 Welcome, everyone, the commencement ceremony for the Mario J. Gebelli School of Business will now be in order. And, grads, you did a great job at that main ceremony. Thank you. Please be seated. I'd like to take a moment to introduce the members of the platform party, which includes the members of the Mario J. Gebelli School of Business faculty, as well as senior associate dean Dr. Barbara Grotta, MBA director. Dr. Farbode Farhadi could not join us today, but want to acknowledge him. Dr. Jason Oliver, associate dean, and Dr. Susan McTiernan. So good morning to you all. And I've had the great privilege of being interim dean this year, which has been wonderful. I've enjoyed working with all of our faculty and staff and with you to get you to this point. And I have the opportunity to make a few remarks. I'm going to take that opportunity. Good morning, parents and friends, faculty and staff, and most importantly, our 2023 graduates. And thank you to your family and friends who have supported you to this achievement. And I so appreciate our faculty and staff for their contributions to your success. Please take a moment to be in the moment. So I'm echoing the graduate student's speech here. No texting and no talking. Here you are after four long years of work. Receiving your college diploma. Enjoy how this feels. I know you've been hearing a lot of future-oriented questions, such as, what are your plans and what will you do next? I'm here to suggest that you focus on the present. Everything you do now affects your future. In fact, it's all the small daily decisions you have made during these last four years that got you where you are today. Decisions like, should I go to class or sleep in? Yeah, we know that one. Should I study for exam or go out? You know that one too. Should I join this club? Should I take this class? They have not all been good decisions, but you did make them at a particular moment in time. It's easy to get caught up in the future. I'll be so glad when. Oh, when I get to this point, I'll be happy. I would like to suggest to you that waiting to reach goals to be happy is no way to live. Think back on your time here and remember the small moments that did make you happy. Sharing a meal with a friend. Walking to class on a warm spring morning and looking out at the water. Finishing a big project. Your life will be built on these small moments. Big events will be wonderful, of course. Your first apartment or house may be marriage and children and other graduation, but even when you celebrate those, remember to pause that you didn't at the beginning of this ceremony to feel them. Today in this moment, it's important to recognize as well your ability to be flexible and persist beyond and despite obstacles. You all started your college careers without any thought to the major disruption coming in the spring of your first year. COVID hit an especially critical time for you, just as you were heading into your second semester, having overcome the first semester jitters and challenges. Who would have anticipated the long-term effects, limits to classroom presence, ending of sports teams, clubs becoming online, all the time spent sanitizing and testing. You have endured and triumphed. So I think you have an appreciation for my major point here of living in and being aware of the small moments that make up your life. Don't forget how good it felt to be back in the classroom with all your friends, playing sports, going to jodgery beans. We all took those things for granted after all, but you have a unique perspective having missed those moments. I hope you carry it with you throughout your lives. Finally, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of our faculty and staff, congratulations on your accomplishment. Enjoy the many wonderful moments you will experience today and in the coming years. We now have the honor of acknowledging and announcing our President's Core Values Medallion winners. The President's Core Values Medallion has been established to recognize graduating seniors who best reflect university core values through distinctive contributions, supporting the core purpose of a Roger Williams University education to strengthen society through engaged teaching and learning. It is an honor to announce the Core Value Medallion recipients for the Class of 2023. And I would like to now ask Dr. Minu Turani to come forward for the acknowledgement of the President's Core Values Medallion to Honoree Lindsay Young. Lindsay, would you please stand to be acknowledged? Dr. Turani. Lindsay Young is graduating with two majors, marketing and graphic design. After her first semester with us, she went on the Dean's List due to her amazing GPA. Later on, she was invited to join the Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, that they only invite the top 10% students from ASUSB accredited business schools. And currently, Lindsay is the co-president of this Honor Society. Lindsay was involved in a lot of community projects and also services. She was a student mentor and she was a student advisor for the incoming freshman class. She was my work study student and her capability of doing research was amazing. And I nominated her for the Core Medallion and then her advisor and also our marketing professor, Dr. Miau Jiao wrote a recommendation letter for her also and Lindsay, you got the medallion. You are a point of pride for all of us. Congratulations. Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Turani. Now for our at-large recipients, I'd like to ask Dr. Susan McTiernan to come forward for the acknowledgement of the at-large President's Core Values Medallion Honoree, Ari Denerman. Ari, would you please stand up to be acknowledged? Good morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to be here with you this morning. In my very long career in business schools, both as a dean and as a faculty member, I've come across few students who embody the combination of qualities inclusive of intellect, achievement, ambition, athleticism, adventure, hard work and concern for others that Ari Denerman exhibits every day. It was my great pleasure to first meet Ari and his wonderful mom when they attended an accepted students day and to talk with them about the specialness of an RWU GSB education. Fortunately, Ari chose Roger Williams for his college education. He has been a success on every level and is someone who has contributed back to RWU as a leader, a friend and a role model. He is, in fact, first in his class for GSB this year. Congratulations. It has been an additional pleasure to mentor Ari during his time at GSB while he has been a high achieving student and to recognize him today for his many accomplishments, academic, athletic, professional, community and personal as a recipient of the Roger Williams Core Values Medallion. Congratulations, Ari. Thank you, Dr. McTunan. And we have our second recipient of the at-large Core Medallion Values winner. And I'd like to ask Dr. Jason Oliver to come forward for the acknowledgement of the at-large President's Core Values Medallion honoree, Isaiah Brathwaite. Isaiah, could you please rise? Hello, everyone. You see, our tent pole is blocking Sulamar there but I was not surprised to hear that Sulamar had received this prestigious Core Values Medallion award. Before I make a few comments, so I would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Jerry Matos who nominated Sulamar for this award. He's on sabbatical this semester but I was very fortunate to get to know Sulamar this past semester when I taught the National Student Advertising Competition course here at Roger Williams. And immediately I was just blown away by Sulamar's work ethic, his energy. When he came into a room, he got everybody excited and it was just, he was fun to be around. It was contagious, the energy. And I just, I love seeing it every time I came to class. He had significant contributions as all the members did for the Enset Competition. He was one of the presenters when we went to present this advertising campaign and it's always exciting when you get to work with a real client. And him and the others delivered one of the best presentations I'd ever seen. So this Core Values Medallion award is well deserved and congratulations to Sulamar. Congratulations Sulamar. Thank you very much, Dr. Oliver. We now proceed to the chief purpose of these commencement exercises, the conferring of academic degrees upon the graduate class of 2023. Yay. Students receiving master's degrees today will be hooded by a member of the school faculty as they process for their degrees and Dr. McTurnan has agreed to do that for us today. The formal hooding of students receiving advanced degrees is a centuries old practice and signifies student achievements in their chosen field of study. Master's students hoods include a wide velvet band and a collar denoting the academic area in which their degree is held. We will now begin the conferral of degrees. Will the Master of Business Administration candidates please rise. I am pleased to certify that these candidates are eligible for their degrees, appropriate for their course of study, by virtue of the authority granted by the state of Rhode Island and delegated to the president by the Board of Trustees, we confer upon you the degree to which you are entitled, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Will the candidates please come forward. Jalen Shea Blair, Dylan James Turcott, Jaden Joseph Polino, Yoshin McGatigan, Olivia Madison Brown, Mayhew, Kaylee Ellen Jameel, Olivia Storms McLaughlin, Diana Williams, Maggie O'Rourke, Jessica Michelle Lee, Tyler Anthony Labardoni. Congratulations, you may be seated. We now proceed with the conferring of academic degrees upon the undergraduate class of 2023. Our undergraduate students today wear a hood signifying their graduation with their bachelor's degree and permanent connection to the Roger Williams University community. These hoods bear the RW colors of white and light blue. We would also like to acknowledge those students who have the distinction of graduating with honors. Would all the students graduating cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.4, please stand if you are able to be acknowledged. You may be seated. Will all the students graduating magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.6, please stand if you are able to be acknowledged. Please be seated. Finally, with all students graduating summa cum laude with a GPA of 3.8, please stand if you are able to be congratulated. Please be seated. Be proud, people. Your hard work and commitment to academic excellence ought to be commended, and we here are all really proud of your accomplishments. We will now begin the conferral of degrees. Will the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts candidates please rise? I know, up and down, how exhausting. I am pleased to certify that these candidates are eligible for the degrees appropriate to their course of study. By virtue of the authority granted by the State of Rhode Island and delegated to the President by the Board of Trustees, we confer upon you the degree to which you are entitled with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Will the candidates please come forward? Leah, Faith, Pinkus, Timothy, William, Tangare, Management, Samantha, Patricia, Molton, Marketing, Joseph, Kavanaugh, Management, Margaret, Sewell, Marketing, Claire, Siobhan, Dolan, Marketing, Elizabeth, Hardcastle, Marketing, Sadie, Lee, Fisher, Marketing, Madison, Lynn, Lyman, Management, Matthew, Lowbauer, Management, Elizabeth, Mary, Dobson, Marketing, Bianca, Susan, Robbins, Management, Molly, Elizabeth, Feldman, Euchus, Marketing, Madison, Macaulay, Management, Cassidy and Collins, Marketing, Mackenzie, Elizabeth, Tripp, Double Major in Economics and Finance, Bethany, Angela, Dylan, Marketing, Lily, Jean, Cunningham, Double Major in Accounting and Finance, Abigail, Rose, Cunningham, Marketing, Campbell, Elizabeth, Holler, International Business, Christine, Marie, Chasse, Marketing, Kiana, Michaeline, Rubino, Marketing, Sarah, Lynn, Thielen, Orlando, Fernandez, International Business, Michael, Ryan, Swan, Marketing, James, Raymond, Fornier, International Business, Christopher, Phillip, Ratha, Wells, Marketing, Patrick, Longball, Double Major, Accounting and Finance, William, Joseph, Hurwitz, Marketing, Antoinette, Rose, Iodice, Management, Mikayla, Angelina, Petrucci, International Business, Keegan, David, Place, International Business, Britsinger, Marketing, Julia, Rose, Sousa, Marketing, Roman, Scott, Mayer, Marketing, Drew, Kenneth, Lombard, Marketing, Benjamin, Dubois, Accounting, Dinnerman, Double Major, Marketing and Management, Alvin, Keith, Gay, Management, James, McLaren, Accounting, Eric, Jerpe, Management, Patrick, James, Kelly, Marketing, Nicholas, Murphy, Marketing, Sakir, Siddiqui, Finance, Benjamin, Joseph, Reinbold, Marketing, Christopher, Miguel, Arujo, Management, Truman, Strug, Finance, Jack, Casey, Greenspan, Marketing, Timothy, Michael, Galarani, Marketing, Ethan, Scott, Hamilton, Finance, Mark, Alan, Barry, Marketing, Zirak, Khan, Finance, Abel, Njutsi, International Business, Cole, Barton, Judd, Kids, Double Major in Economics, in Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences, Quinn, Edward, Rasmussen, Marketing, Ian, Christopher, Lemieux, Double Major in Finance and Marketing, Jack, Tweedle, Finance, Daniel, Pobone, Marketing, Nicholas, Pascal, Christante, Pearson, Marketing, Erika, Taylor, Stone, Management, Jackson, Lawrence, Buchanan, Accounting, Sierra, Elizabeth, Redfern, Marketing, Rebecca, Nicole, Romano, Finance, Samantha, Pearl, Richard, Marketing, Madeline, Zoe, McCarthy, Finance, Daisy, Martine, Celia, Finance, Double Major in Finance and Accounting, Frank, William, Weaver, Jr., Finance, Kaelin Feehan, Marketing, Olivia, Mayor, Accounting, Emily, Patricia, Newbig, Accounting, Brandon, Kruger, Finance, John, Alan, Rathall, Marketing, Matthew, Robert, Wilson, Double Major in International Business and Management, Brianna, Silano, Management, Devin, John, Force, Marketing, Nicholas, Robert, Tucelli, Marketing, Shailen, Rose, Ferreira, Finance, Brianna, Bay, International Business, Kyle, Dobson, Finance, Hayden, Thomas, Bizer, Marketing, Joseph, Christian, Dinley, Finance, Hayden, Maurice, Anglund, Marketing, James, Thomas, Reese, Finance, Giovanni, Cassatori, Finance, Adam, Thomas, Belinsky, Accounting, Jonathan, Michael, Trevathen, Finance, Jake, Norman, I'm sorry, Missielli, Finance, Trevor, Matthew, Stevens, Finance, Lisa, Elena, Hania, Marketing, Isabella, Christina, Wesbicki, Marketing, Sabrina, Joy, Silverbrand, Management, Eric, Baxter, Jr., Finance, Brendan, Sarenson, Management, Alexander, Robert, LePage, Accounting, Noah, Benjamin, Yost, Finance, Alexa, Brooke, Reyes, Marketing, Elizabeth, Rose, Peters, Marketing, Nicholas, Manuel Santos, Marketing, Hovey, Wildes, Marketing, Jack, Thomas, Caruso, Finance, Biodio, Tomas, Parcos, Marketing, Hannah, Elizabeth, Reinhart, Marketing, Peria, Management, Ashley, Nicole, Marston, Management, Emma, Catherine, McLean, Double Major in Management and Marketing, Cailin, Joan, Brezina, Management, Amanda, Nicole, Faustino, Marketing, Allison, Evelyn, Bradley, International Business, Celia, Gluckman, Management, Thompson, Management, Abigail, Zidnba, Marketing, Shelby, Jordan, Blanchett, Accounting, Alexander, Cole, Finance, Themis, Cosmodakis, Marketing, Xavier, Alexander, Molina, Management, Edmund Sherman, Marketing, Falve, Economics, James, Lewis, Gerard, Carbon, Management, Elizabeth, Catherine, Stevenson, Marketing, Jane, McDonald, Marketing, Christopher, Povarnik, Finance, Kevin, Thomas, Murphy, Finance, Zachary, Daniel, Rigo, Finance, Arthur, Erickson, Finance, Christopher, Klein, Finance, Hugh, Kyle, Kroll, Double Major in Economics and Finance, Sophie, Marie, Bluestine, Finance, Lindsay, Nicole, Young, Double Major in Marketing and Graphic Design Communications, Sulamar, Isaiah, Maxwell, Braithway, Marketing, Avery, Jean, Preston, Marketing, Asha Patel, Marketing, Emily, Carol, Champney, Management, Isabella, Palumbo, Management, James McDermott, Marketing, Devin, Bento, Management, Bertrand, Signs, Sean, Charles, Tildesli, Finance, Jack, Finney, Marketing, John, Roberto, Marketing, Benjamin, Frederick, Delphalise, Management, Jake, Joseph, Brennan, Marketing, Kevin, Hagerty, Desi, Marketing, Noah, Ravaz, Finance, Matthew, Camau, Finance, Hugh, Sean, Annabelle, Marketing, James, Greer, Marketing, Matthew, Tenney, Management, Hugh, Carl, Massaro, Marketing, Daniel, Charles, Massaro, Marketing, Nicholas, John, Harper, International Business, Isaiah, Booker, Farr, Double Major, International Business and Management, Ansis, Teske, Accounting, Matthew, Lawrence, Basi, Finance, Gianna, Maria, Brunetto, Finance, Aiden, Hunter, Sattler, Finance, Thomas, James, Pulsini, Double Major, Jacqueline, Marie, Bolio, Double Major, Jacob, Cardozo, Double Major, Accounting and Finance, Wulchner, Finance, Adrian, Haziri, International Business, Ian, Driscoll, Management, Joseph, Samos, Finance, Thomas, Edward, Colerton, Double Major in Finance and Management, Kyle, Setzer, Finance, Allen, Jamison, Marketing, Connor, Wayne, Corbill, Double Major in Management and Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences, Haley, Debra, Allen, Morabito, Management, Beat, James Nelson, Management. Congratulations to all our graduates. Well done. As we get ready to leave today, please consider this observation by Dale Carnegie, who wrote several books on success. Look them up. One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. So go out and enjoy today's celebrations and tomorrow's happy moments, both great and small. And on behalf of the university, thank you all for joining us here today and celebrating these commencement exercises. Please stand and remain at your seats until all members of the recessional, including our graduates, have exited the tent. Thank you very much. Congratulations.