Commencement Address Spring 2024

Friday, May 10, 2024

Please be seated everyone, and welcome to the 2024 University Commencement!

By the way, wasn’t that a fun video? It showcases what makes UT Dallas so special. All of our Comets shine bright!

Class of 2024, tonight is for you! Congratulations!

Let me give special thanks to your fellow Comet, Olivia Foster, for singing the National Anthem.

Joining me on stage are members of the University leadership and faculty.

And, on their behalf, I want to say to this wonderful gathering of students, families and friends: Welcome to UT Dallas!

This is our third year to hold this outdoor celebration and from what I can tell by the size of the crowd, many of you got word of how much fun we had last year!

It’s almost as exciting as the recent solar eclipse. That was a remarkable experience that brought Comets together across campus.

We may not be able to have anything as dazzling as the total eclipse, but don’t worry. There will be plenty of moments worth posting about, including a cosmic light show and an outdoor party afterward.

It is our goal to make this a special celebration – the kind of event that you will forever remember with fondness.

All of us on stage remember our own journey and what it felt like to graduate. It seems like it was just yesterday, even though for most of us, it was in a different century.

What we all had in common was the sense of exhilaration and pride, blended with deep gratitude and friendship for our teachers and classmates.

I wish you that same everlasting pride and joy … which starts today!

This seems like the perfect opportunity to let your family and friends know how much you appreciate what they have done.

Students, you came to UT Dallas for your degrees, and you will soon have them.

Your path to this milestone has been marked not only by a global pandemic, but also by societal upheavals around some very important topics.

And along the way, we have all learned something about ourselves and about each other. Most of all, we have learned what it means to be a part of this community, while also standing up for what we believe and being respectful of differing opinions.

As I look out on this crowd, I see a new generation of Comets, poised to change the world for the better. You have grown wiser and more broadly educated. You have learned to listen to others as well as to express yourself.

When we talk about the purpose of this university – to graduate well-rounded members of the global community – we are talking about you and about what you will create in this world.

Graduates, take a moment to thank the faculty and staff who worked beside you, guiding you to this day.

As you move ever forward on your path, I encourage you to stay insatiably curious. We need your bright minds to help solve the tough problems our world faces.

So, thank you for choosing UTD for your education, and thank you for all you have given back to the Home of the Comets.

It has been our honor and privilege to be a part of your journey.

Whoosh!