Thank you. I am so pleased to join you this morning on this very happy occasion. I’d like to acknowledge our distinguished platform party, including Trustee Nilda Soto Ruiz; President Russell Hotzler; Carl Cosenzo, today’s speaker, the recipient of the President’s Award, and a City Tech alumnus; and Nicole Caruso, the class of 2005 valedictorian (with a very impressive 4.0 GPA). My thanks to all of you, and the entire City Tech community, for your exemplary representation of the college.
First and foremost, to all of our graduates: congratulations! The degree you are receiving today marks an extraordinary achievement in your life. This achievement is especially meaningful for so many of you who are the first in your family to graduate from college. It is not easy to be the pioneer, doing everything for the first time, and all of us at CUNY take great pride -- as I’m sure your family and friends do -- in the hard work and determination that have brought you here today.
This year, especially, City Tech students have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to get things done. I’m constantly seeing you in the news! You’ve won research and art awards, several scholarships, and youth leadership commendations -- and your basketball team is the CUNYAC champion. Twelve of you are the very first graduates of the new architectural technology bachelor’s degree program. And the renowned culinary program, soon with upgraded facilities, continues to graduate the very best chefs, bakers, and restaurant managers.
You’ve had a wonderful year, and I congratulate each and every one of you. And I must congratulate and thank your new president, who has done so much in his first year to enable your success. President Hotzler has an ambitious vision for City Tech and the necessary strength of leadership -- along with excellent faculty and staff -- to be able to achieve it.
All of you have shown that you are ambitious, curious and willing to work hard -- both in the classroom and in your jobs outside of the classroom. Looking out at you, I think of a Finnish proverb I particularly like, which says: “Even a small star shines in the darkness.” I can see that each of you is a star, a point of light in a world that can sometimes seem dark.
When we say “star” these days, we think of astronomical salaries,
tabloid stories and scandals. I assure you, the world does not need any more
of those “stars.” What we need are people who truly shine -- nurses
who care for patients as they would members of their own family; teachers who
stay up late to design creative lessons for their students; architectural draftsmen
and women who review drawings again and again to ensure a
building’s safety. What we need are people who see their college degrees
the same way they see a library card -- as a pass to further learning, to finding
out more about the world and how to make it better. What we need are people
who believe that the legacy they leave is more important than their egos.
We need real stars -- small ones, big ones, those that cluster together and those that stand alone. Those of us who are city kids know that one of the most amazing things about being in the wilderness is the profusion of stars that can be seen without the interference of city lights. It is breathtaking and comforting to become aware of the universe of which we are a part. That’s how I feel looking out at all of you this morning. I am seeing all of the stars who will light up our universe -- and it is, truly, breathtaking.
So, again, congratulations, and, on behalf of the City University, I offer my very best wishes that you will continue to be a star, small or big, lighting up the darkness. Thank you.