Photos by Shelly Hanks, WSU Photo Services
WSU graduates heard messages about the importance of values and the enormous opportunities that await them, even in a time of economic uncertainty, at three commencement ceremonies held at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum on the Pullman campus Saturday.
More than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the ceremonies, which marked WSU’s 113th spring commencement. WSU President Elson S. Floyd presided at all three ceremonies.
More than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the ceremonies, which marked WSU’s 113th spring commencement. WSU President Elson S. Floyd presided at all three ceremonies.
Bob Watt, vice chair and chair-elect of the Seattle Foundation board, chair of the White Center Making Connections Partners Group and vice chair of Thrive by Five, was the featured speaker at the morning ceremony, for graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and College of Communication.
Watt, the father of two WSU graduates, told the audience the titles of the 13 different jobs he had held in the course of his career, ranging from Vista volunteer to vice president of government and community relations for the Boeing Company.
“By many measures, I was seldom, if ever ,qualified on paper to hold many of those jobs except that my liberal arts education truly enabled me to be genuinely helpful in that wide variety of roles and opportunities,” Watt said.
“I hope those 13 job titles are, in some small way, a message about hope and opportunity for this graduating class. For if a small-town kid from the Midwest, who paid his own way through university with full time work and loans and who inherited zero dollars from his ancestors, can end up as a civic volunteer, philanthropist,and commencement speaker so can you.”
Wall recounted some of his experiences and lessons he had learned along the way.
“Why did I tell you these stories? Because now it’s your turn and I want you to know that there are proven, effective ways to make things better. Yes, you will need to be creative and sometimes even to invent things that no one ever imagined before – and that will be fun and hard and rewarding,” Wall said.
Watt, the father of two WSU graduates, told the audience the titles of the 13 different jobs he had held in the course of his career, ranging from Vista volunteer to vice president of government and community relations for the Boeing Company.
“By many measures, I was seldom, if ever ,qualified on paper to hold many of those jobs except that my liberal arts education truly enabled me to be genuinely helpful in that wide variety of roles and opportunities,” Watt said.
“I hope those 13 job titles are, in some small way, a message about hope and opportunity for this graduating class. For if a small-town kid from the Midwest, who paid his own way through university with full time work and loans and who inherited zero dollars from his ancestors, can end up as a civic volunteer, philanthropist,and commencement speaker so can you.”
Wall recounted some of his experiences and lessons he had learned along the way.
“Why did I tell you these stories? Because now it’s your turn and I want you to know that there are proven, effective ways to make things better. Yes, you will need to be creative and sometimes even to invent things that no one ever imagined before – and that will be fun and hard and rewarding,” Wall said.
The Rhodes triplets were among those graduating in Pullman Saturday.
Ted Baseler, a WSU regent and president and chief executive officer of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, addressed graduates of the College of Business and College of Education at the midday ceremony. Baseler and his wife JoAnne are WSU graduates; they watched their daughter Andrea receive her degree at the morning ceremony.
“One bonus you get with being a Cougar is the superior position of being an underdog,” Baseler said. “I know for my career it has served me well and provided confidence that when things look bleak you can turn around tough situations. More than 25 years ago there was a small group of wine enthusiasts and we believed in Washington State as a special place to grow wine grapes.
“For many years people would snicker at the idea. On the East Coast, people would say, ‘In Washington, which side of the Potomac do you grow your grapes on?’ Today Washington wines are recognized around the world for excellence. And the industry has nearly a $4 billion economic impact. You have to respect yourself no matter what others think.”
He said, despite the economic crisis, this remains a time of great opportunity for those prepared to take advantage of it.
“There is no place that has more innovation in the world than the U.S. More patents and overall innovations are developed here than anywhere in the world. Yes, we have to improve to maintain our competitive edge but I am optimistic about the American spirit,” Baseler said.
Gary Steele, chief executive officer of Proofpoint Inc., also discussed the array of economic opportunities ahead in his speech at the afternoon ceremony for graduates of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences; the College of Engineering and Architecture; the College of Nursing; the College of Pharmacy; the College of Sciences; and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Gone are the days where age, race or gender impact your ability to accomplish your dreams. In today’s world, you’ll be respected for what you can contribute. The world is looking for ground-breaking innovative ideas and rewarding those individuals who have the guts and courage to bring something to market,” Steele said.
“One bonus you get with being a Cougar is the superior position of being an underdog,” Baseler said. “I know for my career it has served me well and provided confidence that when things look bleak you can turn around tough situations. More than 25 years ago there was a small group of wine enthusiasts and we believed in Washington State as a special place to grow wine grapes.
“For many years people would snicker at the idea. On the East Coast, people would say, ‘In Washington, which side of the Potomac do you grow your grapes on?’ Today Washington wines are recognized around the world for excellence. And the industry has nearly a $4 billion economic impact. You have to respect yourself no matter what others think.”
He said, despite the economic crisis, this remains a time of great opportunity for those prepared to take advantage of it.
“There is no place that has more innovation in the world than the U.S. More patents and overall innovations are developed here than anywhere in the world. Yes, we have to improve to maintain our competitive edge but I am optimistic about the American spirit,” Baseler said.
Gary Steele, chief executive officer of Proofpoint Inc., also discussed the array of economic opportunities ahead in his speech at the afternoon ceremony for graduates of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences; the College of Engineering and Architecture; the College of Nursing; the College of Pharmacy; the College of Sciences; and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Gone are the days where age, race or gender impact your ability to accomplish your dreams. In today’s world, you’ll be respected for what you can contribute. The world is looking for ground-breaking innovative ideas and rewarding those individuals who have the guts and courage to bring something to market,” Steele said.
“Take for example, Mark Zuckerberg who started Facebook at age 20. Did anyone really care that he was only 20 years old? I don’t think so. Look at Google; it was started by two Stanford students and look at where they are today.”
Steele, a WSU alumnus, said the values that he learned during his formative years have been vital to his business success.
“This may sound simple but, first and foremost, honesty and integrity really matter. You need to get your values right. They influence how your boss feels about you, how your co-workers perceive you and ultimately how successful you’ll be,” Steele said.
“Your values define who you are and why others should work with you, or for you for that matter. Most important, you need to live them skip writing them down, don’t bother talking about them. Show people every day who you are with honesty, truth and transparency.”
Steele, a WSU alumnus, said the values that he learned during his formative years have been vital to his business success.
“This may sound simple but, first and foremost, honesty and integrity really matter. You need to get your values right. They influence how your boss feels about you, how your co-workers perceive you and ultimately how successful you’ll be,” Steele said.
“Your values define who you are and why others should work with you, or for you for that matter. Most important, you need to live them skip writing them down, don’t bother talking about them. Show people every day who you are with honesty, truth and transparency.”
