 Greetings seniors. Today would have been your graduation day. We know you're so disappointed and so are we, but we want you to know that we are still so proud of your accomplishments. Do know, though you are not graduating today through in a ceremony, you will get your degree conferred and we will celebrate you in August. So again, thank you for all of your hard work and your dedication to your success here at ECSU. We are so proud of you and we wish you well as you continue to reach your goals on this journey of life. Viking pride. Excited best. You could thank me now. Thank me later. Yeah, I know what I said, but later doesn't always come. So instead, it's okay. You could thank me now. I like to give a few thank yous to the class of 2020. Let me start with a special thank you to all the A1 day one ride or die never let your side best friends who have stuck with you through thick and thin through tears fights and very late nights college wouldn't have been the same without you. 20 band members graduating. Thank you for making sure football and basketball games were lit regardless of the score and to any of you who have ever stayed above me in any dorm. Thank you for using your inside feet. Thank you to those who had the courage to get on stage and perform at our student body meetings. Thank you to those who ran for government. Those who balanced sports. Those who started and joined clubs. Those who pledged. Those who showed up to every party and those who just showed up to class. I say thank you for living these college years the way you wanted to live them. If you've ever felt the following feelings or emotions, sadness, anger, fear, embarrassment, anxiety, disappointment or depression, I'd like to say thank you again for just being human. Human enough to allow yourself to be vulnerable but also strong enough to not let negativity stop you from achieving greatness. To all of my young black men who are graduating I say thank you for rewriting the narrative that society has written and the stats that they counted you in and instead I congratulate you today on entering into the statistic of black men who graduate from college. 2020 graduates I like to say thank you for every family member who you are carrying on your back. Every child, sibling, niece, nephew or little cousin who you are paving the way for so they can follow in your tracks. Thank you to all of my first generation grads who are leading by example and to every graduate who has been brave enough to continue to dream the dreams that others say are too big I say thank you for accomplishing something that most never have the chance to do. Thank you for making history for yourself and thank you for choosing ECSU this awesome HBCU the place to do it. 2020 graduates congratulations and thank you Viking pride Viking pride Viking pride of the opportunity afforded you by Lisbon City State University you are to be commended as you now move out to engage and encounter change make good decisions remember to give back and be thankful for the opportunity and know that you are prepared to manage the change. Welcome to the national alumni family of your Elizabeth City State University. Viking pride Viking pride Viking pride