT OF COURSE THE TRUSTEE, 
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER, FACULTY 
AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
JUST TO POINT OUT A FEW OF THE 
ITEMS, ON THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE
THE UNIVERSITY MACE, WHICH WE 
MIGHT HAVE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS
OUR MASCOT ON TOP OF IT.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE ITEMS HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE METALLICA, 
WHICH
IS THE BOOK WHO IS OPENING
AND CLOSING SIGNIFIES THE START 
AND CLOSING OF EVERY COMMENCE 
MANY CEREMONY.
AND YOU CAN READ MORE OF THOSE 
ON THE PROGRAM POSTED ON THE WEB
SITE.
WE HAVE TWO
BLASTERS HERE ON THE PODIUM, ONE
THAT I ACTUALLY KNOCK DOWN AT 
SOME POINT IN THE CEREMONY.
FINALLY, THE CHERISHED BLASTER 
BLASTER MADE BY STUDENTS IN OUR 
MINES MAKER SOCIETY SPECIFICALLY
FOR LAUNCHING THESE TWO BLASTERS
OUT IN THE AUDIENCE IN THE 
CEREMONY.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR 
UNIVERSITY, YOU KNOW
THAT FOR THE PAST 146 YEAR, 
MINES FOCUSED ON PRODUCING THE 
TOP SCIENTIST AND ENGINEERS, 
INDUSTRY LEADER, ENTREPRENEURS 
AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF INNOVATIONS
THAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
A MINES DEGREE INSTANTLY  
COMMANDS RESPECT, COMMUNICATES A
STRONG WORK ETHIC AND  
PERSEVERANCE AND INDICATES THAT 
YOU ARE RESILIENT, A GREAT TEAM 
PLAYER AND READY TO TACKLE 
ANYTHING.
IT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT 
YOUR ABILITY FOR GOING DAYS 
WITHOUT FOOD, EXERCISE AND  
SLEEP, BUT WE WON'T GO INTO  
THAT.
CLASS OF 2020, THE WORLD HAS 
CHANGED A LOT SINCE MARCH.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE ARE
UNCERTAIN, UNPRECEDENTED AND 
SOMEWHAT SCARY TIMES.
BUT REMEMBER, THAT IS EXACTLY 
HOW YOU TALKED ABOUT PHYSICS 
CLASS WHEN FIRST YEAR STUDENTS.
AND YOU HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED 
FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEP FOOT ON
THE MINES CAMPUS AND BANDED 
TOGETHER, HELPED EACH OTHER AND 
GOT THE JOB DONE.
THOSE DISTINGUISHING 
CHARACTERISTICS OF MINES 
GRADUATE, THE STRONG WORK ETHIC,
PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE AND 
TEAMWORK WILL GET YOU THROUGH 
THE NEXT YEAR JUST AS THEY HAVE 
GOTTEN THROUGH THE PAST FOUR OR 
FIVE OR MORE YEARS.
BE CONFIDENT.
KNOW THAT YOU ARE BETTER 
PREPARED FOR THIS SITUATION THAN
THE GRADUATES OF ANY OTHER 
UNIVERSITY.
I KNOW YOU WILL SHINE AND STAND 
OUT.
NO, NOT NECESSARILY FROM YOUR 
TRANSCRIPTS AND SOME OF YOU BE 
GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
OR FROM WHAT YOU DID OUTSIDE OF 
THE CLASSROOM WHILE AT MINES.
YOU GAVE A LOT OF YOURSELF AND 
YOU SUPPORTED OTHERS.
AND YOU HELPED COMMUNITIES  
LOCALLY
IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOR HIKE FOR 
BORDERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU RAISED FUNDS FOR VALUABLE 
CAUSES LIKE HEART, HEALTH AND 
LITERACY, CREATIVELY, LIKE 
CONVINCING US TO DO THE POLAR 
PLUNGE.
EVEN INSPIRED OTHERS TO PURSUE 
STEM DEGREES THROUGH K-12 
ACTIVITIES.
PEER MENTOR, RESIDENT ASSISTANTS
AND CAMPUS LEADERS.
AND YOU WELCOMED THE STUDENTS 
WHO FOLLOWED YOU TO MINES.
YOU ENRICHED CAMPUS THROUGH ART,
MUSIC, CREATIVE WRITING AND ACT.
AND YOU APPLIED THE KNOWLEDGE AT
MINES TO INVENT KNOWLEDGE FOR 
WHEEL BOUND PEOPLE WITH 
QUADRIPLEGIC.
AND YOU CREATED DEVICES TO 
REMOVE DEBRIS FROM SPACE
, CHARGE WIRELESSLY AND
COLLECT ECOLOGICAL DATA USING 
SURFACE CONTROLLED VEHICLE.
YOU APPLIED FOR A PATENT FOR NEW
TYPE OF
COMPUTER MOUSE BASED ON 
INGENIOUS USE OF PROPERTIES FROM
MATERIALS.
YOU GAVE US USE OF PRIDE, IN 
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL 
COMPETITIONS.
YOU WON FIRST PLACE IN EEE  
ROBOTICS COMPETITION.
FIRST PLACE AT ASC RENEW 
COMPETITION AND THE GRAND PRIZE 
AT NASA COLLEGIATE SPACE 
COMPETITION.
THIS PAST FALL, IN OUR FIRST 
TIME EVER COMPETING IN
THE INTERNATIONAL DECATHLON 
COMPETITION, YOU WERE THE NUMBER
ONE TEAM.
YOU SHOWED THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN 
ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AND THE REST
OF THE NATION THAT TEAMS 
COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF ENGINEERS 
AND SCIENTISTS CAN WIN AT  
HIGHEST LEVEL OF ATHLETIC 
COMPETITION AND DO IT WITH CLASS
ON THE FIELD, MAT AND TRACK.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS  
STRAIGHT, YOU MADE US THE TOP 
ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
AND ONE OF THE PREMIERE PROGRAMS
IN THE NATION.
AND YOU HAD SOME BRAGGING RIGHTS
TO TAKE WITH YOU.
AND YOU ARE THE FIRST STUDENTS 
TO EVER GRADUATE FROM MINES, 
THIS DECADE.
AND YOU DEFINITELY HOLD THE  
UNDISPUTED OFFICIAL MINES RECORD
FOR THE MOST CANCELED CLASS  
DATES DUE TO COMBINED EFFECTS OF
SNOW AND PANDEMIC.
YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL
BRAGGING RIGHT ACCORDING TO 
THEM, YOU ARE
BRAINIER THAN AT STANFORD, 
HARVARD AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY 
OTHER SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.
AND YOU ARE READY.
TODAY THE WORLD NEEDS BRIGHT AND
CREATIVE ENGINEERS MORE THAN 
EVER.
TO WRAP UP, TWO FAVORS TO ASK.
FIRST, FIND SOME MEANINGFUL WAY 
TO THANK THOSE WHO SUPPORTED YOU
ALONG THE JOURNEY.
AMONG, AFFECTIONATELY SAY, IT 
WAS TOUGH TO GET INTO MINES BUT 
TOUGHER TO GET OUT.
YOU ALL OWE EMOTIONAL DEBTS TO 
OTHERS.
THOSE CAN BE PAID OFF WITH A HUG
OR A SIMPLE THANK YOU.
START WITH YOUR PARENTS AND 
FAMILY.
ESPECIALLY YOUR MOTHERS THIS 
WEEKEND, AND HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 
TO ALL OF THE MOMS OUT THERE.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE BURSTING 
WITH PRIDE.
ALSO REMEMBER THE FACTUAL AND 
COACHES THAT CHALLENGED YOU.
THE STAFF WHO ADVISED YOU.
THE DONORS WHO SUPPORTED YOUR 
SCHOLARSHIPS.
YOUR BOSSES AND OTHERS WHO  
MENTORED YOU AND THE NETWORK YOU
BUILT AT MINES.
BOTH THE PRODUCTIVE GROUP THAT 
HELPS YOU COMPLETE YOUR DEGREE 
AND THAT DISTRACTIVE GROUP THAT 
KEPT YOU WERE FOCUSING ON 
ACADEMIC WORK.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE  
MINES FACULTY, STAFF,  
LEADERSHIP, ALUMNI AND TRUSTEE, 
RECOGNIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANT 
ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ARE PROUD TO 
CALL YOU GRADUATES OF COLORADO 
SCHOOL OF MINES.
MY SECOND FAVOR, I ASK YOU TO 
SHARE, AND ALWAYS CARRY THAT 
PRIDE WITH YOU WHATEVER YOU GO 
IN LIFE AND CAREER.
AS YOU MAKE YOUR MARK IN THE 
WORLD, I HOPE YOU WILL FIND SOME
WAY TO HELP OTHERS TO PURSUE 
THEIR EDUCATION DREAMS AND STAY 
ENGAGED WITH MINES.
YOU ARE ALL ENGINEERS AND OR  
DIGGERS FOR LIFE.
BE MINES ALUMNI, CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2020.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO 
INTRODUCE OUR STUDENT SPEAKER.
NORMALLY AT THIS CEREMONY, WE 
WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THREE 
DIFFERENT CEREMONIES AND THREE 
DIFFERENT SPEAKERS.
AND
TODAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE 
DIFFERENT TALKS FROM THREE 
DIFFERENT STUDENTS.
WE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE OF 
THEM IN THIS CEREMONY.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE 
OTHER TWO.
TO SAY THAT YOU CAN GO LISTEN TO
THEIR TALKS ON THE CLIPS ON THE 
WEB SITE.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO
MENTION, EVAN LYNN.
FROM LITTLETON, COLORADO 
GRADUATING WITH BACHELOR'S 
DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND 
MINOR IN BUSINESS  
ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
AND YOU WANT TO LOOK AT HIS  
CLIP.
YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW HORSES 
GOT ROPED INTO IT.
MOLLY WALLACE, FROM CALIFORNIA, 
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CHEMICAL 
ENGINEERING AND MINOR IN MET 
LUNCHICCAL AND MATERIALS 
ENGINEERING.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT HERS.
SHE HAS THE MOSTLY KEY VIDEO 
I'VE EVER SEEN OF A STUDENT 
PRESENTATION.
FINALLY, FOR TODAY, LAUREN 
MILLER FROM CLEAR LAKE, TEXAS 
WILL BE TALKING TO YOU IN A 
MOMENT.
GRADUATING WITH BACHELOR'S 
DEGREE IN GEOLOGY AND  
ENGINEERING.
AFTER GRADUATION, INTERNSHIP 
WITH EXXON MOBILE IN HOUSTON 
THAT WILL LEAD TO FULL-TIME 
POSITION IN HOUSTON.
LOOKING BACK, LAUREN IS  
COMPLETELY PROUD OF THE WORK IN 
FIELD SESSION AND
COLLECTION OF POETRY SHE 
CREATED.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE IS MOST PROUD
OF THE TIME SHE TOLD HERSELF, 
PUT SCHOOL WORK ASIDE FOR A 
MOMENT AND JUST GO LIVE.
CAMPING, CLIMBING, HIKING, 
CYCLING AND RUNNING IS WHAT  
HELPED HER THRIVE AT MINES.
LAUREN'S FAVORITE MOMENT, THE 
POST FIELD
WORK CARD GAMES WITH THE WHOLE 
GEOLOGY CREW.
LATE NIGHT CRUNCH SESSION 
PARTIES IN COMPUTER LAB AND 
WRITING POETRY WITH HER MCBRIDE 
CLASS.
LAUREN.
- GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS LAUREN MILLER, AND I 
SUPPOSE I'M ABOUT TO BE A 
GEOLOGIST HERE IN THE NEXT FEW 
MINUTES.
IT IS AMAZING TO IMAGINE THE 
FACES I WOULD HAVE SEEN IN THE 
CROWD TODAY.
A LOT OF WHICH I KNOWN SINCE THE
TIME IN THE DORMS.
AND SEE HOW MUCH THINGS HAVE 
CHANGED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT US, 
BUT THE CAMPUS THAT SURROUNDS  
US.
THE
CALIBER OF OUR PRODUCT OUR 
PROJECTS AND STANDARDS WE HOLD 
MINES TO, EVER PROGRESSING.
LET ME ILLUSTRATE SOME KEY 
CHANGES ON A CAMPUS, GLOBAL 
SCALE.
WHEN THE SCHOOL OF MINES WAS 
FOUNDED IN THE TERRITORY OF 
COLORADO UNDER THE EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH IN 1873, NO WOMEN, NO 
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AND NOT 
EVEN A FORMAL COMMENCEMENT.
ONE YEAR LATER BY 1874, MINES 
WAS ACQUIRED BY THE TERRITORIAL 
GOVERNMENT.
BECAME A STATE INSTITUTION IN  
1876 WHEN COLORADOS ATTAINED 
STATEHOOD.
THE FIRST FORMAL COMMENCE MANY 
WAS HELD IN 1883 AND THE FIRST 
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GRADUATED 
IN 1889.
THE FIRST FEMALE STUDENT 
GRADUATE ONLY NINE YEARS LATER 
IN 1898.
WE BEAT THAT OTHER SCHOOL THAT 
LIKES TO STEAL OUR FIGHT SONG TO
THAT STATISTIC BY OVER 50 YEARS.
WE HAVE BEEN ENGINEERS FOR QUITE
SOMETIME.
MINES THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY, 
BUILDING AND LIGHTING THE M ON 
MOUNT ZION, OPENING EDGAR MINE 
AND INCREASING THE NUMBER AND 
SIZE OF DEPARTMENTS AND RISING 
TO INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE.
NOT TOO LONG AFTER, WE ALL  
SHOWED UP FOR MOVE-IN DAY.
THESE MILESTONES ARE NO DOUBT 
REMARKABLE.
BUT I THINK THAT THE CHANGES 
THIS INSTITUTION HAS SEEN IN THE
LAST FEW GENERATION, ESPECIALLY 
THE LAST FEW YEARS ARE 
ASTOUNDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE WINTER 
BREAK OF MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, I 
RAN INTO AN OLDER WOMAN AT THE 
IMROASH
GROCERY STORE BACK HOME.
I WAS WEARING A MINE SWEATSHIRT.
FACE-TO-FACE WITH THIS  
CHARACTER.
OH, MINES!
DID YOUR DAD OR BROTHER GO THERE
THERE?
IT TOOK ME A SECOND TO RECOVER.
QUESTIONING WITH EXHALE, AND 
SMILE, ACTUALLY, I GO THERE.
BEFORE MY MOM WHISKED ME AWAY 
AND
BID OUR OLDER GROCERY STORE 
FRIEND GOODBYE.
THANKS MOM.
AFTER TAKING A FEW MOMENTS TO 
COOL MYSELF DOWN, I REALIZED I 
DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TO BE  
UPSET ABOUT.
SHE SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAR 
MINES HAD COME.
IT HELPED ME REALIZE HOW MUCH 
POSITIVE CHANGE MINES HAS SEEN.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS AMAZING.
MINES HAS COME INCREDIBLY FAR 
WITH RESEARCH
, INFAMOUS RATIO, OUR SPORTS 
TEAMS, OUR INTERNATIONAL 
STUDENTS AND OUR DIFFERENT 
CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES
ON CAMPUS ALL IN JUST A FEW 
GENERATIONS.
A LOT OF IT, WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR
FOUR, OR MAYBE MORE YEARS.
MOST RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN PROUD
TO SEE CAMPUS CULTURE CHANGE 
INITIATIVE HERE AT MINES.
AS WELL AS AN SPECIAL DICK 
STUDENT LED COALITION FIGHTING 
HUNGER AT MINES.
OUR FAVORITE SOURCE OF FOOD.
IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE ALL CHANGED
ON A PERSONAL SCALE HERE AT  
MINES.
EACH ONE
OF US, WHO PAID $50 FOR CAP AN 
GOWN HAS UNDERGONE IMMENSE 
STRESS TO REACH THIS MOMENT.
THERE WERE
LONG NIGHTS, BARRELS OF COFFEE 
AND
SOMETIMES TEARS WHEN WHEN 
CALCULATING RATES CHANGED.
LIKE ENGINEERS, ALL THAT
STRESS RESULTED IN RECOVERABLE 
STRING.
AS A FRESHMAN, I NEVER WOULD 
HAVE IMAGINED THE SKILL SET AND 
FORTITUDE THAT MINES HAS  
INSTILLED IN ME.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT MY CLASSMATES 
AND I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
BUT EVEN MORE PROUD OF THE FACT 
THAT WE
HAVE MORPHED INTO WORLD CLASS 
PROBLEM SOLVERS READY TO 
CONFRONT THE GREATEST CHALLENGES
OF OUR TIME.
TO SUMMARIZE OUR CHANGES ON A 
PERSONAL SCALE, YOU COULD SAY WE
ARE WORK HARDENED.
FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, OUR 
TRADITIONAL INTERACTIONS WITH 
THE EARTH, ENERGY AND 
ENVIRONMENT WILL CONTINUE TO 
CHANGE.
WHETHER IT IS INCREASING GLOBAL 
DEMAND FOR RESOURCES, AND  
INCREASE IN PARTS PER
MILLION OF AT POS SPHERIC
CO2 ARE OR
INCREASE OF LANES IMPROVISE AND 
ADAPT OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES 
USING EVERYTHING WE EARN AND 
LEARNED AT MINES.
WHEN I INITIALLY WROTE THIS 
SPEECH, I HAD NO IDEA THAT OUR 
LIVES WERE ALL ABOUT TO BE 
RATTLED BY A PANDEMIC.
I FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO  
BRIEFLY
ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
WE ARE MINES, WE ARE STRONG AND 
WE ARE A COMMUNITY.
WE MADE IT THROUGH ONE HELL OF A
LAST SEMESTER BUT WE ARE HERE, 
AREN'T WE?
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT HERE AND
BE THANKFUL FOR OUR HEALTH AND 
THE HEALTH OF OUR LOVED ONES.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT 
TO REFLECT ON THE PEOPLE WHOSE 
LIVES WERE IRREVOCABLY CHANGED
IN SOME UNFORTUNATELY LOST IN 
THE FEW
MONTHS
.
WE ARE MINES.
WE ARE BUILDERS, DESIGNER,  
DOERS.
WE MUST RISE TO THE CHALLENGES 
OUR WORLD PRESENTS AND KEEP IN 
MIND THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 
WE CARRY FOR EVERYONE WE 
INTERACT WITH AND EVERY PROJECT 
WE WORK ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME 
PARTING WORDS WITH YOU.
THAT I AM SURE HAVE NEVER BEEN 
SAID BEFORE AT A MINES 
GRADUATION CEREMONY.
WOW!
THAT WAS TOUGH!
- THANK YOU LAUREN FOR THAT 
WONDERFUL MESSAGE.
TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO
HAVE COLORADO GOVERNOR TO JOIN 
US.
ENTREPRENEUR, EDUCATION LEADER 
AND PUBLIC SERVANT.
BY THE TIME HE WAS 30, HE  
LAUNCHED THREE  SUCCESSFUL.
COMPANIES AND RECEIVED THE 
ENTREPRENEUR SERVICE OF THE 
DISTINCTION.
FOLLOWING, HE WANTED OTHER 
COLORADANS TO HAVE SIMILAR 
OPPORTUNITIES.
TECH START,
MENTORS  ENTREPRENEURS FROM ALL 
WALKS OF LIFE.
IT HELPS VETERANS START THEIR 
OWN SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER 
COMING HOME FROM THEIR SERVICE.
ALSO FOUNDED SEVERAL PUBLIC 
CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR ADVERSE 
YOUTH AND SERVED AS 
SUPERINTENDENT OF ONE OF THEM,
THAT HELPS IMMIGRANTS GET HIGH 
SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
PRIOR TO GOVERNOR, SIX YEARS IN 
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND 
REPRESENTED COLORADO SECOND 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH HIS 
BUSY LEADING COLORADO RESPONSE 
TO THE COVID-19 PAN DEMITION WE 
ARE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT
HE COULD FIND THE TIME TO BE 
WITH US HERE TODAY.
GOVERNOR.
- MEMBERS OF THE
CLASS OF 2020, COLORADO SCHOOL 
OF MINES.
I'M JARED POLIS.
IT IS HONOR TO BE WITH YOU 
VIRTUALLY ON THIS SPECIAL 
OCCASION.
I ACCEPTED INVITATION TO BE WITH
YOU IN PERSON.
LIKE YOU, I WAS REALLY LOOKING 
FORWARD TO GIVING THE NORMAL 
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS WITH YOUR 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE 
BACKGROUND OF THE BEAUTIFUL  
MINES CAMPUS IN THE FOOT HILLS 
OF OUR PRECIOUS ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
I'M REALLY SORRY THAT WE CAN'T 
BE IN GOLDEN TODAY, IN CAPS AND 
GOWNS IN FRONT OF FAMILY AND 
FRIENDS AND FACULTY AND STAFF.
WHEN I ACCEPTED THIS INVITATION,
I EXPECTED AS YOU DID, WE WOULD 
ALL BE TOGETHER.
I KNOW IT IS DISAPPOINTING.
BEING WITH THOSE WHO HELPED YOU 
GET THERE IS REALLY ONE OF THE 
MOST SPECIAL PARTS OF GRADUATION
AND GRADUATIONS ARE SPECIAL PART
OF LIFE.
IN SOME STRANGE WAY, THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION REALLY 
PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR
GRADUATES THAT LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS
GOING TO TURN OUT THE WAY YOU 
THINK IT WILL.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DROP 
EVERYTHING.
AND YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE 
PROBLEM AT HAND.
AND YOU HAVE TO RISE TO THE 
CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT.
LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN 
UNPRECEDENTED.
WE HAVE HAD TO CONFRONT A PUBLIC
HEALTH CHALLENGE AND ECONOMIC 
CHALLENGE UNLIKE ANY WE HAVE 
SEEN IN THE COUNTRY IN OUR STATE
DURING THE ENTIRE LIVES.
THIS PANDEMIC REQUIRES OUR 
CONSTANT ATTENTION, OUR 
DILIGENCE, RAPID RESPONSE, A 
RELIANCE ON DATA AND SCIENCE AND
COLLECTED AND PERSONAL 
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SLOW THE 
SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS THROUGHOUT
OUR STATE AND BEYOND.
I KNOW THIS HASN'T BEEN EASY ON 
ANYBODY.
THIS MOMENT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE,
SACRIFICE, DETERMINATION, 
TEAMWORK
, SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE HAPPEN TO
LEARN DURING TIME AT MINES.
OUR WORK ISN'T DONE YET.
THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.
EVEN IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES, 
WE NEED TO FIND TIME TO 
CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LIKE 
YOURS.
MILESTONES, MOMENTS OF JOY THAT 
MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING.
THAT IS WHY TODAY, I'M SO 
PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU.
IF ONLY VIRTUALLY, AT LEAST WE 
ARE HERE TOGETHER.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, I WANT TO 
CONGRATULATE YOU.
BY COMPLETING YOUR DEGREE AT 
COLORADO PROUD SCHOOL OF MINES 
YOU EARNED SOMETHING RARE.
A DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTION 
THAT HELPS BUILD AND ENHANCE THE
STATE SINCE 1874.
AND YOU SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A
CHALLENGING CURRICULUM.
YOU SOLVED PROBLEMS.
OVERCOME OBSTACLE, LAUNCHED NEW 
EDITIONS AND LAUNCHED A FEW 
ROCKETS, MET THE HIGH  
EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR PROFESSORS 
AND YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD YOU 
EARNED A MINES DEGREE.
IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, 
MOST OF YOU ARE GRADUATING WITH 
THE STEM DEGREE AND AT A TIME 
WHEN WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER 
BEFORE.
THE BRILLIANT MINES IN SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND 
MATHEMATICS, THE RIGHTS OF WHOM 
YOU ARE ABOUT TO JOIN, ARE THE 
ONES THAT WILL LEAD US OUT OF 
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC 
CRISIS.
DISCOVERY, INNOVATION, PUSHING 
THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS 
POSSIBLE, THIS IS WHAT, WELL, 
YOU, WITH THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO 
CLIMB OUT OF THE DIFFICULT 
SITUATION, THANKFULLY,  
COLORADANS ARE NO STRANGER TO 
CLIMBING, ESPECIALLY MINE 
GRADUATES.
CAREER AT MINES BEGINS WITH A 
CLIMB.
IN FACT, FIRST SEMESTER, YOU 
CLIMBED TOGETHER TO THE TOP OF 
MOUNT ZION.
IN THE DAYS AND YEARS AFTER  
THAT, YOU CONTINUE YOUR MARCH  
UPWARD AS A COMMUNITY OF 
COLLABORATORS AND TEAMMATES.
THROUGH COMMON COURSE
, DESIGNED COMPETITION, PROJECTS
AND FUN.
WHILE YOU DIDN'T FINISH FINAL 
SEMESTER ON CAMPUS, YOU DID 
FINISH IT TOGETHER.
THAT COMMUNITY YOU BUILT, WILL 
REMAIN WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF 
YOUR LIVES.
ACTUALLY, YOUR REMEMBRANCES OF 
THIS EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATION 
EVENT.
I WISH I COULD SEE THAT 
COMMUNITY UP CLOSE AND IN GOLDEN
TODAY, YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES I 
KNOW DO TOO.
I KNOW WE ALL WISH WE COULD BE 
THERE.
THAT OPPORTUNITY WILL COME.
WHEN IT DOES, WHETHER YOU ARE 
DRIVING BACK TO CAMPUS FROM 
DOWNTOWN DENVER OR FLYING FROM 
DUBAI, I HOPE YOU PAUSE, NOT 
ONLY TO CELEBRATE ALL YOU HAVE 
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE CLASSROOM TO
CELEBRATE ONE ANOTHER.
PAUSE TO CELEBRATE YOUR 
COMMUNITY, WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT 
WILL BE.
I WISH YOU THE GOOD LUCK AND 
GODSPEED IN YOUR FUTURE  
ENDEAVORS BECAUSE THE WORLD 
NEEDS YOU, NOW MORE THAN EVER.
ON BEHALF OF THE GRATEFUL STATE 
OF COLORADO, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES CLASS 
OF 2020.
GO OR DIGGERS!
- THANK YOU, GOVERNOR POLIS.
JOINING US
NOW, UNITED STATES ARMY, TO 
INTRODUCE OUR GRADUATES WHO 
EARNED COMMISSION TO THE UNITED 
STATES AIR FORCE AND UNITED 
STATES ARMY THROUGH THE COURSE 
OF THEIR STUDIES.
MINES WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FOUR 
COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES TO
ESTABLISH RESERVE OFFICERS 
TRAINING, ROTC PROGRAM.
OUR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS WAS 
COMMISSIONED IN 1921.
WE HAVE
A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY OF 
GRADUATING EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS 
IN THE MILITARY  LEADERSHIP 
POSITIONS THAT COME TO YOU 
TODAY.
CAPTAIN HOCHKISS.
- GOOD MORNING.
IT IS HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO 
RECOGNIZE OUR
ROTC GRADUATES AND SHARE IN THIS
WONDERFUL  OCCASION.
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES 
GRADUATED OVER 2,500 
COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF 
THE ROTC PROGRAM IN THE EARLY 
1900S.
TODAY WE EXPRESS OUR GRAD TUDE
EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THESE 
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS AS THEY 
CHOSE A PATH TO SERVE AS 
OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES 
MILITARY.
OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS, THREE COLORADO 
SCHOOL OF MINES BACCALAUREATE 
RECIPIENTS WILL TAKE THEIR OATH 
TO BE SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
COMMISSIONED INTO THE UNITED 
STATES AIR FORCE.
I WISH TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE 
APPRECIATION TO THE CADETS' 
PARENTS AND FAMILIES
.
AS THEY PURSUED A COMMISSION IN 
BIOCHEMICAL
AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
.
[ READING GRADUATE NAMES PLEASE 
SEE LARGE SCREEN FOR NAMES ]
[ LISTING NAMES ]
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES 
TO EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU CAPTAIN HOTCHKISS, 
CONGRATULATIONS, LUKE, BLAKE AND
NICOLE.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REPLICATE THE
RECESSION ACROSS THE STATE.
HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO 
FOLLOW THE NAMES SCROLLING 
ACROSS THE SCREEN.
IN ADDITION, I HOPE YOU TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE EACH 
INDIVIDUAL UPLOADS TO THE 
GRADUATION SITE.
WE ALSO HAVE A CONTEST GOING ON,
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, ON 
SOCIAL MEDIA, FOR THE MOST 
CREATIVE SENIOR WALK AND THE
BEST BUILT-IN DECORATED.
SOME OF THEM ARE CREATIVE AND 
FUNNY.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO TAKE A 
LOOK AT THOSE.
WE DID WORK IN THE OPPORTUNITY 
FOR ONE GRADUATE FROM EACH 
DEGREE PROGRAM TO GIVE A 
SHOUT-OUT TO FELLOW GRADUATES 
FROM THE PROGRAMS.
REPRESENTING EACH PROGRAM TODAY,
ARE THE OUTSTANDING GRADUATES 
FROM THAT PROGRAM.
THE FACULTY AND STAFF CHOSE THE 
RECIPIENTS OF THAT HONOR BASED 
ON CONSIDERATION OF GRADES AN 
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE IMPACT TO 
THEIR PROGRAMS.
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, 
OUTSTANDING GRADUATES, WOULD 
HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ONE OF
THESE SUPER COOL, REALLY AWESOME
MEDALS AT SPECIAL AWARD CEREMONY
AND YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THEM 
WEARING IT TODAY AT  
COMMENCEMENT.
WE WILL BE SENDING THESE TO  
THEM.
ALSO UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE PROVO SOMETIMES OFFERED A 
MODEST GPA BOOST TO ALL DEGREES 
IN THE DEGREE PROGRAM WITH THE 
LOUDEST CHEERING FOR THE 
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE.
PROVOST HOALS SENT ME A TEXT, 
HIS WINDOW IS OPEN AND WILL BE 
LISTENING TO SEE IF HE HEARS 
CHEERING.
GRADUATING SENIOR, THE SCREEN IS
YOURS.
- HI, EVERYBODY.
I'M SETH, MINING ENGINEERING.
TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK AND LATE
NIGHTS FOR ALL OF US.
WE FINALLY MADE IT.
THINGS ARE PRETTY UNCERTAIN FOR 
ALL OF US.
WE PROVED A LOT OF OURSELVES 
MAKING IT HERE TODAY.
I KNOW THAT WE WILL ALL DO  
GREAT!
- HI, EVERYONE.
I'M ELI FROM THE CIVIL  
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF MY FELLOW 
CIVIL GRADUATES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WAS HARDER
, PASSING STRUCTURAL OR RATTLE 
SNAKES.
WE MADE IT AND WE ARE ALIVE.
- I'M TORY, WITH THE 
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 
DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALL OF MY
FELLOW ENVIREOS, YOUR PASSION 
FOR THIS PLANET IS TRULY 
INSPIRING AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE 
ALL YOU ACCOMPLISH.
≫ HI, EVERYONE.
I'M SIERRA FROM THE MME 
DEPARTMENT.
HE WANT TO SAY I'M SO LUCKY TO 
HAVE ALL OF THESE AMAZING 
PROFESSORS AND AMAZING  
CLASSMATES.
IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO GET 
TO KNOW ALL OF YOU.
AND I HOPE THAT WE STAY IN TOUCH
AND YOU KEEP
ME UPDATEDDENED ON WHAT IS 
HAPPENING WITH FUTURE GOALS.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE MME CLASS 
OF 2020!
- HI, EVERYONE.
I'M DAVID, FROM THE ELECTRICAL 
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT 
TO ALL MY GRADUATING EEs OUT 
THERE.
WE CERTAINLY FACED A LOT OF 
RESISTANCE OVER THE PAST FOUR 
YEARS.
BUT WE MANAGED TO PUSH THROUGH.
WAY TO GO, GUYS!
CONGRATS AGAIN!
- HI, EVERYONE.
I'M LAUREN, FROM THE GEOLOGY AND
GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 
DEPARTMENT.
CONGRATS TO ALL OF MY FELLOW 
GRADUATING GEOLOGY MAJORS.
SO PROUD AND HUMBLED TO SHARE MY
CLASSES WITH SUCH AMAZING 
STUDENTS AND PEOPLE HERE AT  
MINES.
I'M EVEN MORE PROUD TO HAVE 
SURVIVED THE CASE OF LIQUEFIED 
BROCCOLI DURING WEEK THREE OF 
FIELD SESSION.
SHOUT-OUT TO AUSTEN.
CONGRATS GEOLOGY TO THE CLASS OF
2020.
WE DID IT!
- I'M KENDALL, I'M THE 
OUTSTANDING GRADUATING SENIOR 
FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL 
ENGINEERING.
MY FELLOW GRADUATING CHEMICAL 
AND BIOLOGICAL
ENGINEERS, ALTHOUGH I CANNOT 
COUNT THE LATE NIGHTS OR THE 
FAILED ASPEN SIMILAR LAKES ALL 
OF THAT HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
LED YOU TO THIS VERY MOMENT.
ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AN 
LET'S GO OUT AND DISTILL A 
BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER!
THANK YOU.
- HI, I'M BRADLEY, I'M THE 
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE SENIOR FROM
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 
DEPARTMENT.
I'M SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS 
AWESOME DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY
THAT IS THE MECA DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL 
OF THE FACTUAL AND STUDENTS AND 
PROFESSORS TO GETTING US HERE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF 
THE FELLOW GRADUATES.
YOU ARE PHENOMENAL AND  
ACHIEVEMENTS SHINING IN THIS 
UNEQUAL TIME.
- HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M WITH THE PETROLEUM  
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF 
YOU, YEAR 2020.
ANOTHER CLASS THAT SURVIVED 
FIELD TEST IN COLORADO AND THE 
LAST CLASS TO TAKE ROCK CLASS 
WITH DR. RAMONA GRAVES.
I HOPE EVERYONE IS FINDING JOBS 
AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS.
I HOPE TO WORK WITH ALL YOU IN 
THE INDUSTRY SOME DAY.
- HI, EVERYBODY.
I'M LEAH, I'M APPLIED MATH.
I WANT TO SAY A HUGE 
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 
GRADS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS.
WE LEARNED SO MUCH.
WE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET TO 
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I
AM VERY PROUD TO BE GRADUATING 
VIRTAMLY WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO APPLIED MATH CLASS OF 2020.
- HI, EVERYONE.
I'M AIDEN, WITH THE STATISTICS 
DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY 
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 
STATISTICS GRADUATES.
AND YOU SPENT THE LAST FEW YEARS
PURSUING EXCITING FIELD THAT 
TEACHES US TO SOLVE SOME OF THE 
WORLD'S TOUGHEST PROBLEMS.
AND TOGETHER, WE TRANSPORT 
CONFUSING IDEAS INTO POWERFUL 
INSIGHTS.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE YOUR WORK WILL
HAVE IMPACT AND AGAIN, 
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 
GRADUATION.
- HI, GUYS.
I'M PAUL, IN THE GEOPHYSICS 
DEPARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
WE SURVIVED A CURRICULUM CHANGE,
TWO DEPARTMENT MOVES, AND THE 
COVID-19 VIRUS.
SO I THINK THAT WE ARE READY 
JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND
THANKS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT 
MEMORIES.
- HI, EVERYONE.
I'M PHILIP, FROM CHEMISTRY 
DEPARTMENT.
I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS 
TO ALL OF MY FELLOW CHEMISTRY 
MAJORS.
I KNOW WE WORKED SO HARD AND 
SPENT SO MANY
HOURS IN THE LAB AND IN CLASS TO
GET HERE.
GOOD LUCK WHEREVER YOU MAY BE 
HEADED NEXT!
- HI, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JOSH.
FROM THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS
AN TO ALL OF MY FELLOW PHYSICS 
MAJOR.
TIME SPENT WITH Y'ALL, WORKING, 
SOCIALIZING, LIVING IN THE 
PHYSICS LOUNGE, MADE IT FEEL 
MUCH MORE LIKE A FAMILY THAN 
ANYTHING ELSE.
CONGRATULATIONS, ENTERING 
PHYSICS CLASS 2020 WE DID IT!
- HI, EVERYONE!
I'M ALEX, FROM COMPUTER SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE 
GRADUATING!
DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS.
I HOPE YOU ALL TREAT YOURSELVES 
TO COLLEGE GRADS TO UPGRADE YOUR
GAMING LAPTOPS WITH SECOND OR 
THIRD MONITORS.
NOW THAT THERE ARE QUARANTINE 
HOME OFFICES.
- MARSHAL HERE, ECONOMICS AND 
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO 
SAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW 
GRADUATES.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS
TO [ LISTING NAMES ]
.
IT HAS BEEN A HECK OF A FOUR 
YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE  
2020 GRADUATES.
- CONGRATS!
- CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE 
OUTSTANDING GRADUATES FROM EACH 
DEGREE PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO THE OUTSTANDING 
GRADUATES FROM EACH PROGRAM, 
WITH HE HAVE QUITE A FEW OTHER 
AWARD WINNERS INCLUDING THE 
RECIPIENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY'S 
WILLIAM WALTMAN AWARD.
OUR PRESIDENTIAL
SENIOR SCHOLAR ATHLETES AND THE 
CEC AWARD WINNERS AS WELL AS 
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS, HONORS AND 
DISTINCTIONS.
WE UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE TIME
TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN THE 
CEREMONY.
BUT THEY ARE ALL LISTED IN THE 
DIGITAL COMMENCE MANY PROGRAM 
AVAILABLE ON THE WEB SITE.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS TO CHECK THOSE OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL OF 
OUR AWARD WINNERS!
AND NOW, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO 
THE RITUAL THAT MAKES YOUR 
DEGREES OFFICIAL, WE HAVE A 
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SOON TO BE 
NEWEST GRADUATES AND NEWEST 
ALUMNI.
FROM PATTY, MINES ALUMNA, ALUMNI
SPOUSE, ALUMNI PARENT.
PATTY AND HUSBAND MIKE, THROUGH 
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, MADE IT 
POSSIBLE FOR MANY STUDENTS TO 
ATTEND MINES WHO MIGHT NOT  
OTHERWISE.
PATTY IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD 
OF TRUSTEES WHO BY THE WAY, 
APPROVE YOUR DEGREES TODAY.
BE PARTICULARLY ATTENTIVE.
PATTY.
- CONGRATULATIONS!
CLASS OF 2020.
THE NUMBER THAT SIGNIFIES 
PERFECT VISION,
BUT THE YEAR THAT IS IRONICALLY 
BLURRY.
IN SPITE OF THE OBSTACLES YOU 
ENCOUNTERED YOU HAVE PERSEVERED 
TO THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND 
CELEBRATION OF TODAY.
AND YOU GRADUATED FROM ONE OF 
THE MOST RIGOROUS ENGINEERING 
AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITIES IN THE 
WORLD.
I HOPE YOU TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND 
JOY IN THE SUCCESS.
MY NAME IS PATTY STARZER.
NEARLY 37 YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND 
MIKE AND I GRADUATED FROM MINES 
WITH A GREAT SENSE OF  
ACHIEVEMENT AND ANTICIPATION FOR
WHAT LAY AHEAD.
WE WERE GETTING MARRIED IN A 
MONTH AND MOVING TO ALASKA.
ENGINEERING JOBS WERE SCARCE AND
OUR FUTURE WAS UNCERTAIN.
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE ONE JOB 
BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.
WE SET OFF TO BE GROWN UPS, TO 
PRACTICE THE SKILLS WE LEARNED 
AT MINES AND THE VALUES THAT WE 
WERE TAUGHT AS CHILDREN.
WE BEGAN A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR 
LIVES.
MANY PEOPLE SET RESOLUTIONS AT 
THE NEW YEAR OR OTHER 
SIGNIFICANT TURNING POINTS LIKE 
GRADUATION.
I ALSO FIND VALUE IN TAKING A 
LOOK BACK.
I PULL UP MY CALENDAR AND 
JOURNAL AND REFLECT ON WHERE I 
HAVE BEEN.
PEOPLE I HAVE MET, THINGS I HAVE
DONE, PRAYERS THAT WERE  
ANSWERED.
IT IS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.
I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED HOW MANY
BLESSINGS THERE WERE THAT I 
FORGOTTEN.
I ALWAYS LOOK BACK, IF GOD GAVE 
ME THIS AS A TO-DO LIST, I WOULD
SAY, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH
DAYS AND I AM NOT THAT SMART.
MY FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD, 
KNOWING THAT I COULD NOT HAVE 
ACCOMPLISHED
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON MY OWN.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO REFLECT BACK 
ON YOUR YEARS AT MINES.
YOUR TRAVELS, RELATIONSHIPS, 
TRIALS, FAILURES, SUCCESSES, BE 
THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THEM.
REMEMBER THOSE WHO HELPED YOU 
GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY AND TAKE
TIME TO COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE THIS
SPECIAL DAY WITH YOU GRADUATES.
I WELCOME YOU AS FELLOW MINES 
ALUMNI.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AWESOME 
PLACES YOU EXPERIENCE, THE 
AMAZING PLACES YOU WILL MEET AND
BECOME.
AND REMARKABLE THINGS YOU WILL 
DO WITH YOUR LIVES.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020.
- THANK YOU PATTY FOR THOSE 
WONDERFUL REMARKS.
OKAY, GRADUATES.
WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE 
OF BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.
THAT IS MAKING YOUR DEGREES 
OFFICIAL.
THE CONFERRAL PROCESS FOUR 
CRITICAL STEPS.
STEP ONE IS GETTING THE RIGHT 
PEOPLE HERE.
I'M GOING TO NEED THE HELP OF 
PROVOST RICK, COLORADO SCHOOL OF
MINES BOARD OF TRUSTEE TOM.
PROVOST, CHAIRMAN JORDAN, WOULD 
YOU PLEASE JOIN US.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
GREAT, GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US
US.
PROVOST
, WOULD YOU TELL US ABOUT OUR 
GRADUATES?
- YES, TODAY, WE WILL BE  
CONFERRING DEGREES TO ABOUT 840 
BACHELOR DEGREE RECIPIENTS.
THIS IS A CLASS THAT IS 
DISTINGUISHED ITSELF  
ACADEMICALLY.
123 STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING
COOM LAWD
GRADUATING WITH HONORS.
WE HAVE 79 STUDENTS IN
THE  HONORS.
THESE HONOR DISTINCTIONS ARE 
NOTED IN THE PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE 7 STUDENTS 
WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING 
THAT NOT MANY HERE AT MINES DO.
THEY HAVE EARNED TWO BACHELOR 
DEGREES.
THESE STUDENTS
ARE:  [ LISTING NAMES BRK
NAMES
]
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 
GRADUATING STUDENTS.
- THANK YOU PROVOST.
CHAIRMAN JORDAN, WOULD YOU LIKE 
TO MAKE ANY REMARKS TO THE 
STUDENTS?
- PRESIDENT
JOHNSON, I WAS THINKING ABOUT 
TODAY, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY 
IT IS.
AND I WAS RECALLING A FEW YEARS 
AGO, I HAD DINNER WITH
THE PEER CEO, NOT HIMSELF A 
MINES GRAD, BUT SAID TO ME AT 
DINNER, THE THING ABOUT A MINES 
GRADUATE IS YOU CAN SEND THEM 
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD FOR ANY 
PROBLEM YOU HAVE, AND THEY'LL 
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT DONE.
WELL GRADUATES, YOU HAVE 
WONDERFUL CAREERS AHEAD OF YOU.
AS A FELLOW ALUM, I LOOK FORWARD
TO CHEERING YOU ON.
CONGRATULATIONS!
- THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN JORDAN.
OKAY.
GRADUATES, NOW IT IS TIME FOR 
STEP TWO.
AND FOR THIS PART, WE NEED ALL 
OF YOU TO STAND.
THE DEGREE OF REFERRALS WILL NOT
BE OFFICIAL IF YOU DON'T.
GET OFF THE COUCH, OUT OF BED, 
OFF THE DESK, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
IT IS TIME TO STAND UP.
COME ON.
THERE ARE A FEW OF YOU WHO 
HAVEN'T GOTTEN UP YET.
LET'S GO!
OKAY.
THAT IS PROBABLY AS GOOD AS WE 
ARE GOING TO GET.
ALL RIGHT.
STEP TWO.
STEP THREE.
WE HAVE TO READ THE CORRECT  
WORDS.
WE DON'T GET THESE WORDS RIGHT, 
WE HAVE TO START THIS WHOLE 
CEREMONY ALL OVER AGAIN.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
SO PROVOST, YOU HAVE THE FIRST 
LINES.
- WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON, DIDN'T
YOU SAY THERE WERE FOUR
IMPORTANT STEPS?
- KNOW, YOU ARE RIGHT.
WE ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING.
AND FOR THAT FOURTH STEP, WE 
NEED THE HELP OF ONE OF OUR SOON
TO BE GRADUATES.
LET'S SEE.
HOW ABOUT AMANDA FIELD, WOULD 
YOU PLEASE JOIN US!
HI, AMANDA.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
- DOING WELL.
HOW ARE YOU?
- IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
GRADUATE SUPPOSED TO BE, I'M 
SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW AMANDA.
STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, A PEER 
MENTOR, SHE HAS BEEN VERY 
ENGAGED ON CAMPUS.
AND TODAY, SHE IS ONLY MOMENTS 
AWAY FROM GRADUATING WITH A 
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MECHANICAL 
ENGINEER.
ANY REMARKS TO FELLOW GRADUATES?
- JUST GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF US.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE WE ALL 
HEAD TO NEXT!
- ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
AMANDA, YOU HAVE A VERY 
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY.
AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD UP ONE OF 
OUR MOST UNIQUE AND SACRED 
GRADUATION ARTIFACTS.
THE AUDIENCE ALREADY SEEN THE 
UNIVERSITY MACE HERE IN FRONT OF
ME.
WE HAVE
THE METALLICA BOOK THAT IS 
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CEREMONY.
OF COURSE, THE STUDENT MADE 
BLASTER BLASTER BEHIND ME ON THE
SHELF.
THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT PARTS OF
THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
BUT THE AUDIENCE HAS
YET TO SEE THE FOURTH CRITICAL 
ITEM.
ALL RIGHT!
THE SACRED LIGHT SABER!
BACK IN ACTION!
AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT
FOR US.
AND IF YOU COULD HOLD ON TO THAT
WHILE WE NOW GET THROUGH THIS, 
THE VERY IMPORTANT WORDS.
SO PROVOST, WE ARE READY TO GO.
- CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR'S 
DEGREES, ARE YOU READY?
PRESIDENT JOHNSON, WITH THE 
APPROVAL OF THE FACULTY, I 
RECOMMEND
THAT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE 
DEGREE BE CONFERRED UPON THESE 
CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATES WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE 
PRESENT TODAY, WILL BE AWARDED 
THEIR DEGREES IN ABSTENSA THEIR 
NAMES IN THE PROGRAM.
- ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, PROVOST.
CHAIRMAN JORDAN.
IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT 
TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THESE 
CANDIDATES.
EACH HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE
AMAZING FACULTY POWER
OF SCHOOL MINES, TO RECEIVE HIS 
OR HER DEGREE.
I CONCUR WITH THE FACULTY AND IT
IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THESE 
CANDIDATES FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE.
- PRESIDENT JOHNSON, MY ACTION 
OF THE BOARD OF BOARD OF  
TRUSTEES WITH COLORADO SCHOOL OF
MINES
TAKEN ON MAY 1, 2020, I DIRECT 
YOU TO AWARD THESE CANDIDATES 
THE DEGREES WHICH THEY HAVE 
EARNED AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH
THEM!
- ALL RIGHT.
THAT WASN'T OFFICIAL LINE IN THE
OFFICIAL WORDS.
OKAY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST PARTS
OF BEING A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT 
TO SAY THESE LAST LINES.
THEY ARE... UPON RECOMMENDATION 
OF THE FACULTY, BY THE AUTHORITY
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I 
CONFER
UPON EACH OF YOU OUR  NEWEST 
GRADUATES, THE DEGREE OF 
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND 
DESIGNATED CURRICULUM WITH ALL 
OF THE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES PERTAINING 
THERE TO.
I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS 
OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT AND 
NOW THERE IS A STEP FIVE.
WHICH IS, AMANDA, YOU WILL HAVE 
TO BE CAREFUL WITH THIS 
PARTICULAR STEP, BECAUSE WE 
DON'T WANT YOU CUTTING OFF ANY 
PARTS OF YOURSELF.
NOW ALL MOVE YOUR TASSEL FROM 
THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT!
ALL RIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
[APPLAUSE]
NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE GRAND 
FINALE.
USUALLY EVERYONE STAND
UP IN LOCKRIDGE AND VARSITY 
ATHLETES LEAD US IN THE FIGHT 
SONG.
AT THE END, WE ASK THEM TO CHEER
AND STOMP AND MAKE NOISE ALL 
THEY WANT
.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T DO THAT
REMOTELY?
STUDENT ATHLETES YOU UP FOR  
THIS?
YEAH?
GREAT.
FANTASTIC GROUP.
WHILE GETTING READY TO LEAD US 
IN THE FIGHT SONG, TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE AUDIENCE
WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
IN I DITION TO EARNING YOUR 
DEGREES.
OF THE
71 VARSITY ATHLETE
S GRADUATING TODAY, THEY WERE 
GRADUATES 46 OF THEM.
42 IN NCAA POST SEASON 
COMPETITION.
14 SELECTED AS ALL-AMERICAN 
SPORTS.
FIVE HAVE BEEN AWARDED ACADEMIC 
ALL-AMERICAN
STATUS AND SEVEN OF THEM ARE 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEAR,  
ATHLETICS PROGRAM OWNED IT.
RECOGNIZING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM IN THE CONFERENCE.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE WE JUMP INTO 
THE FIGHT SONG HERE WITH THE 
ATHLETES I WANT TO THANK
THE WHOLE AUDIENCE FOR BEING 
HERE TODAY.
FEELS GREAT TO BE TOGETHER, IF 
EVEN VIRTUALLY.
TO ALL, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE 
LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME WE SAY 
THAT TO YOU IN PERSON.
EVERYBODY READY FOR THIS?
WE MIGHT AS WELL GET UP.
I AM GOING TO LISTEN OUT THE 
WINDOW.
I WANT TO HEAR ALL OF YOU DOING 
THAT BIG, OH!
PART AT THE BEGINNING.
VARSITY ATHLETES, ARE YOU READY?
LET'S DO THIS OREDIGGERS!
♫ I WISH I HAD A BARREL ♫
♫ OF RUM ♫
♫ AND SUGAR THREE HUNDRED ♫
♫ POUNDS ♫
♫ THE COLLEGE BELL TO MIX IT ♫
♫ IN AND A CLAPPER ♫
♫ TO STIR IT ROUND ♫
♫ LIKE EVERY HONEST FELLOW ♫
♫ I TAKE MY WHISKEY CLEAR ♫
♫ I'M A RAMBLING RAMBLE WRECK ♫
♫ FROM GOLDEN TECH ♫
♫ A
HELL YUFUVA ENGINEER ♫
♫ THE GANG'S ALL HERE ♫
♫ HAIL
, HAIL, THE GANG'S ALL
HERE ♫
♫ WHAT THE HELL DO ♫
♫ WE CARE AS LONG ♫
♫ AS WE GET OUR SHARE ♫
♫ WHAT THE HELL DO
WE CARE NOW ♫  ♫♫
- CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020.
WE ARE JOINING ELITE GROUP OF 
ENGINEERS, RECOGNIZE THE WORLD 
OVER.
