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Class of 2020 Spring
Spring 2020 Video Transcript
Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement
Graduates, family, and friends, welcome to the 179th commencement ceremony at Black Hills State University. I'm Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement. Today's commencement ceremony is the first online gathering in it's history at BHSU to make this occasion. Today we are joined by president Laurie Nichols, Regent John Bastian, and congressman Dusty Johnson. And now the singing of the national anthem performed by Amy Hahn from the class of 2020.
[Singing of national anthem.]
It is now my pleasure to introduce to you the eleventh president of Black Hills State University, Dr. Laurie Nichols.
Laurie Nichols, BHSU President
Good afternoon. I want to thank of all our graduates and their families who have joined us today. Congratulations graduates. I truly wish we were assembled together at the Young Center having a festive graduation in person. Instead, we find ourselves social distancing and having a ceremony for you online. I apologize that at this significant and joyous time your celebration has been greatly changed. I hope you know that in many ways, we are even prouder of you as you have weathered a very sudden and strange spring semester. Thank you for rising to the occasion. And I do want to also extend an invitation to each of you to join us at you December commencement ceremony if you can. The ceremony is scheduled for December 12 at 10:30 A.M. at the Young Center. If you plan to attend, please let our registrar's office know and they will add you to our participation list and fill you in on details. Please know you are welcome. We would love to see you there. Despite our unprecedented times, your day has arrived. All those years of hard work and perseverance have paid off. Today, you become a college graduate where you join about one third of all adults in the United States who hold a bachelors degree or beyond. Your degree will open doors to opportunities that you can't even imagine today. It certainly did for me. I am so excited for your future, and all the possibilities that you will realize. Becoming a college graduate is a distinction in our society that sets you apart from many others, and that distinction comes because our society values education. Evidence suggests that college graduates are not only highly employable, but they also enrich the civic and economic life of their communities as they volunteer, provide community leadership, or make philanthropic contributions. As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world. Today, with a degree in hand, your ability to make our world a better place becomes much greater. As hard as you have worked on earning this degree, you didn't get here alone. Your family has been a great source of support to you throughout these college years, and in a reciprocal fashion, your achievement has provided inspiration and hope to your family. So graduates, I'm going to ask you to seek out your family and loved ones. They may be with you now, or you may need to do this over the weekend. But regardless of your circumstance, when you can, give them a big hug, or at least a resounding high five. And thank them for the love and support they have provided to you. Within our graduating class, I want to recognize one of our graduates, Tate Jackson. Tate is a valued student leader in the ROTC program and tomorrow will participate in a commissioning ceremony as an infantry second lieutenant in the United States Army. We're so proud of you Tate, congratulations and thank you for your service to our country. Graduates, there are two words that are commonly used on days like today- one is graduation, and the other is commencement. Graduation signifies the end- the finish line. It celebrates the fact that you have successfully completed this phase of your education, and brings closure to this chapter in your life. Graduation says, "Woo hoo! You're done! We made it. Commencement, on the other hand, signifies the staring gate- the beginning of a new life. It says that you are transitioning from the past to the future. Commencement celebrates that the best part of your life is ahead of you. Both terms are most appropriate today, and both are very meaningful. But today, I choose to leave you with my congratulations on your commencement- your beginning. Your future is bright. You have ability, passion, and the commitment to make a difference. And as yellowjackets, graduates of this great university, I know that wherever you go, you will carry your alma mater with you and represent us well. Congratulations graduates on commencement- on all of the bright and beautiful possibilities in store for you.
Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement
It is my pleasure now to introduce to you our keynote speaker, congressman Dusty Johnson.
Rep. Dusty Johnson, U.S. House of Representatives
Hello Black Hills State graduates. Now, I know what you're thinking sitting there watching this video, seeing a gentleman in his mid-40s, getting older everyday, quite pale, less than 150 pounds. You're thinking, "That Dusty Johnson, physically, he is perfect." Now I hate to destroy your expectations, but of course I am NOT physically perfect, and I'll show you some evidence to prove the fact. This big scare right here on my chin, I got that as a teenager after hours at night. Saw the police, was concerned about getting picked up for a curfew violation, so I ran, hit a retaining wall, cut open my chin. This one, this smaller scar, I got this one in middle school messing around with somebody who was a lot bigger than I was, that not that hard to be bigger than I am. This one is a particularly nasty one. I got this one taking a shortcut, climbing over a tall chain-link fence. And as I got to the top, about ready to drop down to the other side, part of the sharp point of the wire cut into the fat part of my hand and ripped it right open. Now, some of those stories, I could give you the longer versions, some of them are funny, some of them are sad. Some of these scars I deserved, others happened just because. And every morning when I look in the mirror, I could let these scars be a reminder to me that the world has not always treated me like I wanted it to. And that along the way, I have made some bad decisions. I could cause these to make me sad, but that kind of mourning isn't productive. A whole ocean full of tears wouldn't make my face perfect. So instead, I let these scars, these marks, these imperfections be a reminder that I have experienced life. And although I haven't always been as skillful or as graceful or as lucky as I wanted to be when dealing with what the world threw at me. I have not let those challenges or those scars, marks, and imperfections keep me down, and that is worth celebrating. I can't sit here and tell you that your last few months at Black Hills State University have been perfect. The reality is our whole country has a new collection of scars and marks and imperfection, and your educational experience has not escaped that. But nevertheless, today is a day we are celebrating as all graduation days are. This new collection of scars, marks, and imperfections we all have are not by and large visible, but the central lesson is the same. They should remind us that we have experienced life. And although we have not been as skillful or as graceful or as lucky in dealing with the world, we have not let these challenges, these scars, marks, and imperfections, you have not let them keep you down. And so, congratulations graduates. This is a major accomplishment. Oh, and before I let you go, of course I want to say go Black Hills State! Thanks everybody.
Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement
We are privileged to have regent John Bastian who will bring greetings from the South Dakota Board of Regents.
John Bastian, President, South Dakota Board of Regents
It's an honor to greet you on behalf of the South Dakota Board of Regents. The board joins your families and your friends today in commending and congratulating you on your hard work and earning a university degree. The board also thanks you for your commitment to South Dakota public higher education. The state and the nation and the world will benefit from the success that you achieved here. A college degree is unique. It's one of the few things that once earned is never diminished and can never be taken away. 30, 40, 50 years from now you will have the degree that you earned today. And most importantly, you'll be able to look back on the tangible and intangible rewards that your degree, continued hard work, and a commitment to lifelong learning has bestowed. So it is indeed an honor to be with you today. The poet Robert Frost once said that home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in. Soon you will be alumni. Please remember that Black Hills State University is home, and you will always be welcome when you return. A former member of the Board of Regents referred to this part of the program as one that should have a short beginning, a short ending, and not much in-between. So in that spirit, and with the authority vested in me by the constitution of the state of South Dakota, I delegate to president Nichols the authority to award degrees and diplomas with the attendant rights, privileges, and responsibilities.
Greg Farley, Dean, College of Business & Natural Sciences
I now present candidates for master's degrees.
[Listing of names]
I now present candidates from the University Honors Program.
[Listing of names]
I now present candidates for the bachelor's degree from the College of Business and Natural Sciences
[Listing of names]
Sharman Adams, Dean, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
I now present candidates from the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
[Listing of names]
Amy Fuqua, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
I now present the candidates for the bachelor's degree in the College of Liberal Arts
[Listing of names]
Laurie Nichols, BHSU President
Academic traditions, such as the symbolism of the tassel, are steeped in history. Moving the tassel to the left after graduating is symbolic of moving from college to another stage of life. It is my privilege to ask our graduates please move your tassel from the right to the left, signifying you are now a graduate of Black Hills State University. Congratulations graduates.
Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement
I have the honor to bring alumni greetings to you form the Alumni Association. I'm a proud graduate from the class of 1984, and I want to congratulate you, and welcome you to our association. These are difficult times for all of us as we hear about the spread of COVID-19 from all over the world. The most common emotion faced by all is fear. It makes us anxious, panicky, and can even possibly make us do things that might seem inappropriate during normal times. I want to remind you that we will get through this and return to normal so that you can take the next step in your life. BHSU's faculty have helped prepare you for that next step in life. Barring some longshot miracle like the blood test results are in, and it turns out that you're Warren Buffett's kid. You now either get to go to work, or continue your schooling. The great Vince Lombardi once said that the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Dig in, class of 2020, and make us all proud. You're now in an elite group, and you're well prepared for success. You are now a member of BHSU alumni community of over 17,000 strong in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as 25 countries. You spend two to five years as students, well actually some of you maybe six or seven years. And now I want to encourage you to spend the rest of your life as active alumni. I invite you to stay connected through volunteer service and social events. You can grow your professional network by attending BHSU alumni events in your region, or joining BHSU's social media community. You can also recommend BHSU to future students, or lobby legislators when higher education needs your assistance. I also encourage you once you experience that success, to provide financial assistance for future students to attend Black Hills State. In closing, in the midst of the Great Depression in 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt encouraged young graduates at Oglethorpe University to rise to the challenges of their time. Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world which you will now find before you. I offer you my personal congratulations, my respect, and best wishes. Thank you for viewing our virtual graduation. Be safe, be well, and let's all reach higher, together.
Virtual Commencement Ceremony
Friday, at 4 p.m.
The traditional commencement ceremony has been postponed, but we still want to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of all our graduates through a Virtual Commencement Ceremony.
We can't be on campus to celebrate, but we can recognize the work you’ve done to achieve your goals. Remember, your achievements are not diminished by the lack of a traditional ceremony and you can always be proud of what you've accomplished here at Black Hills State University!
CEREMONY ANNOUNCEMENT
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020!
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