This is a great day.  We have recognized the accomplishments of 1,272 students.  As your president, I'd like to share with you a few thoughts as we conclude our 147th commencement.

Just as you have come from all across the state and country, and, in some cases, the world to achieve an education at Ball State University, so now, most of you will leave here to return home or to make a new home as you begin the next phase in your life.

The information you have acquired in college may go out of date, but the values you have learned here should endure--respect for diversity, love of learning, appreciation for the arts, and understanding of fact-based inquiry.  These values will make your future more interesting, your challenges easier to overcome, the wonders of your world more fascinating, and the friendships and loves in your life more meaningful and intimate.

In addition to maintaining those values, I implore you to always respect and protect your fellow man--your humanity rests on your ability to express empathy, selflessness, and love.  Never compromise your integrity.  Once lost, it can never be reclaimed.

A look around the world reveals countless examples of individuals and groups losing their sense of humanity and integrity in an all-out effort to gain an advantage, be that in world affairs, politics, business, or even the world of sports.

War and sectarian violence have claimed thousands of lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Lebanon, and Israel.

Convictions in the Enron case reminded us of unbridled corporate greed, marked by executives living the high life while plundering their companies and leaving employees holding worthless retirement plans.

Ethics probes focused on influence-peddling in Washington have ensnared members of Congress, including House majority leader Tom DeLay.

This past May, on the upper slopes of Mount Everest, about 40 climbers walked around David Sharp and left him to die rather than end their own pursuit of the summit.

Last year at this time, we watched in awe as cancer survivor Lance Armstrong rode to his seventh consecutive victory in the Tour de France. This year, the favorites to win the race in the wake of Armstrong's retirement were banned because of a doping scandal.

The final game of the World Cup may best be remembered for the tournament's most valuable player leveling an opponent with a head-butt in response to an insult. His resulting expulsion from the match was seen by many as a key to his team's loss.

Our world, however, also provides plenty of reason for hope, with individuals selflessly choosing to perform humane acts rather than selfishly pursuing personal gain. Ten days after David Hall's death on Everest, veteran mountain guide Lincoln Hall was also left near the world's highest peak--his wife notified that he was dead. Twelve hours later, three climbers came across Hall alive. They gave up their summit quests and rescued him, proving that what mountaineers call "the brotherhood of the rope" is not entirely a thing of the past.

While you were at Ball State, we tried to encourage you not only to excel in the classroom, but also to reach out to your fellow man, and you have responded generously. Traditionally our students spend more than 30,000 hours per year volunteering. During those hours, they teach children and adults to read, build houses with Habitat for Humanity, rake leaves for people in the Muncie community, serve in centers that help abused women and the homeless, and visit and participate in activities with the residents of a local nursing home.

Indeed, there are many examples of Ball State students spending their spring and holiday breaks helping others, including victims of Hurricane Katrina. Among the efforts students carried out were rebuilding a park in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and producing business plans for companies trying to restart operations in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

A group of students studying Asian architecture changed their itinerary to help rebuild a fishing village in Sri Lanka destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami.

And if these examples, a few among so many, are not proof enough that Ball State students have deep commitment to service, consider that this university ranks 11th out of 300 four-year universities and colleges in the Midwest for students who volunteer for the Peace Corps.

You have demonstrated during your time here that you have a keen sense of what it truly means to exhibit the best in human qualities. As you pursue your professional goals, keep in mind the joy that can be found in not only reaching your goals, but also in reaching out to others along the way.  

On behalf of the Ball State University Alumni Association, I welcome each graduate to our alumni ranks. You are now one of more than 140,000 living Ball State alumni. I encourage you to use the alumni association to keep us informed about the changes and achievements in your lives. Over time, we hope life will lead you back to Ball State--for a visit, to serve on a committee, to fulfill an educational need, or perhaps to embark on a new career. As you make life's journey, remember that we believe in you and we'll always be rooting for your success.

I hope you enjoy the time you will spend today with your friends, fellow graduates, and families. And again, congratulations on the accomplishments that mark this special day in your lives.