On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Department of Geography, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to members of the graduating class, and to your family and friends.
To the graduates: congratulations on your success and your accomplishments. Perhaps you felt this day might never come, but now that you are here, looking back, I hope your time with us felt as if it went by far too quickly. I’m certain you will not forget your days with us and that you will remain in contact with people that you have met here for the rest of your life.
Your diploma is not merely a piece of paper. It says a lot about you. Your Geography degree from the University of Colorado Boulder demonstrates that you are knowledgeable about both the physical and social worlds we all inhabit, but also that you are committed to a goal, that you can meet deadlines, work with others, solve problems, form opinions based on careful reasoning and analysis, and can effectively communicate your thoughts. We are proud to have played a role in helping you to achieve and refine these important skills.
To commence means to start, not to end. Commencement is the beginning of a new era, the launching point for your future. We hope that the skills you have learned here, and the people you have met, will serve you well as you work and live as an engaged global citizen.
Lastly, please don’t forget that we will still be here in Guggenheim after you leave. We enjoy hearing from our alumni, so please do make an effort to stay in touch and let us know what and how you’re doing.
Again, on behalf of the entire department, congratulations!
Emily Yeh
Chair
Department of Geography