University of Indianapolis WICR Virtual Commencement Program College of Applied Behavioral Sciences and School of Nursing

Aired on May 8, 2021

Hello Greyhounds!! Welcome to the University of Indianapolis Commencement program hosted by WICR 88.7 FM.

I’m your host Taylor Woods and I’ll be taking you on a trip all the way to the graduation stage! Keep your dial tuned to WICR-FM today. We have a great line-up for you, including performances from the University of Indianapolis Department of Music, an interview with President Rob Manuel, and much more. To start things off today, let’s hear from our chair of the University of Indianapolis Board of Trustees, Phil Terry.

Hi, I’m Phil Terry, and as Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, I can tell you that Commencement is the highlight of our year. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am so happy to be celebrating with you today!

For you graduates, this is the culmination of a great deal of work. In a way, it is the same for the Board of Trustees. Because today is the day the Board is reminded of why we do the work we do in support of this great university.

Although our Commencement ceremony may look different this year, our spirit remains steadfast. I am thrilled to join your many proud friends and families in wishing you congratulations!

Thank you, Mr. Terry. A proud tradition of commencement is the performance of the National Anthem. Here’s Lauren Taylor, Class of 2021, performing with Dr. MARKO PETRIČIĆ on organ.

[National Anthem performance]

That was Lauren Taylor performing the National Anthem. We’ll now hear from Hillary Carnall, who will provide the invocation.

[Hillary Carnall - no verbatim available]

1 You just heard from UIndy senior Hillary Carnall providing the invocation for the University of Indianapolis commencement program.

How are you doing, Greyhounds? I’m your host Taylor Woods and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of our graduates and their families today.

I’m going to send it over to my co-host Hershell Taylor, who is with our very special guest, University of Indianapolis President, Dr. Rob Manuel.

Hershell Taylor: I'm here with the University of Indianapolis President Rob Manuel. President Rob, thank you so much for joining us.

President Rob Manuel: Yeah, thanks for having me.

Hershell: So, we know that commencement is a lot different this year, and we're excited to see the graduates and families in this parade. What would you like to say to them?

President Rob Manuel: Just that, uh, even though it's a little different we see your accomplishments and are so proud of everything you've done. And I can tell, I can tell from talking with a lot of the graduates that there are promising futures ahead. You got to work through the moment of now, the crisis of now to understand that you've got years and years ahead of you. And I hope, I hope you can take a little bit of time out of the pandemic to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that you've accomplished something that not a lot of people in American society get to accomplish.

Hershell: So, with that being said President Rob, what's one of your favorite memories from your own commencement?

President Rob Manuel: Boy, that was back so long ago I don't know that I have any memories of it at all! I will, I will tell you that when I graduated I went to a small liberal arts college. Uh, in Pennsylvania. And I can remember the feeling of, of, uh, two feelings that were in my head. One was like, I made it and I, I was so happy that all of the work had culminated in that moment where my parents were there and my, my, uh, brothers were able to kind of see and experience the school that I went to.

President Rob Manuel:

2 And I can also remember being kind of afraid. Because, the moment that commencement service was over, or in this case the parade service was over, you have to go out into the world and have self-confidence to know that you belong at the table where some pretty serious discussions are going to be made. You have to make your way and you have to think now in different terms about how you connect with the world. And that I can remember both of those things being present in my mind at the same time.

Hershell: President Rob, in your nine years here at the University of Indianapolis I'm sure you've seen a lot of different commencements. What is one of your favorite traditions from the UIndy's commencement ceremony?

President Rob Manuel: Oh, there are a lot. And they all have to do with the individual, and the uh, with, uh, being able to meet the families of the, of the students. Being able to be a part of that small celebratory, that small part of the celebration that happens on that day. And, and getting kind of a little more context into who our students are, where they come from, what it means to their family. I can tell you I've done 47 graduations in my career in higher education and what I love about each and every one of them is that you get to see, uh, the human side of the students. You get to see their parents, you get to see their friends, you get to see the people who supported them through the...through to this moment and, and that really is the most special part of it all for me.

Hershell: And you've just hit on it President Rob where I kind of want to follow up with that. As important as this is for the graduates, how important is this for the family and the friends and all those others who helped support those graduates especially right now through a tough time through a pandemic?

President Rob Manuel: Mmmm. I think when we planned this day, we had to be very creative about how we put it together. We planned it as a kind of a family unit, however that's defined, celebration. Because while you and your students did the work and had to stay up late hours, and, and figure out how to get your assignments in on time, the family units, the friends, and, and parents, and, and support had to figure out how to make sure they could alter their lives to support your work, and your path through all of this too.

President Rob Manuel: And so, I look at it as a moment to celebrate you. Virtually you know you're going to graduate you and everybody that you bring to the table that day to celebrate with you. Everybody has a piece of your success. And, uh, I love celebrating that with, with everybody who, who wants to.

3 Hershell: Moving forward, what's the...what's your best advice for graduates that you wish you'd known when you graduated?

President Rob Manuel: (laughs) I think there's a couple things. One is...um, that your first job doesn't necessarily equate to your full career. So, I can remember being hired into an insurance company to sell insurance right out of college. And thinking that that was both the thing that was going to pay my bills at the moment, and the thing I was going to be 40 years down the road. And, as you know I'm not in insurance anymore.

President Rob Manuel: And I think there's, what I would, would love the student to know is that, we've trained you and educated you to understand the world around you, to be of service to people and problems that exist and I hope that you use that knowledge and that thirst for education to know that your career will change and bend and go in ways you, you never thought it would go. But that you're prepared for that to happen. And that if you do that you'll have, you'll follow those instincts, you will have a wonderful, wonderful life ahead of you that moves with the environment around you and helps you be relevant at times and ultimately fulfilled by the work that you do.

President Rob Manuel: And just remember that all the skills that you learned up until this moment in time, you've got plenty more to learn and refine over time. But they ultimately have to be of benefit to other people too. You've gotta be, continue that concept of service as you, as you move out and about.

Hershell Taylor: With time to reflect on their studies, what do you hope every graduating student gets the opportunity to do during the summer?

President Rob Manuel: (laughs) So many of our students will move right into their career, right into their job, or right into graduate school preparation. And I can, you know, I look back now. Hm, I'm, I don't know, 35 or so years out of undergraduate. And while I did same thing and pushed forward, I wish I took a little of time to take stock on kinda where I was at my life and what kinda skills I had and how, how I could be of service in the, in the world that I was moving into. Uh, and I, I know that the, the world kinda doesn't allow that. Right? It doesn't allow time for reflection and discernment and, and thought, 'cause you're moving. You're trying to find the job. You're, you're, you have all of those pressures as you, as you leave.

President Rob Manuel:

4 But I, I kinda hope that there's a moment for you to reflect. Um, not just on the accomplishments but on the things that make you unique, the things that make you different from everybody else, and as a result, will make you desirable in the world, not just in a job, but in your society, in the organizations or the churches that you belong to, in the places where you interact with people. You have a role to play, uh, that's focused on leadership, and you have those skills as a result of being in, in, at UIndy. And I hope, I hope all of you have a chance to, to r-, to sit back, uh, relax, and understand how unique you are and how much the world needs that uniqueness at this moment in time.

Hershell Taylor: Amazing response there, President Rob. We really appreciate that.

Hershell Taylor: Now, could you talk about what it means to actually be a UIndy alum? And, and this is a big question that I have seeing that I, I become one today.

President Rob Manuel: Yeah. Well, you know, the percentage of people who earn their undergraduate degree in this world is relatively low. When you came in as a first-year student, we gathered together in convocation. And we did an exercise with colored dots on the back of a piece of paper. And in the end, there was one person out of about 1,100 people standing. And that person represented less than 1% of the world's population that earned a US or a degree from a US university.

President Rob Manuel: And so, you have to think of the, the really privileged place that you hold as a graduate of a US university, period. Uh, and that is a, a really ... To me, that always came with a lot of responsibility. Right? I always felt the need to use my skills and talents to, to make the world stable for me and my family for sure, but also a better place and increase the quality of life for those with whom I, I lived. And then, um, I think for UIndy specifically, because of our, our mission and our tradition of service and hospitality, I think it's even more important that we know that being an alum is all about staying connected outside of our own heads and outside of our own, um, expectations for ourselves. We certainly shouldn't shy away from the aspirations we have for ourselves, but we, we always need to focus on the notion that we can do for others, especially for others who can't, who can't do at the moment. And, and you know, you, you all, all of the, the graduates and all of the students at, at UIndy did over the course of this past year, simply by wearing masks and, and, and adhering to the guidance of the CDC around how we keep ourselves safe. And as a result, we were always able to stay open and we were always able to serve the students. And I think there's a sense of community, uh, and belonging that will always be there.

5 President Rob Manuel: So, as you, as you and your fellow graduates go out into the world, I hope you'll remember that you're always connected back here by your actions and your tradi- and the traditions of the mission that we share, and that if you ever need a recharge, if you ever lose your way or you think you need to be reminded of that, that you'll call us up, swing by, and, and, and remember to engage us again. We will always help you recharge if needed.

Hershell: We have President Rob Manuel. President Rob thank you so much for joining us.

Taylor: Thank you, Hershell and President Rob! Graduates, we all know our families, friends and faculty are a big part of the reason we reached this milestone today. Let’s hear from the people who’ve supported you on your journey!

[Messages from Pro Edge, Admissions, plus student family shout-out. No verbatim available.]

Taylor: Greyhounds, I hope you are having a great time! Thanks for joining us for the University of Indianapolis commencement program on WICR 88.7 FM. If you’re participating in the commencement parade on campus today, keep it tuned right here to WICR.

It’s my honor to introduce our next speaker, Dr. Mary Beth Bagg, interim vice president and provost.

Mary Beth Bagg: Thank you, Taylor. On behalf of the trustees, faculty, and staff, I welcome you to the 114th graduation exercises - and the very first graduation parade - of the University of Indianapolis!

Today we’re celebrating all that you have achieved through your commitment and determination. You found ways to meet your goals and thrive during the most challenging times in living memory. You and your families and friends should be proud of what you have accomplished. Graduates, during your studies here, you have been taught, counseled, and mentored by a dedicated group of talented faculty. I know you join me in thanking them for their role in preparing you so well.

Some of our colleagues are retiring this year. Each of these faculty members has made a difference in the lives of untold numbers of students over the years, and they will be sorely missed. I would like to take a moment to recognize their years of service to UIndy. Please join me in expressing our appreciation for:

Rebecca Barton Dan Briere

6 William (Bill) Dynes Donna Konradi John Langdon Richard Marshall Michael Milam Greta Pennell James Pennell Jody Perez Deb Sachs Sharon Baggett

We honor your legacy, and wish you well. Thank you.

The I. Lynd Esch Award is given each year to students with the highest scholarly achievement during one’s University of Indianapolis career. The award, named for a former president of the University, recognizes persistence, consistency, and dedication to academic excellence. We have 3 Esch Scholars for 2021:

Jenson Harris, Actuarial Science major, Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences Katrinia Hopkins, political science major, Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences Dana Youssef, molecular biology major, Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations to our Esch Scholars and to all of our graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021.

As we think about legacies, it is appropriate to introduce the recipients of our Teacher of the Year award. This award honors a member of the faculty who has demonstrated a distinguished record of excellence and impact on student learning. I’m happy to recognize the 2020 Teacher of the Year, Dr. Angelia J. Ridgway, and the 2021 Teacher of the Year, Dr.. Congratulations Dr. Ridgway and Dr. Laura Wilson.

Angie Ridgway

[no verbatim]

Laura Wilson

Congratulations to our University of Indianapolis Classes of 2020 and 2021--you did it! We always say that there are challenges and hurdles, college is never easy, but it is always worth it.

7 You endured more than most. You faced incredible difficulties as we watched the world change and you changed with it. You are more agile, you are more understanding, and you are stronger because of it. I have never been more proud of our students to see how they gracefully adjusted and persevered.

I hope your time at UIndy was full of memories that you will cherish and also take with you on your journey in life. Remember the fun cheering on our team at football games, cramming even though you said you wouldn't in the late night study sessions, laughing over pizza and ice cream in the dining hall. Just like your friends, these experiences are yours forever and have shaped you into the person and the UIndy graduate that you have become.

I am so proud of you, your class, and your classmates. As you go out into the world, remember the lessons we have taught you and use this as your platform to fly. Greyhounds are fast, they are resilient, and they are kind. You are going to make an immeasurable difference in the world and I hope you never forget your UIndy family because you are forever a part of our community and our hearts. Run fast, greyhounds, into your future, but don't forget to look back and come home to campus every once in a while too. We love you. Congrats, classes of 2020 and 2021-- you did it!

Taylor: Congratulations to our 2020 and 2021 Teachers of the Year! Now let’s hear from Hershell Taylor and President Rob Manuel!

Hershell:

What are some of the main points of pride for you from the class of 2020 and 2021?

President Rob Manuel: It's all the accomplishments and the activity that happened even though we were in the middle of a pandemic. Uh, for example: we've got athletes who've won championships, we've got a speech and debate team that has won international and national awards and championships, and I've seen them debate, I judged some of their debates. The theater program put on some amazing content which was designed so creatively to accommodate the limitations of the pandemic. I've seen some incredible research produced by our students in conjunction with our faculty. I saw just a ton of creativity and, and internal fortitude to get this all as we, you know as we plan to do the best we can through the pandemic. But I am so impressed with the creativity, um, and the perseverance that all of the students and faculty and staff have shown in the past year and a half. As a result, I'm proud of absolutely everything that we have been able to accomplish during that time.

Hershell Taylor:

8 It's definitely been a challenging year in a lot of ways. But what do you think has been the key in helping UIndy get through this and emerge even stronger?

President Rob Manuel: Our university is special. Uh, we are committed to a larger goal than ourselves. And I think everybody that's here knows that the mission of hospitality, the mission of service, um, and the, the care we have for students in their development through our time here is sacrosanct. And everything we did, and altered over the course of the year, everything we had to change or create anew, kept those things in mind.

President Rob Manuel: And when I, I see the changes we had to make, the inconveniences we had to go through, everything we did was to make sure we were healthy, make sure that we were taking care of each other, and then to make sure that we could continue on the educational profiling and programs that we had.

President Rob Manuel: And I, I really think that, that the fact that our, our faculty staff and our students, they, and our alumni who supported us through this, that they saw the bigger picture of the importance of this to the university as a moment in time in history, uh, and were willing to forego some of the, some of the major, um, inconveniences and issues that, that were caused personally.

President Rob Manuel: And I, you know, I, I'm just so proud of our community for figuring out our way through it which was best for us, uh, and figuring our way through it which allowed the progression of everybody to go through, uh, and continue their education, and to figure it out for us in a way that kept us safe and healthy through it all.

Hershell Taylor: President Rob, how do you think UIndy has helped our new alumni prepare for a post-pandemic world?

President Rob Manuel: Well, Hershell, I'm gonna flip that question over to you. I think you're graduating this year, right?

Hershell Taylor: Yes, sir.

President Rob Manuel:

9 I want you to tell me how you think UIndy prepared you for when you, when you walk out of here. When I hand you your diploma and shake your hand, hand and send you on your way, how has UIndy prepared you?

Hershell Taylor: Well, certainly one of the biggest things that I've learned is that you need to be able to adapt to any situation. And you hit it right on, on the head right when you talked about it that w-, your first job is not gonna be your last job.

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: That is just the start of your professional career. And one of the things I l-, learned for Professor Uecker here in the radio department is that a lot of people think that they're coming here to just learn. No, you're starting your career when you come to the University of Indianapolis, especially in the radio department.

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: You're learning from ... You hit the ground running in 109, and you go all the way through 110.

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: So, I think especially during the pandemic, it's definitely time management, definitely having to adapt, but also just being prepared for anything, and also getting out of your comfort zone, for sure.

President Rob Manuel: And, and so I'm, I'm sitting here in a studio with tons of buttons that I don't know what do, and I assume you do. There's a technical component to your education. But there's also a human component, right? You gotta be creative, and you gotta think about the human stories you're telling or the engagements you're trying to make. How did you learn that when you were a student here? Gimme a story or two of how a faculty member or staff member, um, kind of inspired you to think differently about the radio industry.

10 Hershell Taylor: Wow. Um, so I, I just talked about Professor Uecker, which he has been somebody who I've really kind of already know, known a little bit about before I came to the University of Indianapolis. I went to North Central High School here in Indianapolis.

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: And believe or not, Scott Uecker, uh, actually built that program-

President Rob Manuel: Yeah.

Hershell Taylor: ... there, (laughs) and I went... through that program. I met with, uh, Rob Hendricks, who, you know, that's another person who, uh, uh, inspired me. But it was what Scott Uecker taught me afterwards. And it was amazing to see when I came in, I was like, "Okay, well I already knew that."

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: And, because Scott was teaching us the basics when I was in high school, and he wasn't even my teacher yet. So, Professor Uecker definitely inspired me to be better. Also, Dr. Steven Cohen-

President Rob Manuel: Mm-hmm. (affirmative)

Hershell Taylor: ... in TV. I do TV things as well. He pushed me to never, just never be happy with obtaining one goal. Set another one, and obtain that one. And just keep going and going and going and just never being happy with, you know ... Obviously, celebrate your successes. Like obviously, graduating today. But I know this isn't gonna be... the biggest thing for me. I know that there is another big goal that I'm gonna obtain at some point in my life. But this is just the start. And I wa-, I have to say thank you to Dr. Cohen and Professor Uecker for preparing me to go out into this world, 'cause I, I'm, I'm excited, I'm ready.

11 President Rob Manuel: This is music to my ears because the reason we're all here is so that when students graduate and go on, they say things that are meaningful like that. And that's, that's really the motivation for why everybody's here. And I think that's the glue that kept us together during the pandemic, is knowing that there's a, a true impact on the lives of the students that we all have in different ways and in different times, uh, as they go through.

Hershell Taylor: I'm Hershell Taylor. we are speaking with the University of Indianapolis President Rob Manuel as we continue with the commencement ceremonies

Taylor: Thank you, President Manuel! We’ll check in with you and Hershell again later in the show. It’s my honor to introduce Dr. Torrey Wilson, dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences.

TORREY WILSON:

Good afternoon, I’m Torrey Wilson, dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences. The College will offer the following degrees today: DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY MASTER OF ARTS MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK BACHELOR OF ARTS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Graduates, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your achievements today. You are about to embark on an exciting career journey in a world that needs your skills and talent more than ever. I know you will represent the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences with the grace and professionalism that are UIndy’s hallmarks.

Taylor:

That was Dr. Torrey Wilson, dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences, giving his address to the graduates today.

We’ll now hear from Dr. Norma Hall, dean of the School of Nursing.

NORMA HALL:

12 I’m Norma Hall. As dean of the School of Nursing, it’s my honor to announce today’s degrees:

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

The Class of 2021 will be entering the workforce as COVID-19 continues to cause challenges for staff at hospitals across the country. You will be taking your knowledge and skills from UIndy’s nursing program into the workforce to care for the sickest of the sick at a time of great need. I couldn’t be prouder of our students and faculty for their flexibility and resilience during this difficult year. I wish you well in your careers and I encourage you to keep in touch. Congratulations!

Taylor: That was Dr. Norma Hall, dean of the School of Nursing.

4:09 pm: Message from Kory V, intro student speaker

Taylor: Greyhounds, I hope you’re getting into the graduation spirit! Here’s a familiar voice - Kory Vitangeli, Dean of Students!

Kory:

Graduates, it’s my honor to be here to celebrate with you today. I know it’s been a difficult journey for all of us as we haven’t been able to be together to support and challenge each other in the same ways we used to know. No matter what, as you reflect on your time at UIndy, I hope you will keep in mind how you have grown as individuals and the impact that you have made on this campus and society. As you celebrate with friends and family today, remember:

-The lifelong forever friends you’ve made -The endless memories that you will take with you -Relationships you’ve formed with faculty/staff members -The ways in which you’ve grown as a person -Feeling cared about -The feeling of home

I hope that these special UIndy memories will always stay with you and that you will look back fondly over the years at how UIndy has helped shape you as caring, community oriented people. I am proud of all of the things that we have accomplished, debated, discussed, and fostered during your time at UIndy. I hope you know that we will always be here to support you.

13 At this time, I am delighted to be able to introduce our student speaker, Craig Chigadza.

Craig-Anesu Chigadza is an international relations and psychology major from Zimbabwe.

Craig quickly found his fit at UIndy with the UIndy Forensics Speech and Debate Team. Just eight days after joining the team, he advanced to the final round of his first speech and debate competition, and he hasn’t looked back since. He’s successfully competed at local, regional, statewide and national levels throughout his UIndy career and went on to serve as president of the UIndy Speech and Debate Team.

Craig became the first UIndy varsity student in nearly two decades to win a national speech and debate championship, and he recently brought home an international win, a first for the team, by winning the Informative Speaking division at the International 31st Annual International Forensics Association Speech and Debate Tournament.

Craig has found ways to connect with alumni mentors and others across the campus community, including his work as a presidential ambassador, a resident assistant, a student government class representative, and the Paul Washington-Lacey Emerging Leader program.

He also participated in a fellowship program with Learning Leaders an organization in Shanghai, China, committed to improving the public speaking skills of middle school and high school students.

I’m proud to introduce Craig Chigadza!

4:12 pm Craig Chigadza

[no verbatim]

4:14 pm Segment 3 Prez Rob

Taylor: Thank you, Craig. That was our student commencement speaker, Craig Chigadza.

Let’s check in with Hershell Taylor and President Rob!

Hershell Taylor: An important part of the traditional commencement ceremony is the conferring of the honorary degrees. President Rob, can you talk about how the recipients of the honorary degrees are chosen?

14

President Rob Manuel: Sure. The university, the faculty and the staff have an opportunity to nominate people who model the tenets of our mission and tradition in their life's work. And the goal is to celebrate people who have lived, uh, the values of our institution and can serve as a model to those graduating of what we hope their life's journey would be.

President Rob Manuel: So, an honorary doctorate is the highest recognition a university can bestow on an individual. Our honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who are innovators, society and industry leaders and visionaries who embody the mission of our university. This year, we continue the storied tradition by awarding degrees to Captain Diane Carlson Evans and Daniel Pink, two leaders in their respective fields whose life's work has impacted thousands of people in positive ways.

It's my pleasure now to introduce Laura Darnell, assistant professor of nursing, who will read the citation for Captain Diane Carlson Evans.

Laura Darnell:

Thank you, President Manuel. It’s my privilege and pleasure to introduce our honorary degree recipient who gracefully demonstrates our university motto, “education for service.”

Captain Diane Carlson Evans served as a combat nurse in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and she would go on to lead the mission to create the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. She is the Founder of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation and former President and CEO of the Board of Directors. She is the author of a book, “Healing Wounds, A Vietnam War combat nurse’s 10-year fight to win women a place of honor in Washington, D.C.”

Captain Carlson Evans was head nurse in the post-surgical unit when she served in the Vietnam War. She supervised the care of hundreds of young men who were severely injured in battle. The hospital where she did her work frequently came under attack. She completed six years in the Army Nurse Corps.

Captain Evans envisioned the idea for a memorial to honor 11,000 military women who served in Vietnam and more than 265,000 women who served around the world during the Vietnam War era. She led a decade-long struggle to complete the circle of healing with the placement of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. This was the first memorial in the history of the United States honoring military women on the National Mall.

15

It would take ten years of testimony before three federal commissions and two congressional bills before Captain Evans and her supporters received permission to build the memorial.

Captain Evans currently volunteers for the Eastern National and National Park Service efforts on behalf of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation. Her work today focuses on readjustment services for veterans.

Captain Evans holds honorary doctorate degrees from Haverford College, Sacred Heart University and Carroll College.

She is also the recipient of numerous awards, medals and accolades, including: the Patriot Award from the American Legion; the Governor’s Excellence Award from the State of Minnesota; the Outstanding Civic Achievement Award from the USO;

Woman Agent of Change by the American Association of University Women; the Gold Medal of Merit from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

I’m pleased to welcome Captain Diane Carlson Evans to our commencement program today.

10:43: Diane Evans (honorary degree recipient)

[no verbatim available]

10:45: President Manuel: Thank you, Captain Carlson Evans. We’re honored to have you join us today. We’ll now hear from Alli Snyder, assistant professor, in the School of Business, who will read the citation for Daniel Pink, who will also receive an honorary doctorate today.

Alli Snyder:

Thank you, President Manuel. It’s my honor to introduce Daniel Pink, whose research and insight into human behavior has enhanced millions of lives around the world.

16

Mr. Pink is the author of six provocative books about business and human behavior, including New York Times bestsellers A Whole New Mind and To Sell is Human. His books have won multiple awards, have sold millions of copies, and have been translated into more than 40 languages. Mr. Pink was host and co-executive producer of “Crowd Control,” a TV series about human behavior on the National Geographic Channel that aired in more than 100 countries. He has appeared frequently on NPR, PBS, ABC, CNN, and other TV and radio networks in the US and abroad.

He has been a contributing editor at Fast Company and Wired as well as a business columnist for The Sunday Telegraph. His articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The New Republic, Slate, and other publications. In 2019, London-based Thinkers 50 named him the 6th most influential management thinker in the world.

Mr. Pink received a BA from Northwestern University, where he was a Truman Scholar and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a JD from Yale Law School. He has also received honorary doctorates from Georgetown University, the Pratt Institute, the Ringling College of Art and Design, and Westfield State University.

I’m excited to welcome Daniel Pink to our commencement program today.

10:46: Daniel Pink (honorary degree recipient)

[no verbatim available]

Taylor: Now that we’ve heard from this year’s honorary degree recipients, President Manuel will confer the honorary degrees.

President Manuel:

As we charge you, our graduates, to become responsible, caring members in our complex world, we learn from the work of Diane Carlson Evans and Daniel Pink the importance of using our skills and knowledge to help others and to improve our communities.

Please join me in celebrating the life work and accomplishments of Diane Carlson Evans and Daniel Pink as we bestow honorary degrees upon them today.

Be it known that the President and the Board of Trustees at the University of Indianapolis, upon the recommendation of faculty, today has conferred upon Diane Carlson Evans and Daniel Pink

17 the degree of Honorary Doctor of Humanities. Please join me in congratulating Captain Carlson Evans and Mr. Pink.

Our graduates can learn a lot from our honorary degree recipients about overcoming obstacles.

When you came to UIndy, you were expecting the academic challenges and experiences of college life.

The unique obstacles we’ve faced in the past year have shown that we also have to be ready for the unexpected challenges that life will bring.

You may not have planned on having to climb a mountain at this point in your career, but when you faced this year’s mountain, that’s exactly what you did.

The Classes of 2020 and 2021 will be remembered for your historic resilience.

You’ve shown how you are connected to our belief in the University’s role as a community and cultural anchor in not just our immediate neighborhood, but the city of Indianapolis as a whole.

You truly embody the UIndy motto “Education for Service.”

Perhaps never in our school’s history has that motto been more relevant than during the COVID- 19 pandemic.

In the early, uncertain days of the pandemic, Greyhounds were ready to answer the call.

I watched with deep pride as you learned how to adapt to meet your professional obligations and your academic goals.

With every action, you demonstrated a caring for others that forms the bedrock of our University’s mission.

Under adverse circumstances, you matched the dedication and creativity of our faculty and staff to continue your work… ○ keeping WICR on the air throughout the pandemic ○ learning to adapt lessons based on available materials ○ working on cutting edge computational chemistry research ○ participating in the R.B. Annis School of Engineering’s business pitch competition virtually

18 ○ and learning to innovate in the education maker space.

There are so many more examples from all disciplines throughout our campus of students, faculty, and staff finding solutions and connecting with one another, all geared towards one overarching goal: your success.

Your achievement that we are celebrating today shows that you already have what it takes to succeed.

Remember, the flexibility and grit that got you here today is the fuel that will continue to propel your success.

As you continue to set new goals throughout your life, I hope you will keep in mind these three tenets.

First, always be seeking: ○ Seek balance ○ Seek truth ○ Seek to be engaged ○ Seek to be better

Second, be confident ○ You belong at the table where the most critical decisions are being made. ○ You have a unique perspective on the world, and a unique set of skills to employ in solving all the world’s issues.

Third, stay connected. ○ When you come back to campus -- A LOT will have changed – but this place will always FEEL the same. This is your home, and I hope you will visit us frequently and help us continue to build our quilt of tradition for future generations of Greyhounds.

● Congratulations.

Taylor: You’ve just heard from University of Indianapolis President Rob Manuel giving his charge to the graduates in today’s commencement ceremony. And now let’s hear from the families who supported our graduates…

[no verbatim available]

19 Now we’ll hear from Luis Rivera, Class of 2021, performing the university Alma Mater, accompanied by the UIndy Pep Band.

[Musical performance]

That was Luis Rivera and the UIndy Pep Band performing the university Alma Mater. We’ll now hear from Hillary Carnall, Class of 2021, with the benediction.

Hillary Carnall (no verbatim available)

Taylor: That was Hillary Carnall, class of 2021.

Taylor: Greyhounds, I hope you’re having fun!! Thanks for joining us for the University of Indianapolis commencement program on WICR. We’ll now hear that song you’ve all been waiting for...Pomp and Circumstance!! Performed by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble from the UIndy Dept of Music.

Pomp & Circumstance [musical performance]

20