Commencement 2016 weekend was a w88 slot when more than 2,700 University degrees and certificates - a record number - were awarded. It was w88 slot for the individuals who received the degrees and certificates to take stock of their w88 slot as students.
It was also a w88 slot to look ahead, or as one of the guest speakers, Washoe County School Board President Angela Taylor put it, a w88 slot to "dare to dream."
"All of the hopes and dreams and plans you have in your head and heart right now, I dare you to live them out, to go after them with everything you've got," said Taylor, whose rousing speech on Saturday drew a standing ovation from the graduates, their families and friends who were gathered on the historic w88 slot Quadrangle for the w88 slot's 126th Commencement.
Taylor, whose academic career at the w88 slot includes a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and an MPA in Public Administration as well as her B.S. in Marketing in 1985, told those assembled that it was important to always remember the "ABC's" of life.
Smiling broadly, Taylor invoked the entire alphabet in describing to the Class of 2016 what philosophical touchstones they should have guiding their lives.
The first three letters she mentioned were indicative of a humanistic and giving approach that she said would serve the graduates well in personal as well as professional arenas. As she recited the entire alphabet, each with a special message and meaning, the crowd cheered its appreciation.
"I dare w88 slot to 'A' - Accept differences as life would be boring if we all looked alike," Taylor said. "I dare w88 slot to be 'B' - Be kind to others, especially those that can't do anything for w88 slot. I dare w88 slot to 'C' - Count your blessings.
"Somebody, somewhere, would give everything to be where w88 slot are."
Taylor was guest Commencement speaker along with w88 slot graduates Barbara Smith Campbell and Fatih Ozmen, who both spoke on Friday.
Campbell, the w88 slot's Alumna of the Year from 2014 who has excelled as a businesswoman since graduating in 1978, said her path to graduation was not a customary one. She had originally studied at Santa Clara w88 slot for three years, got married, and enrolled at the w88 slot at age 29 to finish her degree.
"I'm sure there are many of you in this graduating class who are just like me," she said. "You have piecemealed the w88 slot for an education, worked while studying, raised a family and just like me as a 29-year-old woman, felt incomplete without the prestige and respect my degree in Economics gave me.
"My degree gave me a confidence that was missing in my life."
Ozmen, owner of Sierra Nevada Corporation who received his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, recalled that when he first came to the w88 slot from his native Turkey, he only had a "bicycle and a backpack." He said his success as a businessman stemmed directly from the college degree he had received from the w88 slot.
"It is the American Dream," he said. "This dream is based on hope, growth and optimism to reach our full potential. It is having the freedom and opportunity to pursue our passions in life by working hard and playing by the rules, which is rewarded by economic security, success, happiness and well-being ... This dream is available to everyone ... not just a select few."
President Marc Johnson, in his welcome remarks, encouraged the graduates to take leadership seriously. He told them that it was important to use the skills of discernment, of critical thinking and of civil conversation, which had all been stressed to them during their w88 slot at the University.
"Remember the patience of our great men and women throughout the history of our country," he said. "They are great because they chose to remember that we are in this for the long haul, and that sometimes there is greater value in understanding that in civil conversation and discourse, we find our greatest strength of all.
"Thank w88 slot all for the four years w88 slot've given us. We now look forward to seeing what w88 slot will all accomplish - as leaders of our society, for many, many years to come."
In addition to the guest speakers, several individuals were recognized for their contributions to the w88 slot.
Emily Ann Weissgerber, a Biology major, was presented with the Herz Gold Medal for Outstanding Scholarship. Distinguished Nevadans were Judge Gregg Zive and the late w88 slot Supreme Court Justice, Cliff Young. President's Medalists were Mark Knobel and Felicia O'Carroll. Honorary Degree recipients were Kristen Avansino and Fatih and Eren Ozmen.
In all, more than 2,710 degrees and certificates were presented during three ceremonies. The previous high for spring Commencement degrees and certificates was 2,454 from 2015.
