Good afternoon.
And welcome to Boston University's commencement exercises.
We celebrate a scant four weeks and six days
after the finish line bombings of the Boston Marathon.
Craven, deliberate lives that claim the lives of of three innocent
and injured 250 more.
We have felt the effects of these attacks acutely.
Our graduate student, Lu Lingzi, lost her life at the finish line.
Another graduate student, Zhou Danling, was seriously injured.
We lost a prospective student, 8 year old Martin Richard,
a third grader at the neighborhood charter school in Dorchester
who had expressed his intention to attend Boston University.
This year instead of treating blisters and dehydration
members of our medical team hastened bravely to save the lives
of grievously wounded spectators.
These individuals represent Boston University at its best.
We are proud of them as we are proud of the graduates
whose accomplishments and potential we now turn to celebrate.
When you step out of here
you realize how having known
or simply talk to this multitude of personalities
has given you the most valuable tool to face life:
the ability of opening your minds to others.
[applause]
Thomas Menino in recognition of all you have achieved in your distinguished career
Boston University will hence forth name its long standing Merit Scholarship Program
for graduates of Boston Public Schools
as the Thomas M. Menino Scholarship Fund Program.
Mr. President I have the distinct honor to present Morgan Freeman
for Boston University's Honorary Degree.
[applause]
[Speech, speech, speech]
I have nothing new to say to you.
You already know you are graduating from one of
the greatest Universities on the planet.
So I can only say to you congratulations
and to this great University, thanks for this great honor.
Thank you.
[applause]
There's no how to guide for how to change the world.
But I'm a big believer in the power of inexperience.
It was the greatest asset I had when I started TFA.
The world needs you before you stop asking naive questions
and while you still have the time
to understand the true nature of the complex problems
we face and to take them on.
[applause]
Mr. President as university provost and chief academic officer
I recommend that the Master in Arts in Mathematics
be awarded to Lu Lingzi
and that the Bachelor of Arts be awarded to Binland Lee
both degrees to be awarded posthumously
during today's conferral of degrees.
Upon the recommendations of the faculty
and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
given to the Trustees of Boston University
and entrusted by them to me
I hereby confer upon you the degrees you have earned
together will all appropriate honors, privileges, and responsibilities
in token of which you will be granted diplomas.
My congratulations to you all.
[cheers]
[music]