Purdue University President France A. Córdova made these comments during commencement ceremonies May 15-17, 2009

May 15, 2009

Córdova to graduates: 'Today is your launch'

My daughter will receive a master's of education and teaching credential this spring, and next year, my son will receive a bachelor's degree in engineering. I want to say to all the parents here: I know exactly what you feel - pride - and relief!

On behalf of the entire university, I want to say "thank you" to all of our Purdue parents for entrusting us with your children. We would love to keep them. But by the looks on their faces, they seem ready to move on - and up - in the world!

Today we thank the university community, which has nurtured our students and given them a home where they will always be welcome.

We thank our faculty and staff, who have made it their mission to do all they can to ensure our students' success.

We thank our graduate students for demonstrating to us a deep respect for learning and discovery through their commitment to research.

And we thank our graduating seniors. You came here to be taught, but you taught us, too. You showed generosity of spirit, dedication to your work, and compassion for your peers.

You embraced the diversity that is so important to this campus, and through your eyes we saw much more clearly.

You are technology-savvy, results-driven and service-oriented. These qualities - and your own creative and curious minds - will be your guides.

"Service" carries considerable meaning for this class.

Yours is the first generation to insist on alternative energy, sustainability, and green technology. With your social conscience, you said to us, "We can do better."

And then you showed us how.

Before you arrived, there were about 1,800 student volunteers in the Boiler Volunteer Network. This year, more than 6,500 of our students got involved.

And what you did was important. You brought joy to our older citizens; you repaired houses and restored hope in the wake of natural disasters; and you made sure preschool children understood both the power and pleasure of books, because you took the time to read to them.

You have proven you are engaged citizens. And now we send you into the world to be even greater agents of change.

Our world faces extraordinary challenges, and you will need to help us find the answers. You are well-qualified because you leave today with more than a degree.

Your acts of goodwill have built character. And now you are equipped with finely tuned minds and, we trust, the ambition to use them, and to share your thinking.

You are the Collaboration Generation in ways almost too numerous to count.

The indexed Web contains nearly 22.5 billion pages. That's an inconceivable amount of data, stories, YouTube videos, and Facebook updates from around the globe.

What does this mean? It means that you can have an idea, share it, and enhance it through collaboration with someone in another apartment, another state, or another country … and all of this in an instant, with few boundaries, and virtually no time delay.

Partnerships are going to become even more important as you seek new knowledge and the means to share it widely.

The name Purdue is synonymous with exploration and discovery. As the cradle of astronauts, we have contributed 22 Boilermakers to NASA missions, from Virgil “Gus” Grissom, the second American in space, to Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, the first and most recent beings to walk on the moon.

For some of you, in the beginning, Purdue maybe did seem a little otherworldly; your coursework may have challenged you as never before in your lives.

Yet you sit in this hall today because you challenged yourselves, and you persevered.

For many of you, expanding a Taylor series in the Math Building, crafting brilliant essays in Beering Hall, or cramming for exams at Pappy's or the HSSE Library… all of that is past tense. So are the free compliments from fellow students in the shadow of the Bell Tower!  (By the way – nice caps, students! And what good-looking parents you have!)

We’re going to miss all of you. In a few moments, you, our graduates, will march up one side of this stage as students, and you will walk down the other as scholars. This is a unique and proud moment for you, for your families, and for all of us.

As Purdue alumni, you will forever carry with you your Purdue degree; it will only increase in value. Our university has an exceptional reputation, and now that reputation belongs to you.

You can be proud that you have accomplished a personal academic goal, and you have committed to causes larger than yourselves.

We urge you to continue to work with others - across disciplines and dogmas - and nurture the collaborative spirit you found here.

You will soon leave our campus, but not our community. We want to remain a part of your lives, and we want you to remain part of Purdue as loyal alumni.

When you return to Purdue - as we hope you will soon and often - there will be transformations. Some changes may not be easily visible:

The Bell Tower will still ring "Hail Purdue" at 5 p.m.

Neil Armstrong will still sit with his books and slide rule, and Amelia Earhart will stand proudly with her propeller, in front of the buildings that bear their names.

And the Paint Crew will still be camping in the snow, and calling out, "Whoosh! Boiler Up!" when a free throw is good.

But Purdue will have impacted the world in new ways - delivering profound changes in health care, energy technology, education and public policy. Many of these transformations will come about from collaborations between colleges and institutions, companies and corporations, and federal organizations.

One of the most important goals of our university's strategic plan - a plan that was inspired by you and is measured by your success - is something we call, Launching Tomorrow's Leaders.

Purdue leadership continues to be felt throughout the world and into the universe. Earlier this week Boilermaker Drew Feustel was launched into space to repair the famous Hubble telescope. Soon two more Boilermakers, David Wolf and Mark Polansky, will be launched to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

Today is your launch, graduates. It's official. It's time to take off.

Ladies and gentlemen, watch for these Boilermakers! They are going places.

Congratulations, graduates! Hail Purdue!

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