Thousands of Arizona State University students celebrated their new degrees with “Pomp and Circumstance” and fireworks during the spring 2023 Undergraduate Commencement at Sun Devil Stadium on May 8.
Overall, about 19,700 ASU students earned a total of nearly 20,500 degrees during the spring semester. Of that total, about 68% are undergraduate, 30% are graduate and 2% are law degrees.
ASU President Michael Crow told the happy graduates at the undergraduate ceremony to disregard the overwhelming messages of divisiveness they’ve heard.
“Since you’ve been in college, you’ve been bombarded by force after force of all of these negative things that divide us, these things that separate us and these things that we argue about constantly,” he said.
“What you don’t realize hearing all of this is that there are many things on which we are united.
“More than 90% of the people in Arizona agree on the concept of sustainability. They believe we need clean water and clean air and a safe place to raise their children and grandchildren.
“What I’m asking you to do is find people where there’s agreement. Work together to achieve those agreements.”
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy was the guest speaker for the Undergraduate Commencement. Murthy, the “nation’s doctor,” was the 19th surgeon general of the United States under President Barack Obama and is currently the 21st, under President Joe Biden. As the vice admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Murthy leads a uniformed service of more than 6,000 public health officers.
In his address, Murthy told the graduates to focus on three things: finding clarity to know what fulfills them, finding the courage to act on it and, most importantly, connecting with other people.
“None of us, no matter how skilled we are, can navigate the world alone. Put people first,” he said.
“The relationships you build and sustain will be your greatest source of strength in the years ahead.”
