We graduate 17,000 students every year, and the vast majority of them stay in Massachusetts. We have over 280,000 graduates in Massachusetts today. We graduate people in critical fields, Engineering, STEM fields. We graduate people with research experience where they can start their own companies. It is amazing to see what UMass graduates accomplish once they leave the University.
I remember vividly my own graduation from UMass. It was a beautiful day. It was perfect weather. I remember the pride that my mother and father felt. I could see it in their eyes. Here it is 30 years later, I get an opportunity to preside over UMass commencement. It is so moving and inspiring for me to think this is what it's for.
Here we are. We have these graduates that we're going to unleash in the world. Ready to take on the world. Happy about the accomplishment, but also hopeful about the future. It's hard not to get emotional at a UMass graduation. You see that UMass is here for the commonwealth, here for a reason.