WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 It is now both a privilege and honor to have Matt Utterback as our commencement speaker today. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Matt was selected last fall as Oregon's superintendent of the year. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:12.000 And was recently named the national superintendent of the year 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.000 from the American Association of School Administrators. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:20.000 He has been the superintendent at North Clackamas School District since 2012. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:26.000 And during that time the district has made major gains in graduation rates and test scores 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.000 particularly for low income, minority, and special education students. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.000 Matt and his wife Nancy are Western alums. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.000 And Matt earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1989 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.000 as well as a teaching certificate in social studies and integrated science. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.000 He was also the Delmer Dewey recipient in 1989 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.000 which afforded him the chance to be one of the speakers at his graduation ceremony. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Matt now returns 28 years later to Western Oregon University 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.000 to congratulate you our class of 2017. Matt. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:00:65.000 applause 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.000 Good afternoon graduates. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.000 It's an honor to be here today and speak with you 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.000 on my 28th anniversary of commencement from Western Oregon. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.000 You're all here today embarking upon the next phase of your life. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.000 And I wish you every success. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:31.000 The world that you are entering is rich with possibilities. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Our world your world is increasingly interconnected. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:43.000 Interdependent. And filled with diverse backgrounds and varied perspectives. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:51.000 You success will depend upon your ability to authentically recognize each person's humanity, 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:55.000 honor their history, and respect their contributions. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:62.000 Since 2012 I've had the pleasure of serving as the superintendent of the North Clackamas School District. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:10.000 And in my care are over 17,000 students, 2,000 employees, in over 30 schools. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:17.000 While we've accomplished many achievements I'm particularly proud of the work that we have done to embrace equity 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.000 and create inclusive learning environments for our students. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:26.000 Equity is not treating everyone the same. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.000 That is equality. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Equity has us look at each person as an individual, affirm their identity, 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.000 and build upon the gifts and strengths each of us possess. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Bringing equity into our communities and workplaces 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:47.000 requires each of us to look at our own identity and history. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:54.000 Perhaps sharing my background with you will explain why the issues of equity are central to me. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.000 I grew up in a small town on the Oregon coast 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.000 in a family of educators. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:65.000 My great-great-grandfather came to Oregon on the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.000 And he settled not too far from here. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:14.000 He had a son who became a teacher who was certified to teach all subjects in the Oregon Territories. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.000 My grandfather was a high school assistant principal. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.000 My father was my high school counselor. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:29.000 I was raised middle class with the privilege that comes from being a male, white, and the son of well-educated parents. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:35.000 I knew the dominant community norms and I used them to my advantage. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.000 But unlike many in our communities today 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.000 college was always an option for me. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:44.000 And obviously like others in my family 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.000 I fell into the family business. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:52.000 But 18 months into my teaching career at the age of 22 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 I was approached by my white, male assistant principal 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.000 and told I should consider a career in school leadership. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:03:65.000 I was flattered because he told me I had the characteristics of being a good school leader. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.000 As I reflect upon that conversation now 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:16.000 I realize that that encouragement was also based on the fact that I matched the characteristics of the typical school leader at the time. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:21.000 I was white. I was male. I was familiar. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.000 And perhaps even comfortable. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:29.000 What many do not know, that in 1978 when I was nine years old 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:34.000 my parents adopted my seven-year-old brother from a Korean orphanage. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.000 My brother John was one of the very few people of color in our community. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:45.000 From my brother's perspective no one else looked like him, no one sounded like him, 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:52.000 and it was likely that no one in our community had shared many of his experiences. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 John settled into our neighborhood elementary school and quickly learned English. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:62.000 However as my brother approached his early adolescent years, struggles began to emerge. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:09.000 He began making statements like "no one understand me, and no one looks like me." 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.000 These were the first signs that we were losing him. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:19.000 These struggles of identity were followed by behavioral struggles, poor academic achievement. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:26.000 My parents sought help, tried different schools, but nothing was successful. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.000 We continued to lose him. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:35.000 When my brother was 18 he asked my parents if he could return to Korea. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:40.000 However because John did not have an education or any career training 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.000 he was not welcomed back into his native country. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:48.000 After being rejected by both his adopted and native countries 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.000 my brother requested if he could move to Hawaii 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.000 where there was a larger Asian population. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:58.000 My brother made this move. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:05:65.000 But after years of enduring significant marginalization and rejection in his young life 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:06.000 that had taken a toll 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.000 my brother completed suicide. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.000 And we had lost him. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.000 What I know today that I didn't know 30, 20, or even 10 years ago 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:26.000 is that while many would say that our community had the best intentions of supporting my brother 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:33.000 the community, the school system, and even I as his brother did a very poor job 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:39.000 of affirming his identity and deeply honoring his history and his culture. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:43.000 Instead the system worked tirelessly to try to get him to conform 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.000 to the white, majority norms and customs. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:52.000 And clearly the results of those efforts was devastating. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:60.000 It took me nearly 20 years after my brother's passing to begin to unpack his struggles and his history. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:06.000 I would always view my brother's actions through my white lens. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:12.000 And when I would do this I was incapable of seeing the true reality of his experiences. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:17.000 Stepping outside of my reality and expected norms 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:21.000 wasn't always easy or comfortable but it was essential. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:28.000 It was essential in my recognition that a person's life is meant to be lived authentically. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:35.000 Without having to wear masks or costumes to hide one's true self. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:42.000 While I had experienced the stark reality of my brother's passing on a deeply personal level 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:48.000 I had not recognized the impact that racism and ignorance had on my brother's life. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:55.000 And I humbly admit to you that it wasn't until 2009 when I began to understand his reality. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:61.000 It was in that year that I had begun to understand and look at my own white racial identity. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.000 And I learned that my whiteness matters. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.000 And I began to understand the power and the privilege and the responsibility 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.000 that comes from being a male with rank. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.000 The purpose of me sharing this story with you is that while it is tragic, 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:24.000 I don't think my brother's story is all that different from many individuals' in our communities today. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:30.000 In fact my brother's story may not be all that different from some of your own stories. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.000 The harder we tried to make John fit into the white, dominant community 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:37.000 the harder he resisted and suffered. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:40.000 And John's story isn't unique. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:46.000 The isolation and the marginalization and the stigma he endured took a toll on him. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:51.000 And conforming to majority standards and customs that are not our own 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:55.000 has a detrimental impact on too many of us 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:60.000 as well as our friends, our family members, our neighbors, and our colleagues. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:07.000 Recently I had the opportunity to meet with a group of black, African American students 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:13.000 to hear their experiences and to listen to what their lives were like as students in our school system. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:18.000 And what I heard was raw emotion, pain, and hurt. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Our students said that the only curriculum about black people is when we teach about slavery. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:33.000 Instead our black students need to hear about the contribution of blacks made throughout our history. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:37.000 And they need to see themselves positively reflected in the curriculum. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:44.000 One student said we want to hear and learn about the black experience from black writers. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.000 Not from a white person writing about the black experience. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.000 Students described in vivid detail what it was like to be a student of color. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:59.000 One student said it's like air in a compressed can under tremendous pressure. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:09:64.000 Another student said I have to be careful around white people. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 They're afraid of me, the big scary black guy. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:15.000 This was followed by another student who said it's hard going to school where people don't look like you. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.000 It's uncomfortable for everyone. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:24.000 And finally a young woman said I just keep my head down so I can graduate. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.000 I was left with a troubling reality. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:34.000 For all of our successes, our communities and our school systems 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.000 continue perpetuating feelings of hurt and anger. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:43.000 Sadly too many students and people in general feel the system works against them. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:48.000 And they lack the power to bring about significant change. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:51.000 Our students need and want allies 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:57.000 who possess the positional power and have the ability to bring about meaningful change. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:62.000 I need to be an ally and you need to be an ally. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.000 We have students who are afraid coming to school. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.000 People are afraid in their own neighborhoods and communities. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.000 We've witnessed harassment, discrimination, and violence 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:21.000 based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity on a daily basis. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:27.000 Such acts are dismaying 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:30.000 but not entirely surprising. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:35.000 The daily hurtful rhetoric in our society is producing alarming levels of anxiety 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:40.000 and inflaming social tensions throughout our neighborhoods and communities. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.000 And this anxiety is tremendous, profound, and real. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:52.000 Unfortunately one person cannot remedy all the systemic factors that divide our society 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:57.000 and make it challenging to see beyond our often myopic frames of reference. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:61.000 Yet such work is required. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:07.000 It's required of us if we aim to be compassionate, thoughtful, and contributing humans. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.000 So what do we do? 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:18.000 Margaret Wheatley recently wrote, "for too long too many of us have been entranced by heroes. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Perhaps it's our desire to be saved. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.000 To not have to do the hard work. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.000 Or our preference for someone else to figure things out. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Our yearning for heroes isn't helped by the constant barrage of politicians 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.000 presenting themselves as the ones who will fix everything. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.000 And make our problems go away if we simply follow them. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:44.000 It's a seductive notion. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:49.000 It's an enticing promise. And it's completely unrealistic. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.000 Instead of waiting for heroes 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:55.000 I advocate abandoning the notion altogether. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:59.000 Let's banish the notion of heroes and in doing that 00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:64.000 also banish the hopes and expectations that only breed dependency and passivity 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.000 and that do not lead us to solutions to the challenges we face. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 Instead we must face the truth of our situation. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.000 Which is that we're all in this together. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.000 That we all have a voice. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:23.000 And that we all must figure out how to mobilize the hearts and minds of everyone in our schools, 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:26.000 our workplaces, and our communities." 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:32.000 I know it seems overwhelming and perhaps impossible to counter the current climate. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:39.000 Where the rules of civility and respect for differing opinions have dissipated in dramatic ways. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:42.000 I know it's frightening and perhaps unfamiliar 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.000 to begin to unpack the dominant norms and systems and attitudes 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.000 that leave too many of us feeling vulnerable and fearful. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:55.000 To simply live life authentically. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:60.000 Yet our work in North Clackamas has left me with optimism. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 This work has reinforced that as individuals 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:09.000 we can and we must create the type of society 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:15.000 where safety, respect, and love form the basis of our actions. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:22.000 To be clear, in no way am I espousing a specific political agenda. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.000 It is not a political act to support the safety and wellbeing 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:32.000 of our friends, family members, and neighbors who are vulnerable. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.000 It is a human act. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:45.000 applause 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:51.000 Rather what I am stating is that each of us no matter what we believe, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:56.000 how we look, where we were born, or whom we love, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:62.000 is entitled to move through the world feeling safe and respected. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:07.000 Love for one another can make this happen. Yes I used the word love. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:12.000 Unlike tolerance which would have us acknowledge our differences 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:17.000 love knows that each of us has worth and value. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:23.000 And love compels us to defend each other from hurt and harm. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.000 When we defend each other from hurt and harm 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:31.000 we commit to interrupting when we hear or see offensive words and acts. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:37.000 When we commit to creating communities that are protected from discrimination. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.000 When we commit to communicate daily 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.000 to our friends, our neighbors, and colleages 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:48.000 that we will protect, advocate for, and value them equally. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.000 No matter their race, their gender, their gender identity, 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:57.000 their religion, their sexual orientation, language, or ethnicity. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:63.000 When we undertake these actions we model for others what we want to hear and see from them. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.000 And one of the most powerful actions we can take is to engage in respectful conversations. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.000 This is the foundation of civil discourse. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:14.000 When we allow ourselves to listen to one another 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:20.000 And when we create space for multiple and diverse perspectives on various issues 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.000 we further develop our own critical capacity to think 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:27.000 and to positively influence others. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:31.000 Earlier this year I wrote to each of our staff members 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:38.000 and in that letter I spoke about how important it is that each of us create and maintain a learning and work environment 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:44.000 that holds at its center a sense of sincere caring, safety, and respect. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:50.000 I spoke on the importance of reflecting on our practices, our behaviors, and actions, 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:55.000 as a means to go back and ask ourselves, why do we do what we do? 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:60.000 When we undertake this it allows us to examine the impact our actions have on others. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:05.000 It allows us to consider if we're moving towards a stance of inclusion 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:10.000 as opposed to inadvertently excluding others. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:13.000 I recognize that in our fast-paced society 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:17.000 it can be easy to get caught up in simply completing our daily tasks. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:22.000 However I hope that you see beyond mere task completion 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:26.000 and employ some of the strategies that I outlined in that staff letter. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:33.000 These strategies contribute to building an environment of care, safety, and respect in our communities. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.000 And I'd like to share those with you today. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:41.000 First, pronounce every individual's full name correctly. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:49.000 No one should feel the need to shorten or change her or his name to make it easier for others to pronounce. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:56.000 Explore how your own identity impacts the way you see and experience different people. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:63.000 Grow, learn, and change at the same rate the world around us is changing. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:10.000 By doing so you won't lose touch with the lives and the contexts of those with whom you will interact. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.000 Continue educating yourself. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:15.000 Be open to learning from the experience of others 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.000 and to be challenged by diverse perspectives. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.000 Be open to critique. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:28.000 Be dedicated to listening actively and modeling a willingness to be changed by the presence of others. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:33.000 To the same extent they are necessarily changed by you. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:38.000 And finally don't wait for the hero. Be the action. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.000 Notice what's going right and do more of it. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:47.000 Notice those who are taking action and join in. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.000 Right here in Western Oregon 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:55.000 there are people that practice selfless care of others with devotion and patience. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.000 An excellent example of someone who has committed themselves 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:63.000 to creating and nurturing a sense of caring, safety, and respect for others 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:06.000 is graduate Juan Navarro. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:12.000 applause 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:19.000 Motivated by a profound concern for the often overlooked needs of undocumented students 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:24.000 Juan was part of a cadre of students who created the Alma's Project website 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.000 that provides comprehensive resources for students and community members 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:33.000 enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.000 While juggling all of his other responsibilities 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:40.000 Juan headed the immigration policy group and served as the volunteer coordinator. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.000 Working to assist a population that is often marginalized, 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:46.000 irrationally feared, and stigmatized, 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:53.000 Juan and others involved in Alma's Project saw an opportunity to act from love. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:56.000 If we followed their lead we would create a society 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:61.000 where everyone belongs and feels appreciated for their humanity. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Juan could have waited for a hero. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.000 He could have waited for someone else to act. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:11.000 He did not. He took action. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:15.000 Graduates I encourage you to consider who has shown you love, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:20.000 who has helped you stand tall in adversity, and who has been your ally. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:25.000 From our allies we gain strength in the face of challenges, 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:30.000 compassion and empathy to place ourselves in someone else's shoes, 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:35.000 and courage to be our authentic self. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:41.000 It only takes a head nod, a smile, a fleeting memory from one of them, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:46.000 and our strength, our confidence, and our hopefulness is renewed. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:52.000 We all need allies and we all need to be an ally to others. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:59.000 Our future as a community and as a society rests upon our actions as allies and advocates. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:64.000 If we want a future that's different we will consider this from Margaret Wheatley. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:13.000 The future comes from where we are now. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:18.000 It materializes from the actions, and values, and beliefs we're practicing now. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.000 We're creating the future every day 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:26.000 by what we choose to do and by what we choose not to do. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:33.000 If we want a different future we have to take responsibility for what we're doing in the present. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:38.000 We have sufficient human capacities to think and reflect together, 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:45.000 to care about one another, to act courageously, to reclaim the future." 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:50.000 Congratulations again to the class of 2017. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.000 Go forward with the knowledge and skills you've learned here. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:59.000 Take action and make a positive difference in the lives of others. Thank you. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:67.000 applause