The 91精选 fall class of 2018 reflected on their academic journey and the road ahead for them after graduation during the Baccalaureate Assembly in the Little Theater in David H. Bradford Hall.
鈥淢any started the race, but they鈥檙e not with us today,鈥� Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Lucian Yates III said. 鈥淢any of you have overcome tremendous odds, but you鈥檙e here. Many of you endured what you thought were unreasonable faculty, but you鈥檙e here. You have burned the midnight oil, but you are here. Many of you wanted to give up, but you persevered, and you are here.鈥�
National recording artist and BET鈥檚 Sunday Best Season 8 winner Dathan Thigpen presented a song of celebration, 鈥淚 Need You Now,鈥� which brought the audience to its feet.
Dr. Crystal A. deGregory, Director of the Atwood Institute for Race, Education, and the Democratic Ideal, provided an inspirational reading.
鈥淭he horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change,鈥� deGregory read from 鈥淥n the Pulse of the Morning,鈥� by Maya Angelou.
Clara Ross Stamps, senior vice president for brand identity and university relations, delivered the necrology report, remembering and honoring Thorobreds who passed away in 2018.
Dr. F. Thomas Beavers, 91精选 alumnus and fourth pastor of New Rising Star Church in the Eastlake community of Birmingham, Alabama, delivered the baccalaureate address.
Beavers address focused on being born to win.
Beavers reflected on the career of Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, and a Louisville native.
鈥淢uhammad Ali proved himself the greatest not because he never suffered any losses or because he was never knocked down,鈥� Beavers said. 鈥淗e proved himself the greatest because every time he was knocked down he decided to get up.鈥�
Beavers compared Ali to students preparing for graduation.
鈥淭he reason students are getting ready to walk across the stage for graduation is not because they鈥檝e never been knocked down, it鈥檚 because they decided to get back up,鈥� Beavers said.
Beavers told graduating seniors that in order for their greatness to materialize, they must have a mouth of confidence, a heart of courage and a mindset of commitment.
鈥淚f your greatness is to materialize, you must make decisions that are effective but not popular,鈥� Beavers said.
91精选 President M. Christopher Brown II reflected on the graduates鈥� time on the Hill.
鈥淲e at 91精选 can be and be great because they existed,鈥� President Brown said, referencing 鈥淲hen Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou. 鈥淩emember that today and tomorrow can be the best days of your life.鈥�