Schools

Live Blog Recap: UMBC Commencement

UMBC's spring undergraduate commencement at First Mariner Arena

(2:15 p.m.) Nearly everyone was on their feet as Courson walked across the stage using a walker to accept his degree in political science. Courson received a hug from Hrabowski. CNN is here doing a story on Courson, which Patch will link to once it airs.

(2:10 p.m.) Hrabowski is hugging and chatting with a lot of students as they cross the stage to shake his hand. Several students are also walking up with their cell phones in hand, either shooting video or pictures to document their walk across the stage.

(2:00 p.m.) Graduates have begun walking across the stage and we have a few horns and noise-makers going off when certain students cross the stage.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Graduates are getting their pictures taken behind a backdrop before they cross the stage. The noise is starting to increase in the arena, which is about 75 percent full.

(1:55 p.m.) Immelt concludes with a challenge for the students to rise above cynicism.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Today, everybody in this room will make a choice. Will you be…a victim in the future who fears others….we need to solve the future’s problems, but we must adapt, we must compete, we must change.

“Make your purpose bigger than your own success. Join a small group of optimistic hard-working problem solvers," he said.

(1:45 p.m.) Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric is this year’s commencement speaker.

So far Immelt has focused on his speech on advice on leadership.

“Good leaders are authentic people, who are comfortable in their own skin," he said. "Good leaders are curious and humble, no task is beneath a good leader. Never stop being curious because you think you know everything.”

Immelt also talked about team building and how students can be better leaders if they bring people together.

(1:35 p.m.) Alexandria Volkening, this year’s valedictorian, addressed the class, recalling the time the campus was shut down for the blizzard two years ago. During that time, many students on the campus bonded in new ways, with the unexpected week-long vacation from school.

She also reflected how she stepped outside of her own comfort zone to join the dance team after focusing her studies on math. You can read more about Volkening here.

“Our challenge is to find diversity wherever we are, and then create community there,” she said.

(1:25 p.m.) Hrabowski highlights several standouts in this year's class, including  Brian Mathew Courson, who was paralyzed in an ATV accident in 2006. Courson, who moved from Arkansas to Baltimore to undergo aggressive physical therapy at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, enrolled at UMBC.

He had a 1 percent chance of walking again, but after months of therapy he learned to stand, can bear his own weight and walk again with assistance.

“He had such faith that he knew one day that he would walk again,” Hrabowski said, who then asked Courson to stand. You can read more about Courson here.

(1:10 p.m.) Music major Marcus Simmons just finished up the National Anthem and President Freeman A. Hrabowski asked for a moment of silence for those affected by the tornado in Missouri.

This is the 56th commencement of the university.

(12:45 p.m.) Graduates are filing into First Mariner Arena in downtown Baltimore. Patch has a front row seat to the ceremonies. More than 1,100 graduates are earning diplomas this spring.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here