2020 Virtual Undergraduate Degree Conferral Remarks

May 28, 2020

As I emphasized at the outset, this ceremony is not a substitute for your commencement.  There can be no substitute for a Washington and Lee commencement, as you will see when we convene here in May. We promise to make it worth the wait.

I’m sure you have noticed the flood of “virtual commencements” in recent weeks. Perhaps you’ve even watched a few them. A wide variety of celebrities have offered their virtual advice. From Oprah and Tom Hanks to DJ Khaled and Cardi B to Chris Paul and J.J. Watt, they have stepped in front of their phones to tell you, members of the Class of 2020, that you should not let COVID-19 steal your special moment and that the shared experience of this pandemic will forever unite you and your classmates.  They have promised you will be the generation to change the world for the better.  They’ve assured you the world is your oyster while acknowledging this not the graduation you envisioned.  Even Cookie Monster chimed in to say that you got a deal rawer than cookie dough.

All of these virtual ceremonies, including our own, have been created to celebrate what you have accomplished, recognize what you have lost, and take some of the sting away from our inability to be together.  But let’s not kid ourselves.  We are all profoundly disappointed.  You would much rather be here.  And we would much rather be with you.

Yet we need to put our disappointment in context.  When you dropped everything 82 days ago to leave the campus and your friends and your unfinished business, the coronavirus had claimed the lives of fewer than 1,000 Americans.  Today, that number stands at 100,000 and rising.  This is a time of great suffering in our country and throughout the world.  When we suspended on-campus classes we could not imagine how quickly and how much our lives would change.  No doubt some of you have been personally affected.  Maybe a loved one has contracted the virus, or even died.  Perhaps someone close to you is working on the front lines.  Or you and your family could be among the many Americans financially impacted by the upheaval of our economy.  Our hearts go out to you. 

So, while it is true that the members of the Class of 2020 have gotten a raw deal in virtue of the disruption of your senior year, remember that your sacrifice has been in the service of a greater good. Completing your studies at a distance was an act of compassion.  It protected the vulnerable.  It may even have saved lives.  Your ability to adapt and persevere under these circumstances is a testament to your character and to the education you received at W&L, and it will ultimately benefit you in ways you currently cannot envision or appreciate.  And you will have some incredible stories to tell at your 50th reunion.

As soon-to-be graduates of a liberal arts college, you are made for this moment. A liberal arts education expands our horizons, develops our capacities, deepens our humanity, and increases our flexibility.  That flexibility is being put the test as never before.  But your education has given you the habits of mind that will allow you to respond successfully to the unforeseen challenges you will encounter in the days and years ahead.  As graduates of Washington and Lee, you are prepared for lifelong learning, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship.  You are ready for the world, and the world needs your contributions. 

You had one semester under your belts at W&L when I arrived as president in January 2017.  It has been my great privilege to watch you develop and grow.  In the classroom and on the campus, you have demonstrated intellect, creativity, and passion.  I have every confidence in you, and I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.

Watch the video >