Congratulations on your graduation from BYU. What a thrill it is to celebrate you in person today
and to look out and see this sea of graduates. You are an awe-inspiring sight.
It is my privilege to speak to you today on behalf of the BYU Alumni Association.
Our BYU alumni motto "connected for good" keeps us connected to each other as students, alumni,
and the community. We have heard much this past year from President Kimball's second
century address about the inspired mission of BYU, and its students. President Kimball spoke
of the unique light that BYU can send forth into the world and even describe the university as an
educational Everest. I don't know about you, but when I arrived at BYU as a naive freshman
from Kentucky living in the old Heritage Halls, I felt unique but not in a good way and it certainly
felt at times like I was climbing Everest as I navigated the demands and rigors of college life.
Many of you may have had a similar experience when you first arrived as new students and may once
again find yourselves now that you are about to graduate feeling some apprehension for what this
next chapter will bring. You may even be feeling a little uncertain about your abilities going
forward. To you I happily share the unofficial motto of my freshman dorm which became the mantra
of my college years. Our Mary Fielding Smith Hall motto was, and I'm not making this up I promise,
"if they can make penicillin out of moldy cheese they can make something out of you.”
Now I promise you this thought is going to be way more comforting than you might think.
Now I can't speak to the role of fuzzy cheese in this scientific finding.
I'm going to leave that to you graduates from the college of life sciences, but according
to Dr. Alexander Fleming the Scottish physician first credited with the discovery of penicillin,
"when I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn't plan to revolutionize
all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic or bacteria killer, but I guess that
was exactly what I did.” Dr Fleming went about working dutifully on his experiments in his lab
each day, never dreaming that his making something out of contaminated petri dishes
would change the world of medicine forever. As a dedicated researcher and physician,
Fleming could never have known all the lives he would change through his life-saving effort
or how he would be connected for good to millions of people. Almost a century later
he assuredly could not have anticipated how his discovery would help inspire and sustain a young
college student feeling uncertain of herself and her future. The world can seem like an Everest
after you graduate, and most likely it will be some time before you clearly understand what your
contributions will be. You may never shake the world with a monumental discovery like penicillin
but you most certainly will have an opportunity to make something of yourself through diligent
effort. A commitment to excellence and a desire to be that unique light that blesses the lives of
others. We hope that your BYU experience has been your laboratory educationally and spiritually, one
that has prepared you well to benefit the world in ways you may not even be able to imagine today.
The world needs what you have to offer. The world needs you. It is now my privilege to
confer upon you lifetime membership in the Brigham Young University Alumni Association
and to welcome you into an organization of over 444 000 alumni around the world. That's a lot
of people who have your back. Your BYU experience doesn't end just because you are graduating today.
As you enter the world and go forth to serve there will be many opportunities for you to
join fellow alumni in meaningful activities associated with the university. We encourage
you to get involved with one of our 85 regional alumni chapters located across the country,
or if you're staying in the area to participate in one of our professional chapters located
along the Wasatch front. Just imagine all that can be accomplished with BYU alumni connecting
for good together throughout the world. As a new BYU alum we hope you will cultivate a culture of
giving and generously sharing your time, talents, and yes even your treasure. Now we recognize that
many of you may not have much treasure right now, and that is to be expected. We get it,
but as you progress through your life we hope you will always be looking for ways to pay forward
the benefits of your BYU education. All of the information that you need to get involved as
an alumni and to stay connected for good can be found at our alumni website alumni.byu.edu.
And remember from now on wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be representing BYU
as you embark on this new chapter in your lives.
We hope you go forward as President Kimball said almost half a century ago as thoughtful and
sensitive individuals who are dedicated to love of God, pursuit of truth, and service to mankind.
We hope you can pursue and live your dreams with passion. We hope you understand the power, you
have as a unique light to make a difference in the world in ways both large and small. You may need
to look at that moldy cheese in your refrigerator from time to time for a little inspiration,
but never forget that greatness can come from you. Well done class of 2022. Please come
back and visit us on campus often, and may you always be connected for good. Congratulations.