- [Man] It kills the roots and kill- (band music begins) ("Pomp and Circumstance") - [Narrator] Introducing the President of Michigan State University, Samuel L. Stanley Jr. (audience applauding) - Good morning, and welcome to the Fall Commencement Ceremony, as we recognize and celebrate our graduating seniors from the College of Arts and Letters.

(audience applauding) The College of Communication, Arts, and Sciences.

(audience applauding) And the College of Social Science.

(audience applauding) I want to thank everyone for observing our masking requirement, and ask that you to remain masked throughout the ceremony, to allow all of us to safely celebrate together.

I think it's important that we be together to celebrate this milestone in the lives of our graduates, and to recognize the dedication it took to get here.

We honor MSU's 166 year old mission, and certify with these degrees, that our graduates are fit to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

It's an immensely satisfying feeling to look out on this group and see the next generation of problem solvers, leaders, and creators.

In this ceremony, we honor our graduates, and salute those who have achieved academic distinction.

We celebrate the special unity and diversity of the Spartan family, represented by the flags of the native lands of our students and by the banners heralding our colleges.

Now I ask our guests to join students and faculty in singing one stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner, performed by the MSU Wind Symphony, under the direction of Professor Kevin Seditol.

The singing will be led by Shannon Crowley, a senior in Vocal Performance.

Upon conclusion of the singing, please remain standing if you can, for a moment of silence.

♪ Oh, say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Who's brought stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rocket's red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ Oh say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ (audience applauding) Thank you for remaining standing.

Graduates, I'd like us to pause now to allow you a moment of silent reflection on the opportunities for growth you've enjoyed at MSU and the relationships you've formed.

Now, I invite Provost Theresa Woodruff to present this mornings candidate for the honorary degree.

(audience applauding) - Mr. Laycock, will you please come forward?

President Stanley, I have the honor of presenting Douglas Laycock for the awarding of an honorary degree, Doctor of Law.

(audience applauding) - As the nation's leading authority on religious liberty and the law of remedies, your career serves as a testament to the power of education.

From your time at Michigan State University, as an undergraduate student in the honors college to receiving your law degree from one of the country's preeminent institutions, the University of Chicago, you have gone on to be a leader in your field.

This is further demonstrated by your faculty appointments at the University of Chicago, University of Texas, University of Michigan, and University of Virginia, and your election as a Fellow to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

You have helped shape this area of law for generations to come, through your testimony before Congress, and casework up to the United States Supreme Court.

Your approach to the intersection of religious liberty and governmental interests has helped advance legal arguments that transcend politics.

Your scholarship has influenced and continued to influence, not only the next generation of legal practitioners, but also helps explain these complex issues in clear and understandable ways to the broader public.

Your work is distinctive, in that it argues for the rights of religious beliefs for all kinds, and for the rights of religious nonbelievers with equal commitment, teaching us that the only solution to America's culture wars is that each side must respect the liberty of the other.

For your commitment to advancing knowledge for the greater good, I am pleased to award you the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Michigan State University.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, President Stanley.

Well, first of all, congratulations to the graduates.

You have worked hard for four years or more, or at least most of you have worked hard.

You enter the outside world armed with new skills and new knowledge that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

You have improved your ability to learn new things as you go, and you'll have to keep learning new things, wherever you go in life and whatever you do when you get there.

And whether you worked hard or just skated by, you now have a degree from a great university, and you will carry that credential with you for the rest of your life.

And whatever else may happen, no one can ever take away from you, either the many things you learned here, or the credential that you earned here.

And second, congratulations and thank you to all the parents.

No parent is perfect, but speaking again to the graduating class, most of you had parents who steadily supported you from your helpless beginnings until you achieved the goal we celebrate today.

They changed your diapers, they read to you, they encouraged you to read for yourself.

They taught you to ride a bicycle, and they made you do your homework.

They struggled through, or maybe suffered through, your adolescence.

They paid your tuition, or at least they paid as much of it as they could.

And today they are prouder of you than you can easily imagine.

Please join me in thanking all the parents.

(audience applauding) I first came to Michigan State from a small blue collar town in Southern Illinois.

I was the first in my family to go to a four-year school.

I knew so little about higher ed that I didn't know the difference between Michigan State and that other school down the road.

You know, the one we beat again in football this year.

(audience applauding and cheering) I got a great education at Michigan State.

I met my bride at Michigan State, and we just celebrated our 50th anniversary.

(audience applauding and cheering) When I graduated, I didn't know yet how much I had benefited here.

But I've come to be profoundly grateful to Michigan State University.

My life was transformed here, and some of you may also already feel similar gratitude.

Many more of you will come to experience it in the years ahead.

Let me say just a little about the work that the president mentioned, that led Michigan State to honor me today.

And let me put it in a broader perspective that applies to all the many and varied kinds of work that this class will do.

A few of you may someday occupy some key position where you can enact some important policy change or make some big discovery or take some other action that leads to a wholesale improvement in the country or the world.

But most of us, if we do any good in the world, we do it retail.

We try to improve the situation immediately around us in our specific field of endeavor, and we hope that our efforts will contribute something to the bigger picture.

I've spent much of my career addressing my little corner of just one part of one major problem facing the country.

And each of you can make that problem better or worse, depending on how you understand and treat your fellow Americans.

At the biggest picture level, the problem is polarization.

Americans are more polarized politically, more divided culturally than we have been in a long time.

We have been even more polarized at times in the past, we've had deep cultural differences from the beginning.

Our constitution assumes that we will disagree on many things.

One approach to that kind of disagreement is to try to stamp it out.

King Henry VIII had his obedient parliament enact a bill, entitled, "An Act for Abolishing Diversity of Opinions."

But diverse opinions refuse to be abolished, and many people believed what they would, no matter what Henry said.

Americans are in principle, committed to a very different approach to our disagreements.

On many of our disagreements, the fundamental solution is elections.

But we do not vote on every disagreement.

Our constitution also promises important liberties to each of us.

And as the Supreme Court said at the height of World War 2, in a decision protecting the group that was extremely unpopular at the time: "These basic rights may not be submitted to vote.

They depend on the outcome of no elections."

That is still true today, but these rights do depend on our continued willingness to respect them.

These rights assume deep disagreement.

If we all agreed with each other there would be no need to guarantee rights.

Constitutional rights are most important, precisely for those with whom we most deeply disagree.

What I am proudest of in my own career is that I've defended the rights of all sides in America's culture wars.

I defend the rights of people that I think are profoundly wrongheaded on fundamental matters.

I often oppose those people politically, but I've defended their right to live their own lives by their own deepest values.

I've defended them in my scholarship, in the courts, and in Congress and state legislatures.

Let me give you a few examples.

I successfully urged the Supreme Court to protect an Afro-Caribbean religion that sacrifices small animals to its gods, and a Brazilian religion that drinks a hallucinogenic tea at its worship services.

I have supported the anti-discrimination laws throughout my career, but I also successfully urged the Supreme Court to let churches fire their priests, ministers, rabbis, imams, for any reason, good or bad, or for no reason at all.

Because if the minister could challenge the reason and sue the church for discrimination, a judge or a jury would decide whether that person should be a minister in that faith tradition, and only the church itself can decide who to trust and empower with its ministry.

I've urged the Supreme Court to eliminate Christian prayers at public school graduations, high school football games, and other government events, because when government prays, it imposes those prayers on citizens of many other faiths and of no faith at all.

But I have also defended the right of student religion clubs and prayer clubs to meet in public schools and to distribute religious literature on school grounds.

They may irritate some of their classmates, but they cannot force anyone to attend the meetings or read the literature.

I repeatedly urged state legislatures and the Supreme Court to create a legal right to same-sex marriage.

Many others made similar arguments, and the Supreme Court has now done that, but unlike all the others making those arguments, I also urged legislators and the Court to grant religious exemptions, so that conscientious objectors would not have to assist with same-sex weddings.

In all those examples I tried to avoid the Puritan mistake.

The Puritans came to Massachusetts for religious liberty, but they meant religious liberty for Puritans.

Anyone who disagreed with them had the liberty to leave Massachusetts, and only the liberty to leave Massachusetts.

Today, we are less transparent about claiming liberty only for ourselves, but far too many Americans give a maximum reading to the rights they claim for themselves and for the people they sympathize with.

And they give a minimum or zero reading to the rights claim by the people they disapprove of.

Few of us would admit to wanting Henry's solution, but many Americans are drifting back in that direction.

Too many of us on each side of the culture wars would really like to stamp out the other side.

Protecting the liberty of both sides reduces the stakes and the intensity of polarized disagreement.

If liberty for me on an issue means an end to liberty for you on that issue, and if you care about that issue just as much as I do, then we will fight bitterly and endlessly.

But if I claim only the right to live my own life by my own values, and if I respect your right to live your own life by your very different values, than no one's way of life need be destroyed.

So to use just the marriage example, conservative Christian's should not try to prevent same-sex couples from getting married, and same-sex couples should not demand that conservative Christians make the wedding cake.

A couple can have as fancy a wedding as it likes, and a long and happy marriage without forcing conscientious objectors to provide goods and services for the wedding.

And requiring them to do so forces them, either to permanently surrender their conscience, or to permanently surrender their business and their occupation.

But neither side seems content with live and let live.

Each side often demands conformity to its own views of our disagreements in ways that pose an existential threat to the other side's way of life, and that makes for endless and unrestrained conflict.

So I want you to work at being more tolerant of your fellow Americans.

And most especially, to be tolerant when some of them do and believe things that make your skin crawl.

It is enough to protect your own liberty.

You do not have to force all the dissenters to conform to your view of our issues.

And I address this plea to both the left and right of the graduating class.

Both sides have been guilty of opposing the other side's right to control their own lives.

But enough of all that.

Let us return to the main point, the less contentious point.

Today, we celebrate a great occasion and a great achievement for each and every one of you.

I join your faculty and the leaders of the university in offering hardy congratulations to every parent and to every member of the class of 2021.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, Mr. Laycock for that thought-provoking and wonderful summary of this very important issue.

And I think the culture of respect for other's opinions is key at Michigan State University, and something we prize and cherish.

Now, Provost and Executive Vice President, Teresa Woodruff, will continue with introductions.

- Thank you, President Stanley.

I join you in congratulating our newest degree recipients.

Each graduate embodies a unique confluence of new knowledge.

Your scholarly achievements culminate today in the conferral of a degree, along with the conferral of our great faith, hope, and pride in what you will now do with this achievement.

Indeed, as we send you forth, we are counting on you to become the thought leaders and doers of the 21st century.

Now it is my pleasure to introduce Kailyn Fowler, a Global and International Studies major, who was chosen by the Senior Class Council to represent the class of 2021.

(audience applauding) - Well, good morning, everyone, how are you?

It's amazing morning.

Hello, family, friends, Spartans, and distinguished guests of Spartans.

For those of you who have never been here before, welcome to MSU.

For those that visit regularly for MSU home games, welcome back to MSU.

And to all, I just want to welcome you here to this amazing university.

We hope that you grow to love this university as much as we do.

I would like to thank the College of Social Science for choosing me to speak to my fellow Spartans this morning.

It is a tremendous honor.

Within this amazing college, we have had some of the most amazing academic advisors I've ever encountered.

Shout out to Lauren Eunos and Nicholas Jisel for always being there to answer my frantic questions about how to get into a social science course, because let's be honest, trying to get into one of the three geography classes that are only available during the spring of an odd year is like the Hunger Games, let's be real.

(Kailyn laughs) I never knew I was competitive until it came to enrolling in classes here at MSU.

Thank you so much, I love it.

For those that do not know me, which I'm sure is about 99.99% of all of you, I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Kailyn Fowler.

I was born and raised in the Motor City all my life, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I grew up on the west side of Detroit with my mother, Sonetta, my older sister, Kita, and my older brother, Jaylen.

Growing up, people always asked what university I wanted to go to, and I'd always respond, MSU.

It's not that I knew what it was or anything, it was just the first university I ever heard about.

Nevertheless, I am proud to be a social scientist, and I am proud to be an MSU Spartan.

Flashing back to the time before I was a Spartan, I finally remember questioning why people were so enthusiastic about their universities.

Now, I truly understand the beauty and the intricacy of pursuing a degree, and how that in itself was a major stepping stone for me and so many others.

I remember my freshman year coming to campus and finally settling into my dorm room, sitting there reading all of my emails about welcome week events, especially participation.

I felt overwhelmingly excited.

Having no specific plan coming into MSU was a strength, in my opinion at least.

"No thoughts, head empty" was my motto freshman year, essentially, not only because I was essentially a first-generation student, but because if I had no plans or expectations to begin with, where could I possibly go wrong?

And I do not regret it one bit, because it brought me to the current version of myself that I am today.

Because of the tabula rasa attitude I had freshman year, I was able to go to a study abroad trip to China.

Was it something I had planned?

No.

Do I cherish that experience?

Of course.

Because of that tabula rasa attitude I had freshman year, I joined South Neighborhood Black Caucus, despite being extremely introverted.

Was that something I had planned?

No.

Did I enjoy my time on that executive board?

Yes, and I would do it again.

I knew that coming to MSU meant that it was time to step out of my comfort zone.

I am sure many of you can relate, whether it was joining a sorority or fraternity, an international student organization, or any other identity-based organization, or any of the other numbers of clubs on campus you added to your Spartan experience.

That was your introduction into what it means to have a Spartan experience.

Stepping into higher education is an entirely new world, which takes a lot of guts.

We have all taken that step together.

Whether you are a first-generation or legacy student, we are all here together.

We all took that first step of applying to this amazing institution, and then everything after it was history.

And now here we are, Spartans, four years later, or however many years later.

We are Spartans, we are warriors, we are champions, and the world is our arena.

No matter the fight, no matter the obstacle, no matter the opponent, we persevere.

We have fought and we continue to fight battles every single day.

Being a Spartan means that we do not shy away from a fight.

We are the courageous ones that people look to for answers.

Being a Spartan means more than a logo or a flag or having an amazing football team to brag about.

We bleed green for a reason.

The color green represents ambition, growth, and hope, meaning Spartans can- I mean, sorry, meaning Spartans can, not Spartans will, our motto is Spartans will, for a reason.

We are no ordinary people.

There is a reason that out of 1,662 institutions across 99 countries, we are ranked number 93.

In the US alone, we are number 35.

Those numbers alone should tell you that you are not average.

You and I were never built to be complacent.

Being a Spartan is living proof of that.

Being a Spartan is living proof of that.

In four years, I have witnessed the great triumphs and major defeats at this university.

And I must say, the true fighting spirit is seen from faculty to students, to parents.

You do not achieve those rankings with complacency, you achieve it with championship.

You achieve it by taking life by the reins, not by backing down when times get rough.

As we leave this auditorium today, I want you to remember this.

You are a champion.

You have beaten all of your worst days and are here with all of us today.

I, if not all of us, are so proud of you, and will continue to persevere with you even after graduation.

That is the real Spartan experience.

It carries on with you before, during, and after your university experience, into the rest of your life.

Take advantage of the connections and experience you have had here and will continue to have here, because you never know where they can lead you.

Thank you.

(audience applauding) - Kailyn, thank you so much.

That was just spectacular.

Thank you for carrying us from your tabula rasa to tabula grandiosa.

You are ready to go forth, and she, in fact, will be leaving shortly for China, where she will be continuing her work.

So thank you so much for those wonderful words.

(audience applauding) The Senior Class Council has worked tirelessly in support of the Senior Class Gift Campaign.

The presentation will be made by Logan Forester and Gabe Schroeder.

(audience applauding) - Good morning, class of 2021.

My name is Gabriel Schroeder.

- And my name is Logan Forester.

- And we are the Executive Board Members of the Senior Class Council from ASMSU, the Association of Students of Michigan State University.

- And as we depart from MSU and begin our journeys, the Senior Class Council wanted to ensure the gift that we chose to donate today would be towards a cause that exemplifies Spartans will.

- The Senior Class Council understands the challenges that the COVID-19 virus has brought in many forms.

This Senior Class Council would like to applaud the graduating class of 2021, as it was not easy to get here.

You all should be so proud.

So be kind to yourself.

Congratulations, Spartans.

(audience applauding) - As we stated earlier, the Senior Class Council donates a gift to a charitable organization, and we wanted to ensure that this gift would be able to support those who have been greatly affected by the pandemic, as many of us have in different ways.

This pandemic has taken a large toll on education, and many of us college students, faculty, staff, that sit together today, here in this space.

We can all empathize with this statement.

- We decided to go with the Diversity Research Network, which connects faculty of color and scholars interested in diversity research to create scholarly communities, facilitate new interdisciplinary collaborations, and to advance the growth and visibility of research by underrepresented faculty, as well as research on diversity across MSU.

- And with this in mind, a check to President Stanley and to the institution will be awarded accordingly and gifted to the Diversity Research Network.

Go green.

(audience applauding) - Thank you so much, Logan and Gabe.

And Logan, Gabe, and, Kailyn, you all three really represent this class so very, very well.

Thank you very much.

I would now like to take a moment to acknowledge our outstanding faculty and academic staff who are here to celebrate with our graduates, our faculty and academic staff are guides, mentors, and celebrate with us your accomplishments today.

Please join me in thanking and congratulating our faculty and academic staff.

(audience applauding) We are honored to welcome a number of the university's leaders who are seated on the platform, but who will not be speaking today.

Each plays an important university role, and joins us to celebrate in your accomplishments.

In their many and varied roles, they support our academic mission, and are deeply invested in ensuring academic excellence and student success at Michigan State University.

Their presence marks the importance of this moment.

Please remain standing as your name is read, and I ask the audience to hold your applause until all are introduced.

Norman Beauchamp, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences.

Lisa Fraisse, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer.

Vinnie Gore, Senior Vice President of Student Life and Engagement.

Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

And Melissa Wu, Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Information Officer.

Thank you.

(audience applauding) We pay tribute today to graduates who have the distinction of maintaining the highest grade point averages in the class, thereby meriting the Board of Trustees Award.

To be eligible for this award, at least three-fourths of the credits for the degree must be earned in residence at Michigan State University.

This semester, 38 students qualified for the Board Award.

All 38 earned a grade point average of 4.0000.

(audience applauding) This morning, we recognize 10 of these students.

So I'll ask those students to stand and remain standing as your name is read, and please forgive my errors in either pronunciation or diction as I call your name.

And to our audience, please hold your applause until all are introduced.

Peyton Caulder, a Psychology major and Honors College member from Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.

Ginseng Chow, an Advertising major and Honors College member from Rochester, Michigan.

Paige Geekiss, a Psychology major and Honors College member from Grandville, Michigan.

Tyler Jougay, a Political Science major and Honors College member from Columbia, Illinois.

Kelsey Carpensky, an English major and Honors College member from Warren, Michigan.

Zoe Kernohan, a Media and Information major from Royal Oak, Michigan.

Letliezel Lugrow, an Advertising Management major from Gross Point, Michigan.

Hiley Martins, a Criminal Justice major and Honors College member from Clarkston, Michigan.

Haley Richie, a Communication major from McComb, Michigan.

and Kaylee Twansinzky, a Communication major from Grand Ledge, Michigan.

Please join me in congratulating these members of this graduating class.

(audience applauding) We hope each of today's recipients are proud of the outstanding academic record that honors you and your university.

On behalf of your classmates, our faculty and academic staff, the trustees, and the university, I congratulate you, and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Students who participate in and fulfill the requirements of the Honors College by completing enrich programs of study, are identified as graduating with honors college distinction.

These graduates wear a white stole with the HC designation.

All students who are graduating as members of the Honors College, please stand and accept our congratulations.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

Students who attain a minimum grade point average of 3.94 are awarded University High Honor.

University Honor is awarded to students who earn a minimum grade point average of 3.79.

These honors are designated by the gold cord worn on the academic robe.

All students graduating with High Honor and with Honor, please stand and accept our congratulations.

(audience applauding) In recognition of Michigan State's ongoing commitment to study abroad, I asked graduates to stand who have had an international experience, as either a study abroad student or as an international student who traveled from around the world to study at MSU.

Please stand.

(audience applauding) And now, we will confer the baccalaureate degrees upon candidates.

The Deans will present their candidates.

Dean Christopher Long from the College of Arts and Letters.

(audience applauding) - Will the brilliant and resilient candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Arts and Letters, please rise and remain standing.

(audience applauding) Provost Woodruff, President Stanley, honorable members of the platform party, it is my pleasure on behalf of the faculty and staff of the College of Arts and Letters to present to you these global citizen leaders for the conferral of their degree.

(audience applauding) - Dean Prabhu David from the College of Communication, Arts, and Sciences.

(audience applauding) - College of Communication, are you ready?

Oh, come on.

You can do better than that.

All right, students in the College of Communication, please stand.

(audience applauding) President Stanley, Provost Woodruff, and members of the platform party, it's my honor, on behalf of the faculty and staff of our college to present these ready communicators for the conferral of their degrees.

(audience applauding) - Dean Mary Finn from the College of Social Science.

(audience applauding) - May I ask the candidates from the College of Social Science, where our science transforms the human experience, to please stand and remain standing.

(audience applauding) President Stanley, Provost Woodruff, I present to you the candidates from the College of Social Science for the conferral of their degree.

(audience applauding) - Will all the candidates for conferral of degrees please rise.

By the authority of the state of Michigan, vested in the Board of Trustees, and delegated to me, I confer upon you the degrees for which you have qualified, with all the rights and distinctions to which they entitle you.

As symbol of your achievement, it is traditional to move the tassel from the right side of your cap to the left.

You may do so at this time, and congratulations.

(audience applauding) You may now be seated.

- And now the presentation of the diplomas.

Jamie Paisley and Scott Paul will announce the names of the graduates, as the president presents their diplomas.

I asked that the new graduates be escorted to the platform, and we asked the audience to be considerate in applauding your graduate as names are read, so that each graduate's names is heard.

We ask all the green recipients to return to your seats, following the presentation of for your diploma, and remain seated for the recognition of your fellow graduates.

- [Announcer 1] From the College of Arts and Letters: Lauren Curtis.

(audience applauding) Myleene Bugnoski.

(audience applauding) Marshall Lee Weimer.

(audience applauding) Catherina Ini.

Alexias Bird.

Aliyah Turner.

Kaley Marie Stevenson.

(audience applauding) Gabriela Cassabasic.

(audience applauding) Naomi Johnson.

(audience applauding) Avery Madigan.

Britt Saunders.

(audience applauding) Tevye Hambrick.

Anderson Boyer.

(audience applauding) Brittany Leisure.

(audience applauding) Ferraz Ahmed.

(audience applauding) Nikki Natio.

(audience applauding) Abigail Trump.

(audience applauding) Jennifer Bell.

Kevin Pelzinski.

(audience cheering) Zaria Akins.

(audience applauding) Gregory Hayes.

Janae Robinson.

(audience applauding) Scott Arbor.

(audience applauding) Kate Annetta.

(audience applauding) Logan Eveland.

Dajanae Smith.

Kathleen Sullivan.

Annie DuBois.

(audience cheering) Kiarra Bobobird.

(audience cheering) Noah Karcher.

(audience cheering) Kayla Baumgartner.

Kaylee Herman.

Mi Kinsgeary.

(audience cheering) Brett Libyan.

(audience cheering) Anthony DelSaunter.

Sam Live.

(audience cheering) Cheryl Valbrin.

(audience cheering) Zatheera Metcaph.

(audience cheering) Chenyuan Mau.

Nathaniel Davis.

Candace Bradley.

Paul Lee.

Jay Lee.

Zamani Cokiness.

(audience cheering) Austin Dinno.

(audience applauding) Mallory Boulda.

(audience cheering) Kelsey Carpinsky.

(audience cheering) Demario Washington.

(audience cheering) Callabria Haskins.

(audience cheering) Emily Astrada.

(audience cheering) Andrea Wilson.

(audience cheering) Aliyah Morrison.

Ichen Lu.

(audience cheering) Chelsea Hong.

Chung Yu Hee.

(audience cheering) Jasmine Parker.

Marissa Diaz.

(audience cheering) Serena Putin.

(audience cheering) Wen Liang.

(audience cheering) Mimsy Yow.

Don Martin.

From the College of Social Science: Clay Martin.

(audience cheering) Sharelle Ciercie.

Kayla Einish.

(audience cheering) Prayna Singh.

Maximillian Sunaza.

(audience cheering) Yujun Lee.

(audience cheering) Charlie Willkie.

Brian Quinlin.

Ahmed Towalkel.

(audience cheering) Peyton Caulder.

(audience cheering) Olivia Christie.

(audience cheering) Neosha Hog.

(audience cheering) Carolyn Sauder.

(audience cheering) Natalie Bodeway.

Claudia Scuffma.

Chun Yu Shau.

Arthur Fickling.

(audience cheering) Brian Enwerejobel.

(audience cheering) Aiyana Cobbs.

(audience cheering) Madeline Sailor.

(audience cheering) Onamay Towae.

(audience cheering) Mariah Tenay Saffold.

(audience cheering) Autumn Tyner.

(audience cheering) Kayla Cronin.

Sophie Kennedy.

Jayden Cooper.

Carly Marquardt.

(audience cheering) Nancy Gucs-Perez.

(audience cheering) Jacquelyn Rodriguez.

(audience cheering) Michelle Terones.

(audience cheering) Casaer Omero-Rayes.

(audience cheering) Heidi Kunturo.

Hannah Hartman.

(audience cheering) Andrew Spicer.

(audience cheering) Rachel Oiler.

Arnov Sharma.

Davarian Gupta.

Kailyn Fowler.

(audience cheering) Alexis Mercedes Hunt.

(audience cheering) Marcos Martinez.

(audience cheering) Christian Maddie.

(audience cheering) Ryan DeCarlo.

(audience cheering) Jordan Rosario.

(audience cheering) Logan Pecktell.

Dominic Ajafrady.

(audience cheering) Sam Rouser.

(audience cheering) Kenya Verus.

(audience cheering) Samuel Bedford.

Paschal Tharp Shaw.

Carly Rigs.

Emily Halverson.

(audience cheering) Michael Suprazinsky.

(audience cheering) Taleah Edmonds.

(audience cheering) Becca Gross.

(audience cheering) Michael Perkins.

(audience cheering) Kayla Braswell.

(audience cheering) Yung How Jang.

Youtang Dwan.

(audience cheering) Yashuow Chang.

(audience cheering) Jaela Jolly.

(audience cheering) Erin Kualasin.

Alex dills.

(audience cheering) Austin Hulaba.

(audience cheering) Nicholas Makibi.

Brianna Harris.

(audience cheering) Julia Turnbull.

(audience cheering) Jensen Skelton.

(audience cheering) - [Announcer 2] Jack Faushouer.

James Alhambra.

(audience cheering) Caitlin Day.

(audience cheering) Jasmine Browning.

(audience cheering) Kelsey M. Martin.

(audience cheering) Unica Murray.

(audience cheering) Chanel Payne.

Sparkle Ackerman.

(audience cheering) Alissa Tager.

(audience cheering) Carly Luanyak.

(audience cheering) Alex Dean.

Tyler Hulgae.

Kaley Etheridge.

(audience cheering) Kevin Belfour.

(audience cheering) Brandon Riggins.

(audience cheering) Alexandra Holland.

(audience cheering) Emma Weber.

(audience cheering) Aila Frazier.

(audience cheering) Taylor Girshick.

(audience cheering) Claire Smith.

(audience cheering) Kylie Martins.

(audience cheering) Dalena Bailey.

(audience cheering) Martinese Gregory.

(audience cheering) Shawn Williams.

(audience cheering) Brittany Nox.

(audience cheering) Andre Stanley Jr. (audience cheering) Shelby Warford.

(audience cheering) Sophie Pohlman.

(audience cheering) Jennifer Millbauer.

Austin Henry.

Adam Isaiah Hanson.

Jeremy Cantardy.

(audience cheering) Ashley Sewick.

Gerald Sinclair.

(audience cheering) Vinae Goroar.

Emily Berge.

Don Ho.

(audience cheering) Caitlin Rich.

Mavis Asante.

(audience cheering) Alexa Perillo.

(audience cheering) Morgan Smith.

(audience cheering) Catherine Edson.

(audience cheering) Kaylin Gervin.

Lamar Cherry.

Margie Amory.

Morgan McNutt.

Dominic Tadalde.

(audience cheering) Madison Walter.

Blake Jordan.

(audience cheering) Austin Oberlin.

(audience cheering) Darmian Gonzalez.

(audience cheering) Annabella Burns.

(audience cheering) Elle Elkin.

(audience cheering) Nikita Brown Joseph.

(audience cheering) Anna Lucy.

(audience cheering) Haley Algeier.

Noel Lewin.

(audience cheering) Melena Stone.

(audience cheering) Mark Rob.

Blake Lotchiness.

(audience cheering) Chloe Chrysler.

(audience cheering) Clair Chai.

(audience cheering) Hewn June Kim.

(audience cheering) Mathieu Jang.

Lee Vang.

(audience cheering) Emma Duresky.

(audience cheering) Johana Grupp.

(audience cheering) Katelyn Morrison.

(audience cheering) Alexandra Sawyer.

(audience cheering) Maya Stevelink.

(audience cheering) Leif Curtis IV.

(audience cheering) David Pung.

(audience cheering) Grayson Anthos.

(audience cheering) Danny Kayton.

(audience cheering) Joshua Rainy.

(audience cheering) Hunter Anthony.

(audience cheering) Jack Lister.

(audience cheering) Benjamin Eggbe.

(audience cheering) Riley Modelin.

(audience cheering) Emma O'Connell.

Maya Richard.

(audience cheering) Shana Perlman.

Laura Scarcelli.

(audience cheering) Haley Phojo.

(audience cheering) Nicole Cassidy.

(audience cheering) Kevin Ziggy Sigler.

Hannah Marcus.

(audience cheering) Cameron Mallory.

Paige Geekis.

Riley Rutherford.

(audience cheering) Lily Boughtbell.

(audience cheering) McKenzie Gabarditoyu.

(audience cheering) Rebecca Young.

(audience cheering) Jared Salsbury.

Jason Law.

(audience cheering) Kennedy Merryman.

(audience cheering) Riley Pierce.

(audience cheering) Shelby Moore.

(audience cheering) Ivana Baker.

(audience cheering) Emily Kier.

(audience cheering) Belinda Hernandez.

(audience cheering) Mason Sirophski.

John Scrolley.

Kaley Puree.

Emily Scocco.

(audience cheering) Sydney Cocky.

(audience cheering) Leia Perkins.

(audience cheering) Claire Ramston.

Austin Sager.

Nicholas D'Alessandro.

(audience cheering) Robert Alexander Young.

(audience cheering) McKenley Sours.

(audience cheering) Adriana Fields.

(audience cheering) Gill Shock.

(audience cheering) Hannah Passer.

(audience cheering) Nikki Bluestone.

Noah Peltier.

(audience cheering) Jacob Fabo.

Jennifer Pike.

Tristen Brown.

Sophie Jaworski.

(audience cheering) Nicholas Santa Rosa.

(audience cheering) Amelia Harlow.

(audience cheering) Mitan Shumaden.

Russell Cleary.

Tyler Leese.

(audience cheering) Jalen Wesley.

(audience cheering) Dijawan Dunlap.

(audience cheering) Brin Warren.

Diere Dominae Jackson.

(audience cheering) Simon Hunt.

John Burl.

(audience cheering) Alexandria Irons.

(audience cheering) David Zettel.

(audience cheering) Jared McNabb.

Frong Tanitackle.

(audience cheering) James Leonard.

Evan Sae Hoon.

(audience cheering) Martha Kwant.

(audience cheering) Christian Allop.

Rachel Kuchai.

(audience cheering) Sophia Zortos.

Dennis Williams.

(audience cheering) Zach Perry.

(audience cheering) Daydriana Thompson.

(audience cheering) - [Announcer 1] From the College of Communication, Arts, and Sciences: Scott McClain.

(audience cheering) Sammy Qureshi.

(audience cheering) Hannah Sonnenberg.

(audience cheering) Arian Humanas.

(audience cheering) Connor Decile.

(audience cheering) Jilly Gretsinger.

(audience cheering) Cameron Adamcheque.

(audience cheering) Elizabeth Kiger.

(audience cheering) Matthew Durer.

(audience cheering) Ryan Dorty.

(audience cheering) Andrew Michael Kimball.

Justin Wagner.

(audience cheering) Keegan Hollenback.

(audience cheering) Janell Lamond.

(audience cheering) Katie Schroeder.

(audience cheering) Dia Chappelle.

Jessica Leon.

(audience cheering) Chanel Schaeffer.

(audience cheering) Jayda Tyler.

(audience cheering) Sarah Maxon.

(audience cheering) JC Richert.

(audience cheering) Jayden Reed.

(audience cheering) Bryce Berenger.

Madeline Gunn.

Noah Stefameyer.

Mikaila Bell.

(audience cheering) Ashley Caballero.

(audience cheering) Caira Kimbro.

(audience cheering) Marcellus Brockman.

(audience cheering) Robert Brendan Burkhart.

(audience cheering) Owen Postma.

(audience cheering) Kaley Nesson.

(audience cheering) Kelsey Stewart.

(audience cheering) Devin McKinney.

(audience cheering) Hans Herring.

Joshua Gutowski.

(audience cheering) Jordan Hussey.

(audience cheering) Mackenzie Thomas.

(audience cheering) Morgan Livingston.

(audience cheering) Hannah Kayser.

(audience cheering) Courtney Dobbin.

(audience cheering) Janilla Norwood.

(audience cheering) Madeline Judas.

(audience cheering) Jonah Cooper.

(audience cheering) Liezel LaGroom.

(audience cheering) Samuel Ray.

(audience cheering) Courtney Seabore.

(audience cheering) Gabriela Gomez.

(audience cheering) Jack Foster.

Chris Lambert Jack.

(audience cheering) Matthew Worjahoetz.

Brianne Secord.

(audience cheering) Faiza Omar.

(audience cheering) Carson Harell.

(audience cheering) Emily Miller.

(audience cheering) Haley Phillips.

Samantha Trepak.

(audience cheering) Michael Ell.

(audience cheering) James Leech.

(audience cheering) Michael Small Jr. (audience cheering) Peter Kennings.

(audience cheering) Anna Yiselli.

(audience cheering) Frank Williams.

(audience cheering) Rheem Alsanon.

(audience cheering) Summer Gardella.

Jao Ardenghi Shames.

(audience cheering) Emily Totus.

(audience cheering) Taylor Darpou.

Nina Fellacidiero.

(audience cheering) Rachel Hatton.

(audience cheering) Daniel Writer.

(audience cheering) Casey Talkabow.

(audience cheering) Fain Yuun.

(audience cheering) Isaac Smith.

Camden Frohawk.

(audience cheering) Jonathan Arbo.

Derek Bonner.

(audience cheering) Christopher Columcheck.

Rashaun Isaiah Sanders.

(audience cheering) Seth Seaworth.

(audience cheering) Robert Butterson.

(audience cheering) Joshua Arrington.

Derek Roland.

(audience cheering) Jamail Bruam Parson.

(audience cheering) Jaylen Ray.

(audience cheering) Devin Love.

(audience cheering) Darryl Wilcox.

(audience cheering) Hannah Dauncy.

Nico Van Nord.

Bailey Atkins.

(audience cheering) - [Announcer 2] Jay Lee.

Zichi Tom.

(audience cheering) Sia Jang.

(audience cheering) Ryan King.

Jason Dickson.

(audience cheering) Celia Lacos.

Nicholas Michael Masquerella.

(audience cheering) Joseph Guzzo.

(audience cheering) Connor McQueen.

Connor Gafky.

(audience cheering) Ky Pang.

(audience cheering) Ryan Tidy.

Kayla Olanowski.

(audience cheering) Jarrett Burton.

Jacob Moore.

(audience cheering) Connor Daily.

(audience cheering) Esa Turkmani.

(audience cheering) Liang Yu Woo.

Jean Can Shoe.

Leo Kim.

(audience cheering) Kashi Chopra.

(audience cheering) Shane Amini.

(audience cheering) Ben Sergeant.

(audience cheering) Stacy Montague Smith.

(audience cheering) Darneesha Hill.

(audience cheering) Jonathan Tufnell.

(audience cheering) Hannah Brock.

Andrew Missomer.

(audience cheering) Gabe Brown.

(audience cheering) Jazz Jeet Singh.

(audience cheering) Olivia Shanko.

Isabel Perogin.

(audience cheering) Andrew Rupert.

Heidi Van Derbeek.

Sean Michael Gardner.

Holly Worelin.

(audience cheering) Jenna Renee Erickson.

(audience cheering) Hannah Ferguson.

(audience cheering) Emma Eyberg.

(audience cheering) Samantha Bluga.

(audience cheering) Tessa Jazwinski.

(audience cheering) Haley Richie.

(audience cheering) Chloe Miller.

(audience cheering) David Morrissey.

Michael Miller.

Jackson Groppe.

(audience cheering) Luke Locklear.

(audience cheering) Anthony Heinz Jr. (audience cheering) Jinsingh Chao.

(audience cheering) Savannah Stephkey.

(audience cheering) Chloe Warden.

(audience cheering) Tiffany Quinn.

(audience cheering) Grace McFerrin.

(audience cheering) Yahshua Israel.

(audience cheering) Joseph Elonvoss.

(audience cheering) Ethan Harding.

William Marks.

(audience cheering) Celia Canselmo.

Olivia Syntelli.

(audience cheering) Zoe Kernaghan.

(audience cheering) Katie Twarzinski.

(audience cheering) Chandler Marie Young.

(audience cheering) Kara Davison.

(audience cheering) Chad Harvey.

William Girsich.

(audience cheering) Kyle Suprazinski.

(audience cheering) Bobby Zefero.

Ki Su Quan.

(audience cheering) Neil Coharvitz.

(audience cheering) Cole Charlesworth.

Emily Zagata.

(audience cheering) Ryan Darnell.

(audience cheering) Jacob Holitzski.

(audience cheering) Nicholas Iello.

Thomas Hernandez.

(audience cheering) Chandra Fleming.

(audience cheering) Shalin Tucker.

(audience cheering) Marcos Soria.

(audience cheering) Mario Gonzalez.

(audience cheering) Noah Romaine.

(audience cheering) Jose Francisco Ybarra, III.

(audience cheering) Alexis Walker.

(audience cheering) Turhan Bay Morris, Jr. Damaris King.

And Chanel More.

(audience cheering) One more.

And, and Lauren Roscoe.

(audience cheering) - Graduates, please rise.

(audience applauding and cheering) Congratulations, you are now MSU Alumni!

(audience continues applauding and cheering) You may be seated.

May your Michigan State University degree provide a path to a future filled with happiness, service, and personal and professional trials.

A great university and world-class education are the results of the combined efforts of many dedicated people.

The contributions of MSU faculty were essential to your achievements, and our faculty are a great source of pride to us.

I ask that the faculty rise and accept our gratitude for their contributions.

Please rise.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

And now, would the families and friends of our graduates, who have contributed their love and support, please rise if they're able, and accept our appreciation.

(audience applauding) Graduates, your foundation on which to seek truth and accumulate wisdom is firm.

Your qualifications, as aware critical citizens, have been established.

Now you join a long line of Spartans who have contributed so much to their families, our nation, and the world.

You join a group of more than half a million Spartan alumns.

I hope you find ways to engage with this amazing global family.

And I wish you all a life graced by the joys of engagement and discovery, and the fulfillment that comes from making a positive difference in the lives of others.

I now invite all of you to join in singing the first stanza of the Alma Mater, MSU Shadows.

Ms. Crowley will lead us in the singing.

Following the singing, we ask guests to remain seated until the recession of the platform party and faculty.

Thank you so much.

♪ MSU, we love thy shadows ♪ ♪ When twilight silence falls ♪ ♪ Flushing deep, and softly paling ♪ ♪ O'er ivory covered halls ♪ ♪ Beneath the pines we'll gather ♪ ♪ To give our faith so true ♪ ♪ Sing our love for Alma Mater ♪ ♪ And thy praises MSU ♪ (band music playing) ("Pomp and Circumstance") ("MSU Shadows")