Enrollments that, since UMUC’s inception, total more than 1 million service members.
This is indeed an incredible record of accomplishment for a university dedicated to meeting the special needs of the men and women who so valiantly serve our country.
Let me also extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to you, Dr. Berg, for your extraordinary leadership of the European Division. Your record of accomplishment, commitment to quality education, and ability to run such a complex organization is quite remarkable. We are so fortunate to have you in this position and to have the outstanding team of professionals you have assembled to run and serve this enterprise.
Of course, the object of our attention and admiration today is you, the about-to-be graduates. Unlike traditional commencement ceremonies, my first order of business is not to commend the members of this class for accomplishments as students, though commendation you deserve and have earned. No, my first order of business is to thank you as active-duty military members, civilian Department of Defense employees, and spouses and dependants of those who defend our nation.
You are the protectors of democracy and freedom in Europe and the world. You are the defenders of the very ideals upon which our Nation is based. So, I must begin these remarks by thanking you for your courage and for your sacrifices on behalf of your fellow citizens and our nation.
The military presence in Europe has changed since the inception of University College. The Cold War may be over, but the world remains a very dangerous place. In recent years, students enrolled with UMUC have been called to duty . . . in Bosnia, in Kosovo, in Afghanistan, and now in Iraq. Some of your colleagues have given their lives in defense of our liberty . . . a sacrifice that we honor and respect with the deepest gratitude and reverence.
It is impossible for me to find the words to express the appreciation I have for what you do. Your selflessness, willingness to sacrifice, and commitment to our nation and all that it stands for, are rare qualities. You represent all that is best about service to others.
It would be understandable if you and your families simply dedicated yourselves to the duties you hold as peacekeepers and focused on nothing more than your obligations to your service. But you have made the conscious decision to do more, to reach further. And so I offer congratulations to you as exceptionally dedicated students. Reaching this milestone took persistence, hard work, and sacrifice. You should all take great pride in what you have achieved. Likewise, I commend the family members and friends who I’m certain have encouraged and nurtured you along the way. They have shared in your sacrifice and certainly share in your success today.
This accomplishment is even greater when considering how different you are from traditional students. The average age in this graduating class is early-thirties. A sizable majority of you are married and have children. And for many of you, more than a decade has passed between your first college courses and earning a degree today. Some of you have continued your studies even while on active duty in combat zones.
Unlike traditional college students, when class is over, you can’t “head for the pubs and frat parties.” For you, after class means…back to the office, or home to study, or to watch the kids, or to make dinner, or to go out on patrol. You haven’t had the luxury of locking yourself away all weekend so you can cram for exams or finish term papers.
You have obligations on so many fronts . . .with family, with work, and with your call to service. ANY ONE of these obligations can amount to a full-time job. If there were a PhD given for persistence and time management, you would all be earning that degree today as well.
It’s easy to understand how someone could look at the tremendous amount of responsibility inherent in your lives and ask “How . . . how are you able to do all this AND pursue your degree?”
Obviously, the answer is that you recognize and understand the indispensable nature of education in what has come to be known as the “information age.” You know that no matter what career paths you are on—continuing in service or pursuing other opportunities—it will be the knowledge, insight and skills you have gained though education that will open doors and make your life and your families’ lives even more rewarding and meaningful.
When you consider that, on average, the lifetime earnings of someone with a bachelor’s degree is over $1 million dollars more than someone with only a high school degree, it is clear that higher education has become THE ladder of opportunity. This earning gap will only widen in the years to come because the vast majority of jobs that will be created over the next decade will require education beyond high school. There should be no doubt that the commitment and sacrifice that has enabled you to sit here today will pay huge dividends for you in the years to come.
Beyond the personal benefit you experience as an individual with a higher education degree, there is a collective benefit from living in a highly educated society. Knowledge, reason and understanding are the precursors of freedom, hope, and prosperity. Education is the path—the only path—to a brighter future for our nation and the world.
The expansion of access to higher education is one of the greatest achievements of post-WW II America. In the first half of the twentieth century, college was considered the private domain of an elite minority. Since then, with financial aid and greater public support, the doors of higher education have been opened to larger and larger numbers of people. America became the first nation in the world to “democratize” higher education. In doing so, we laid the foundation that made the U.S. not just the world’s military superpower, but its economic superpower as well. Our model stands as an example for the rest of the world. By furthering your education, you have become ambassadors of a sort in advancing the cause of peace and prosperity globally. The increased understanding and insight you now possess will flow from you and impact others. The spread of education and the advancement of peace run parallel. After all, educated democracies do not become the enemies of other educated democracies.
In a very real sense, the many different obligations each of you fulfill in your own lives mirror the various roles of America in our changing world. In a dangerous world, punctuated by acts of terrorism and the outbreaks of violence, America is—and must be—the keeper of the peace. Likewise, in a world where the evils of tyranny and oppression still manifest themselves far too often, America must stand as an example—as THE example—of democracy. And, in a world still experiencing the growing pains of globalization, America must be an economic catalyst, expanding hope and opportunity to the under developed nations.
These three challenges for America—maintaining peace, spreading democracy, and fueling the global economy—are not independent efforts. Rather they are an interrelated whole. Together they constitute what I believe is America’s 21st Century mission.
Yes, we must respond aggressively to acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism, as we have. The battles in Afghanistan and Iraq are the most current examples of how our nation, and the men and women like you who serve our nation, answer the call to duty and protect the peace. This is clearly the most direct and obvious action we take, but it is not the only action we should take. While the leaders behind terrorist attacks are driven by fanaticism and hatred, many that follow them--their "foot soldiers"--are driven by other things: poverty, misery, and desperation. The seeds of hatred find a fertile field among those who know only oppression, despair and hopelessness. We must act to ameliorate the conditions that give terrorist their ability to act. We must continue to make democracy—government of the people, by the people, and for the people—our most precious export. This commitment is the only way we can alter the current landscape and open the floodgates of hope and economic opportunity for others and create a better, brighter future for all.
You play such a crucial role in this noble endeavor. You are the men and women on the front lines carrying out American’s 21st Century mission. When we envision a future . . .. a future free from the threat of extremism and terrorism; a future where people everywhere live under a government of their own choosing; a future where education and knowledge have expanded, making economic prosperity and a better way of life available to all citizens of the world; a future of peace and prosperity; a future where the lamb does lies down with the lion . . . when we envision such a future, we see that it depends in large measure on you and your brothers and sisters who similarly serve our nation. It is a difficult and challenging mission, but one, thankfully, you have chosen to carry out with commitment, determination and selflessness.
So graduates, today marks the end of a long and difficult journey for you. You should take time to reflect back with great pride on your accomplishments. But today is also a beginning for you—a literal commencement. Go forth from this day, take all that you have learned and continue to make the world a better, safer place for all humankind.
Congratulations, best wishes, and Godspeed to each and every one of you and heartfelt thanks for all you do as defenders and exemplars of democracy and freedom.
