Three newly minted CU Boulder graduates celebrate after the 2018 Commencement ceremony on May 10. Photo by Glenn Asakawa / University of Colorado Boulder.
Dear Friends,
It was a moving moment this month when our 2018 graduates cheered Lucile Berkeley Buchanan as if she was a member of their class.
Ms. Buchanan was a member of the class of 1918 who was not permitted to walk up and accept her diploma because of her race. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from CU. On May 10, 100 years later, I posthumously awarded her diploma to an ovation by her fellow Buffs.
Ms. Buchanan had a long and selfless career as a teacher who inspired generations of young students. I have no doubt that members of the class of 2018 will be inspirational leaders in their own way.
The university seal on their diplomas depicts a torch in the hands of youth. As the next generation, these graduates will light our way. They will be our leaders, scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs and global citizens, and they will carry the torch for our nation and the world.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today’s learners will have 10 to 14 jobs by age 38.
Graduates of CU Boulder have learned to be adaptable and flexible lifelong learners, just as Ms. Buchanan was. They are ready, not only for their first job, but also their fourth, fifth and sixth jobs.
Armed with skills in creative problem-solving, teamwork and communication, these graduates - regardless of their major - are prepared for jobs that currently do not exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, in order to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet. You can find my message to the graduating class here.
Congratulations to the class of 2018, which includes 6,063 bachelor’s, 1,487 master’s, 199 law and 414 doctoral graduates. You can read their inspiring stories and see pictures of their big day as they become CU Boulder alumni!
Go Buffs!
Philip P. DiStefano,
Chancellor
www.colorado.edu/chancellor
