PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire stressed the importance of civic and personal involvement in an era when technology can reduce our contact with our fellow citizens during her speech Saturday (May 7) at commencement ceremonies at Washington State University.
“It is easier to listen to, and try to understand, ideas that are different from ours, if we know, respect and enjoy the person who holds those ideas. We spend a tremendous amount of time polishing up our technical skills these days. In reality, improving our relationship and personal skills can have an even greater effect on our lives,” Gregoire said.
“Many of our problems today are the result of people not respecting or listening to other people,” said Gregoire. She urged graduates to commit to spending time working in their communities and to play an active role in the changes that they would like to see in government and society.
“Far too many people complain, but they will not take the time to make a difference for all of us,” she said. In contrast, she pointed to several laws approved in the last legislative session that sprung from the efforts of individuals or small groups who had not previously been actively involved in government.
Gregoire addressed the third of three ceremonies – for graduates of the College of Business and Economics, the College of Education and the Intercollegiate College of Nursuing — held Saturday at the Pullman campus. It was the 109th spring commencement for WSU. About 2,100 students took part in the three ceremonies.
Christopher Nelson, president of Kemin Industries, Des Moines, Iowa, addressed graduates in agricultural, human, and natural resource sciences; engineering and architecture; pharmacy; sciences and veterinary medicine in the day’s first ceremony. Nelson earned a WSU biochemistry and biophysics doctoral degree in 1980. Clarence A. “Bud” Ryan, a pioneer researcher in plant biochemistry who was Nelson’s doctoral advisor, received an honorary doctor of science degree at the ceremony.
“For most of you, the knowledge that you spent cramming into your head for mid-terms and finals will not be very relevant 25 years from now. Your ability to have learned new things, to be able to cram new facts into your head will be critical,” Nelson said.
Nelson said most students will realize that one professor was instrumental in helping them learn how to learn. He said that Ryan had played that role for him.
WSU education graduate Wendell Jim, general manager of the education branch of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, addressed liberal arts graduates in the day’s second ceremony. He reflected on the role that his WSU education has played in his life and the role it could play in the life of the graduates.
“My grandfather is a traditional tribal leader. He shared many words of encouragement with me. He said, achievement is not an accident; it’s the result of dreams, imagination, plans, believing in yourself and implementing what you have learned,” said Jim, who opened his speech with a traditional tribal song.
“The many lessons learned here at Washington State University provided me the wisdom, the knowledge and the confidence that changed my world. Washington State University shaped how I think, which shaped how I act, which ultimately shaped the quality of my life,” Jim said.
