 To the class of 2020 welcome to my backyard and on behalf of all of us at Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology Congratulations on this day of celebration. I'm thrilled to share my warmest wishes with you our newest IST alumni and a joint in celebrating all the you have accomplished I Want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for your patience your flexibility and resiliency during the remote learning period The novel coronavirus pandemic has forever changed our world and you're facing this challenging moment in history at a critical time in your life I Know this is not how you expected to conclude your time at Penn State, and this is not how I planned on sharing my thoughts with you But I am proud of the continued dedication you showed to remain engaged in the classroom and committed to your external obligations through your final semester I Understand and share your disappointment that today's ceremony must be held virtually and the University continues to explore options for an in-person celebration And public health guidelines permit And while we recognize that today's celebration cannot replicate that experience I hope you also recognize that today's celebration makes it official. You are a Penn State graduate The degree you've earned from the College of IST demonstrates your position to be a versatile leader for the information age One equipped with the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills the employers need It also demonstrates your commitment to affecting positive change You've worked hard to earn this distinction and as every sector requires skills of an IST graduate You'll soon find your well-positioned for success in any number of careers No matter where you are this is an accomplishment you've earned and it deserves to be recognized your hard work dedication and commitment have led to today and Though we are apart and we share this excitement with you your families and your loved ones virtually from locations near and far You now join a proud network of nearly 700,000 Penn State alumni around the world and you'll soon notice that that blue and white spirit you found as a student Continues to grow after graduation, but with that pride comes responsibility Alumni are the foundation of our university in our college. They represent our education the workplace and our values in the society They share a commitment to improving their communities and world and they're fiercely committed to ensuring the future of Penn State As you take the next steps in your personal and professional journey I hope you'll honor this responsibility and remain engaged with the College of IST Take advantage of opportunities to mentor our students Share opportunities for internships and careers within your organization Speak loud and proud about your IST experience and help us recruit new students and give your time talent and treasure To support the college and areas of the university that mean the most to you I Encourage you to visit our alumni webpage and reach out to our alumni relations team to learn how you can stay connected I also hope you'll keep up to date with what's happening through our social media channels at IST at Penn State Today we celebrate but we also look forward. We look forward to seeing where your degree will take you We look forward to seeing the innovative collaborative spirit You'll bring to your career and we look forward to seeing the difference that you will make at the intersection of tech information technology and society On behalf of the faculty and staff of the College of IST Congratulations again, and we wish you the best as you embark on the next stage of your journey Until next time stay safe stay healthy and please stay engaged