Fall 2020 Commencement Transcript
VCU COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
December 12, 2020
10:00a.m. EST
Introduction Music with Photo Montage - VCU PEPPAS
Rector Keith Parker, VCU Board of Visitors
Good morning!
As Rector of Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, it is my great honor to welcome you, our graduates, students, faculty, family, friends and members of the community as we celebrate the VCU class of 2020.
As a graduate of this university a couple of decades ago, I can say first hand that this school is better now than ever before. In virtually every category we’ve made major progress. Today we are firmly established as one of the premier urban research institutions in the entire nation. We’re graduating more Pell eligible students then any other school in the entire state of Virginia. Our Health System has established itself as a premier health system in the entire mid atlantic region. We are literally leading the fight against COVID and saving lives everyday.
But what I'm most proud of is the university's success as it relates to student achievement. Over the past decade VCU’s graduation rate has improved as much as any other major urban research institution in the country. Particularly, we’ve seen great success amongst students of color. We are graduating more African American students today than any other school in the state of Virginia.
Your degree today is worth more now than ever before. And we need it! The nation, our city, people all over the world are looking for leaders. And I am sure we have hundreds, if not thousands attending this ceremony virtually today. So let me say thank you and congratulations. You’ve earned it and the world awaits!
Next, let me please bring up our Provost, Dr. Gail Hackett as she continues this morning's celebration.
Provost Gail Hackett:
Good morning!
I’m Gail Hackett, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs here at Virginia Commonwealth University. It is my great honor to welcome each of you virtually to VCU’s commencement ceremony and our celebration of the VCU Class of 2020. I’m now happy to introduce Dr. Arthur Kellermann, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System.
Arthur Kellermann, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System
Good morning! Thank you, Dr. Hackett for opening today’s celebration.
Before we begin our program, I would like to recognize members of the VCU community who are joining us today: Members of the VCU Board of Visitors and Vice Rector of the Board, Ben Dendy, VCU President Michael Rao, our academic deans, our outstanding faculty and staff in Virginia and Doha, Qatar and VCU Alumni President Michael Whitlow.
Please join me in recognizing this wonderful group of people.
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
Now, I welcome the president of Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Michael Rao.
[APPLAUSE]
President Michael Rao:
Good Morning VCU Family! I am so delighted to be your head cheerleader in celebrating your graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University. You’ve reached a really, really important point in your lives and I know that all of you feel a deep sense of accomplishment, you should, you’ve worked hard. This year presented us all with just enormous challenges —and everyone one of you have persevered. We’re really really proud of you.
You instill such a strong sense of pride in our university and you are exactly what the world needs right now. I am so proud of the depth of your empathy, your work across fields to improve plans that are going to help create a more inclusive, equitable world where everyone is going to succeed. You’re the class that's going to go out there, into the world, and make this happen because you’re the leaders of a generation of learners with an expansive vision of how our world should be: It should be a place that recognizes the potential in everybody.
The world needs your leadership right now. We need teachers who are dedicated to the highest quality of learning for everyone; healers who will provide the very best care to all human beings; and of course people with tremendous creativity who will add beauty to our world while also provoking the needed thought and dialog about the human experience that all of us are seeking right now.
You know it was Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning-author Toni Morrison who said, and I quote directly “I tell my students, 'When you get these jobs that you have so brilliantly been trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power,” she says, “then your job is to empower somebody else.”
And you know, that’s really VCU’s story…that’s YOUR story. You already use your power to help others … and there are so many examples of it. And you are about to change the world and make it a better place for everybody.
I’ve watched you foster civic engagement in all of our communities. You empowered your peers and your neighbors through education, and you’ve created lifelong learners who are invested in the well-being of their communities and of course our nation and the world.
As students, you worked to address the prescription drug and opiate abuse epidemic that denies so many people the opportunity to realize their self-worth. By hosting drug disposal and preventative education events, you’ve saved lives and you’ve created opportunities for many people. So many people who would never have had the opportunity, without you. There is every reason to believe that the success that you’ve seen here will be even greater and bigger as you go forward. Believe in yourselves!
Scientists, you know, link creativity with brain function and the ability to endure during difficult times. So more than ever, we need to be sure that we are clear about the value of the performing and visual arts. Your creativity and innovation have helped you adapt in-person theatrical performances to virtual in-home viewing this fall. You’ve been and you will continue to be amazing in so many ways. Ways that we can’t even imagine yet.
And, of course, we are all facing one of the defining challenges of our time with determination.
I am so proud of your hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. You make me so proud. Lives are being saved because of your volunteer work with local and state agencies, tracing disease transmission, really important. You’ve also exhibited great care for your fellow Rams, your loved ones and people in our community and you’ve done this through personal preventative measures. Thank you so much for that! You’ve made VCU the story of tremendous success through this pandemic, and it’s nothing short of profound.
You’ve worked really hard to make VCU a premier national public research university with a great academic medical center. A great academic medical center that is totally dedicated to the access of human beings. The best care, based on the best research, and the best health care providers. And of course the best overall patient experience. We’re getting there because of all of you.
Your advocacy for our fellow human beings and your assistance with the creation of living, learning and community spaces at VCU, all of which are accessible and welcoming, you’ve made it possible for us to serve all who come to VCU. And, I’m so grateful for the passing of the baton that each of you will do to your great classmates. They will do an exemplary job of upholding VCU’s mission as a 21st century university dedicated to advancing the human experience everywhere and this is something that Rams do really well.
You’re graduating from VCU during an important time in our history. You are part of the history of our university, the city of Richmond, and of course the broader commonwealth. Your history though is really just beginning…and you are going to be really, really successful. You are going to be successful in your lives while you are empowering humanity everywhere.
Congratulations! Congratulations to the VCU Class of 2020! We’re really proud of everything that you’ve done, and we look forward to the great successes that you’ll have in your lives, because those will all reflect back on your alma mater. Please, stay in touch.
And remember you are forever a part of your alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, you’ll be forever a Ram.
[Applause]
{Music}
President Michael Rao:
And now we are at that point in our ceremony where we present our special awards.
So as you know, each year VCU is very pleased to offer special recognition to people who have enhanced the VCU community and the communities around us.
Today, we are going to present the Presidential Medallion to two of my colleagues, two outstanding professors who have made remarkable contributions in the context of research, teaching, but also society.
The first Presidential Medallion goes to Dr. Kenneth Kendler.
Dr. Art Kellermann would you please come forward and present Dr. Kenneth Kendler
Kenneth Kendler, as a world-renowned expert on the genetics of psychiatric and substance use disorders, you have garnered distinguished recognition by your peers and are one of the most-highly cited psychiatric researchers internationally.
Your illuminating contributions to the field of psychiatry have advanced our understanding of mental health and the care we provide. Your decades of teaching, service and outstanding leadership at the Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics has left an indelible mark on medicine and medical research.
President Rao…
President Michael Rao:
Ken Kendler, in recognition of your lifelong achievement, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University, it is my pleasure to hereby present you with the Presidential Medallion.
[DR. KENDLER WALKs ON STAGE WEARING MEDALLION]
[ APPLAUSE]
President Michael Rao:
Our final Presidential Medallion will be presented to Dr. Steven Woolf.
Dr. Kellermann…
Arthur Kellermann, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System:
Steven Woolf, your research and outstanding contributions to the field of population health have garnered national attention, raised public awareness and influenced public policy on our nation’s health.
We are honored to celebrate your accomplished career in health equity, social epidemiology and family medicine at VCU. Your remarkable leadership of the VCU Center on Society and Health and dedication to improving the conditions that create inequities in health will inspire generations of providers, researchers and social justice advocates.
President Rao…
President Michael Rao:
Steve Woolf, in recognition of your extraordinary achievement, by the authority vested in me by the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University, it is my pleasure to hereby present you with the Presidential Medallion.
[Photo Of Dr. Steven Woolf]
And congratulations to our honorees!
[Applause]
Okay at this time, we will now have Board Vice Rector Ben Dendy come forward and introduce our student speaker.
Ben Dendy, Vice Rector, VCU Board of Visitors
Thank you, Dr. Rao. I am very pleased to introduce Solomon Workneh as our student speaker.
Solomon Workneh is a Class of 2020 graduate from the School of Business who is receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems. Outside of his work and education in technology, Solomon served as a mentor for incoming Business students and is a member of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity and VCU Intervarsity Quidditch Club. Solomon hopes to one day serve as a software engineer and is a native of Arlington, Virginia.
Please join me in welcoming Solomon Workneh.
Solomon Workneh, Class of 2020 Student Speaker
What’s up graduates? We finally did it! making it to this point takes lots of commitment from ourselves, so let’s take a moment to clap for ourselves.
{Applause}
On this journey of achieving a degree, it’s important to recognize the people who helped you get to this point as well. So, thank you to all the family members who helped us financially, and kept providing us constant support when times were tough. Thank you to all the VCU staff as well. Thank you to all the professors, who set the standard of what it takes to be a great professional in the future. And always offering extra help outside the classroom. Thank you to all the staff members that kept filling our bellies throughout our time here too. I’ll never forget going into Shafer and staying there for hours with my homework because of the unlimited food the staff provided. Thank you to all the staff members who continue to keep our university clean especially now during this time. And everyone else that keeps VCU up and running, thank you.
Thank you to all the people I have met and continue to meet here in VCU. The relationships I have, made me into the person I am today. VCU being in a big city like Richmond helps meeting lots of people. But with the many organizations and clubs VCU provided, like the Pi-Lambda Phi fraternity, Quidditch and InterVarsity, I was able to find and meet with many people with the same interests. In College I was always fond where people came from before entering VCU. When I ask people where you are from, I would get answers from rural and huge cities in the Nation, to even out of the country. It amazes me how far people are willing to travel to experience VCU. So, thank you to all the family members and the whole Richmond community for making our time in Richmond Real.
As we all continue to forge through our paths, let’s remember to adapt. As an Information Systems major in the School of Business, I was always taught that creativity is always a competitive advantage. With COVID, all businesses are adapting creatively to keep on running. QR codes are given in restaurants now, gyms are more spaced out, and our graduation is virtual through zoom. Like businesses, we will all have to creatively adapt moving forward in our lives and careers. This will mean we will have to adapt to things that are new to us like online interviews. Or maybe even creating a new way to market your skills. But with our experience in VCU, I believe it will help us maneuver better during this time.
Congrats and Cheers Class of 2020!
President Michael Rao:
Thank you so much Solomon for your really important and inspiring remarks. What a tremendous message for all of our students and a tremendous message for all of our communities on behalf of our students. Excellent job! Thank you, you make me so proud Solomon!
President Michael Rao:
And now we will now move on to conferring our degrees!
Dean Daniel Bullard, Graduate School:
As Dean of the Graduate School, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in all disciplines. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty.
{Scrolling List of Doctor of Philosophy Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculties, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree, Doctor of Philosophy.
{Music}
Dean Daniel Bullard, Graduate School:
As Dean of the Graduate School, I am pleased to present the candidates for master’s degrees, post-baccalaureate graduate certificates and post-master’s certificates in all disciplines. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty.
{Scrolling List of Masters Degrees and Graduate Certificates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
And by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculties, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your master’s degrees and certificates.
{Music}
Dean Susan Parish, College of Health Professions
As Dean of the College of Health Professions, I am absolutely thrilled to present our candidates for the following degrees: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and Bachelor of Science.
These students have fulfilled all requirements and are enthusiastically recommended by our faculty. Congratulations
{Scrolling List of the College of Health Professions Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Parish. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your doctoral and baccalaureate degrees.
{Music}
Dean David Sarrett, School of Dentistry
As Dean of the School of Dentistry, it gives me great
pleasure to present these candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Oral Health Research - Tanya Marie Puccio and Erin Mooney are the first students to graduate from the Oral Health Research Ph.D. program and the first students to graduate with a Ph.D. from the School of Dentistry. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by the faculty.
{List of the School of Dentistry Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Sarrett. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the first Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Dentistry.
{Music}
Dean Andrew Daire, School of Education
As Dean of the School of Education, it gives me great
pleasure to present the candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education. These candidates have fulfilled all the requirements and are recommended by our faculty. Congratulations.
{Scrolling List of the School of Education Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Daire. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree, Doctor of Philosophy in Education.
{Music}
Dean Peter Buckley, School of Medicine
As Dean of the School of Medicine, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for the Doctor of Medicine degree. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty.
{Scrolling List of the School of Medicine Doctor of Medicine Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Buckley. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree Doctor of Medicine.
{Music}
Dean Joseph DiPiro, School of Pharmacy
As Dean of the School of Pharmacy, it gives me great
pleasure to present the candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by the faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean DiPiro. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree, Doctor of Pharmacy.
{Music}
President Michael Rao:
And now, I will ask VCU Honors College Senior Associate Dean Jacqueline Smith-Mason to please come forward and acknowledge students who are graduating today with Latin and University Honors.
Dr. Smith-Mason...
Senior Associate Dean, Jacqueline Smith-Mason, Honors College:
As Senior Associate Dean of the VCU Honors College, it gives me great pleasure to recognize all students who are graduating with Latin and University Honors.
Bachelor-degree holders who have done exceptionally well academically and have completed a minimum of 45 credits at VCU are recognized with Latin Honors.
All students with a grade point average between 3.3 and 3.59 are graduating cum laude. All students with a grade point average between 3.6 and 3.9 are graduating magna cum laude. All students with a grade point average of 3.9 or higher are graduating summa cum laude, which signifies graduation with the highest academic distinction.
Congratulations to you all.
I would also like to recognize all bachelors’ degree candidates who have completed the rigorous requirements of the VCU’s Honors College and will graduate today with University Honors.
Congratulations on your exceptional achievement!
{Music}
Dean Barbara Boyan, College of Engineering:
As Dean of the very best College of Engineering, at Virginia Commonwealth University, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for all Bachelor’s degrees, baccalaureate certificates and post-baccalaureate undergraduate certificate degrees. These students have fulfilled all the requirements and are recommended by our outstanding faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, College of Engineering Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Boyan. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees and certificates.
{Music}
Dean Jennifer Malat, College of Humanities and Sciences:
As Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for all Bachelor’s degrees, baccalaureate certificates and post-baccalaureate undergraduate certificates. The students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, College of Humanities and Sciences Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Malat. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculties, I am very pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees and certificates.
{Music}
Dean Carmenita Higginbotham, School of the Arts
As Dean of the School of the Arts, it gives me great
pleasure to present the candidates for all Bachelor’s degrees and Baccalaureate certificates degrees. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our amazing faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, School of the Arts Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Higginbotham. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees and certificates.
{Music}
Associate Dean, Jayaraman Vijayakumar, School of Business
As Associate Dean of the School of Business, it gives me great
pleasure to present the candidates for all Bachelor’s degrees, baccalaureate certificates and Post-baccalaureate undergraduate certificates degrees. These students have fulfilled all requirements, demonstrated Creativity at Work and are recommended by our outstanding faculty.
{Scrolling List, School of Business Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Associate Dean Vijayakumar. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees and certificates.
{Music}
Dean Susan Gooden, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
As Dean of the nationally prominent L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for their Bachelor’s degrees. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our outstanding faculty. Congratulations! Go Rams!
{Scrolling List, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Gooden. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees.
{Music}
Dean Giddens, School of Nursing
As Dean of the School of Nursing, it gives me great pleasure to present these candidates for their Bachelor’s degrees. These students have fulfilled all the requirements and are recommended by our outstanding faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, School of Nursing Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you so much, Dean Giddens. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees.
{Music}
Dean Beth Angell, School of Social Work:
As Dean of the School of Social Work, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for the Bachelor of Social Work degree. These students, and future change agents, have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our outstanding faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, School of Social Work Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Angell. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, and upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree Bachelor of Social Work.
{Music}
Dean Constance Relihan, University College:
As Dean of the University College, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty. Congratulations!
{Scrolling List, School of Nursing Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Dean Relihan. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you the degree Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.
{Music}
Vice Provost Robert Tombes, VCU Life Sciences
As Vice Provost of VCU Life Sciences, it gives me great pleasure to present the candidates for their Bachelor’s degrees. These students have fulfilled all requirements and are recommended by our faculty. Congratulations Graduates!
{Scrolling List, VCU Life Sciences Graduates with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Thank you, Vice Provost Tombes. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors, upon the recommendation of your faculty, I am pleased to confer upon each of you your baccalaureate degrees.
{Music}
President Michael Rao:
Now at this time, it is my pleasure to invite Michael Whitlow, VCU Alumni President, to come forward and share some final remarks to our newest VCU Alumni.
Michael...
Michael Whitlow, President, VCU Alumni
Hello, I am Michael Whitlow, and I am here on behalf of VCU Alumni to welcome you to the largest community, within the VCU Community.
We alums are about 220,000 in number I believe, with the addition of your class. Congratulations on making your graduation a milestone amidst the most challenging of items.
I can’t even imagine what the pandemic response in my time would have been. We were after all Zoom-less. In fact, I wish I could say I recall my graduation commencement vividly, but it was the 70s. Uh, I do keep my program though, and I know my name is on there.
So today, we are sending you off in this time honored, but slightly weird for this time, ritual. Now you step over the threshold into membership in VCU Alumni. As an alum you will probably encourage others to come here, and contribute to VCU’s reputation as a destination for students interested in the knowledge that can be gained from such a diverse and inclusive place. And it will be you that makes our alumni association stronger and more important to the university in the future. Any great private or public institution is distinguished by how alumni feel about their alma mater, and by how they engage with one another to spread and enjoy the community.
We have made some changes at VCU Alumni this strange year to keep our alums engaged. You might have met virtually to discuss books, you might have learned adult beverage recipes, you may have heard a pitch competition virtually among alums for their businesses ventures, among dozens of programs that we did.
You could have volunteered for the Richmond Chapter for the alumni charity challenge. A modified in person event that we did this year where 40+ colleges and universities collected food for the local food bank in Richmond.
You also might take on biking adventures with Alumni Riding Rams, or participate in reunion with MCV Alumni Association, or engage in community work for the Jewish Alumni Association, or join fellow alums for basketball watch parties at dozens of chapters across the country. And if you can’t see yourself in any of these activities, or the hundreds of others done by our 45 alumni organizations - start your own organization! We helped establish many that started with the simple idea, that a group of alumni would like to get together around a subject.
You have an investment in VCU. Getting active in VCU Alumni is a way to enhance your investment. The benefits of improving VCU certainly are there for students, but they’re also there for alums. The reputation of a university, helps cultivate and support success for its alumni across all interests. From traditional business and finance types of studies, to fine arts, to social justice activism.
It has been a distinct pleasure to watch a number of graduating classes step over the threshold to alumni status, and set about doing their work in the world. Now as President of VCU Alumni, I have the honor of saying thank you, and congratulations to a class that has overcome some unique obstacles. Go Rams! Make it Real!
{Alumni Slide with Music}
President Michael Rao:
Now, it’s my pleasure to officially welcome you as VCU’s newest alumni. Lets practice this wonderful tradition that’s been out there for years. And that is at commencement exercises for new graduates to move their tassels from the right side of their mortar boards to the left side of their mortar boards. Please do that now!
Congratulations to VCU’s Class of 2020!!!
[APPLAUSE]
Before we end this ceremony today, there are some people – very important people - who have supported our graduates through the years and have made this day possible and we have to acknowledge them.
Graduates, would you please join us in recognizing your parents?
[ APPLAUSE]
Graduates, would you please join us in recognizing your spouses, partners, and significant others?
[APPLAUSE]
Graduates, would you please join us in recognizing your children?
[LEAD APPLAUSE]
And finally graduates, would you please join us in recognizing your other relatives and friends who have been with you all the way!
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you!
This now brings our commencement ceremony to a close.
We are so proud of you and hope we can celebrate your accomplishments in person soon.
On behalf of President Rao and the VCU Board of Visitors, we wish you ALL the very best. Thank you and congratulations! Go Rams!
{Applause}
{VCU PEPPAS MUSIC and Cheering}
{Graduate Photo Montage with Music}