VP Biden Shares Thoughtful Wisdom at May Commencement

Delaware State University’s Class of 2016 endured some late rains during the May 7 Commencement Ceremony, but wearing quickly supplied ponchos, they still marched across the stage to signal the completion of their academic degrees.

To see a photo slideshow of images from the ceremony, click on the below link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/sets/72157668011182946/show

Held outdoors at Alumni Stadium, 554 undergraduates, 61 masters and 13 doctoral graduates took part in a historic ceremony as it featured the highest active elected official to ever speak at DSU – U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden, who is in the final year of his last term in that national elected office.

Vice President Biden’s participation in the ceremony comes one week before the University will officially begin a yearlong celebration of its 125^th anniversary as Delaware’s only historically black institution of higher education.

To view the video of the entire Commencement Ceremony, click on the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH_qrRD5BX4

U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper introduced Biden as the commencement speaker, noting that graduates can learn a lot from the vice president.

“He is the kind of leader he has been: humble, not haughty; has the heart of a servant, who knows his job is to serve, not be served; he has the courage to keep out of step with everyone else who is marching to the wrong tune,” Sen. Carper said. “He believes elected officials ought to build bridges to unite people, not build walls to divide them.  He believes leaders are purveyors of hope, that their job is to appeal to our better angels and to be aspirational.”

In his address, Vice President Biden noted that like many students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, he was the first in his family of “modest means” to go to college. But he added that this current generation of graduates has significant advantages that his generation did not have.

“You have the technology at your disposal; you’re better educated,” he said. “You’re the most talented, tolerant and technologically advanced generation in American history. You can be the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Robert L. Johnson or Ursula Burns. You are equipped now with the capacity to be what you dream of."

However, Vice President Biden predicted that the Class of 2016 will be challenged to learn how to balance material success with happiness.

“Successful people and happy people understand that the good life is about being personal, being engaged,” Vice President Biden said. “Being there for a friend or colleague when they’re injured in an accident, remembering to congratulate them on a marriage or a birth of a child, being available as they go through difficult loss and personal failure. It is about loving someone more than you love yourself. It just all seems to get down to being personable. That is the stuff that fosters relationships and breeds trust. It allows you to do the things you need to do in a complex world to get things done.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons also spoke at the ceremony, noting that the Class of 2016 is a product of a university that excels in research and scholarship.

“As you graduate and leave this campus today, don’t leave it in your rear view mirror, but hang it right in front of you as a star that guides you in the months and years to come,” Sen. Coons said. “Remember the faculty (members) who have taught you. Remember your fellow graduates who are part of the partnership on your journey and hold close the values that made your time here at DSU the foundation of your future success.”

David Turner, chairman of the DSU Board of Trustees, noted that the latest DSU graduates have used a variety of bridges to cross over the diverse obstacles of life.

“I challenge you – the historic Class of 2016 – to cross any obstacle, to be the captain of your own ship, (and) to come together, because together you are greater,” Mr. Turner said. “And when you do this, you have every right to expect nothing more than greatness.”

During the commencement ceremony DSU President Harry L. Williams awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters to Denise Young Smith, vice president of Worldwide Human Resources for Apple. Ms. Young Smith noted that the Class of 2016 is yet another fruit of the 125-year legacy of DSU.

“DSU – a stellar member of American HBCUs – you possess a special formula for success,” she said. “DSU, you are resilient, unafraid to take smart risks. You’re strategic and you recognize the great value of great talent and courageous leadership. You are innovative, global, thoughtful, tenacious, thoughtful, joyful, optimistic and purpose-driven. Protect these valued attributes as you embark on another 125 years of astounding success. ”

In other Commencement highlights:

Dr. Williams awarded a Presidential Academic Award to Shakirah A. Abdul-Rashid, who graduated with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average on the way to earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications in the concentration of Television, Radio and Film. Ms. Abdul-Rashid will continue working toward her aspiration to become a writer, director and producer in TV/Film by pursuing a Master of Fine Art at Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design.

Dr. Williams also awarded the Presidential Leadership Award to Leslie Asanga Fogwe, a native of Cameroon who has lived in the U.S. for the last four years. In addition to excelling as a 3.97 GPA honor student who completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in three years, he found time to serve as vice president of both the Men’s Council and Rotaract Club, as well as the treasurer of the Honor Students Association and as its Honors King during the Homecoming Coronation. He also donated his time as a volunteer at the Modern Maturity Center, Beebe Hospital, Kent General Hospital and Christiana Hospital.

The oldest graduate of the May Class of 2016 is 72-year-old Tommie Moore. A resident of Smyrna, Del., she completed a Bachelor of Social Work.

The May 2016 DSU Commencement’s youngest graduate is 20-year-old Zayna Allen of New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications.