Virginia Tech welcomed two commencement speakers to address the class of 2012, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.
“Today we gather to acknowledge the success of more than 5,000 college graduates,” Warner said. “Students that always know maroon and orange go well together—the Virginia Tech class of 2012.”
Both Warner and Obama spoke to the students about the importance of being leaders once they graduate and how proud they were to be there. They also reminded the students to respect their family. Warner made a point to remind the graduates to call their mothers and supporters to tell them how much they loved them.
Upon making her way onto the stage, Obama received a standing ovation from the students. Her speech addressed the strength of the Tech community and how she was able to relate their effort to service to her own.
“The Hokie community did not just happen,” Obama said. “You created it. You can do that again no matter where you are in life.”
The First Lady mentioned Justin Graves in her speech, a senior sociology student who graduated that day. Graves had spoken to her earlier, and she said that his dedication to others was a reflection of the type of students at Tech.
Warner and Obama also spoke to each other when Warner challenged her to a sack race after the ceremonies, which she accepted.
“Just so you know,” Obama said, “I play to win.”
Obama closed her speech by reminding the students not to allow Tech to be defined by the campus shootings of April 16, 2007, and encourage people in their community to stop defining them as such.
“When you all are out there in the world,” she said, “and you meet someone and you tell them you’re from Virginia Tech and they say, ‘Isn’t that the school where--' I want you to interrupt them right there and say, ‘Yes, it the school where we have some of the best academic programs and professors in the country.’ That’s what you tell them.”
A version of this article appeared in the May 12 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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OH, THE HUMANITY! The First Lady laced her speech with such political rhetoric that it was obvious her invitation to speak was politically motivated. A Hokie Community outside of Blacksburg...why that's a SOCIALIST principle! Virginia is in play in this election! aaaaaaaaaaah!
That was for all of you crackpot Republicans that cried and whined about her as a speaker and her horrible words that would pierce the traditions and principles of this fine University. Now you wonder why you never had an credibility.
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Please stop. They were wrong; don't make them look right by being wrong yourself.
Hokie Respect.
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I, on the other hand, don't mind rubbing their noses in it. Ms. Obama's speech had nothing political about it. Let's see how well Mr. Romney does at Liberty. Will he stay above the fray?
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The entire government are treasonous criminals and I am appalled that VT would let these traitors speak there. They lied to us 27 years ago about the approaching Planet X while they stole our money to build them safe places while they plan to have us destroyed in the war of Armageddon by Russia, China and the SCO. It will happen the same day as the next false false flag to invade Iran. Russia and China have told us for five years that they will nuke us over Iran.
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The entire government are treasonous criminals and I am appalled that VT would allow these traitors to speak there. They lied to us 27 years ago about the approaching Planet X while they stole our money to build them safe places and spray our skies every day with toxic chemtrails to hide it. They are planning to have us exterminated by Russia, China and the SCO in the war of Armageddon. It will happen the same day as the next false flag to invade Iran, whom the Russians and Chinese have told us for five years that they will nuke us over.
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The entire government are treasonous criminals and I am appalled that VT would allow these traitors to speak there. They lied to us 27 years ago about the approaching Planet X while they stole our money to build them safe places and spray our skies every day with toxic chemtrails to hide it. They are planning to have us exterminated by Russia, China and the SCO in the war of Armageddon. It will happen the same day as the next false flag to invade Iran, whom the Russians and Chinese have told us for five years that they will nuke us over.
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The entire government are treasonous criminals and I am appalled that VT would allow these traitors to speak there. They lied to us 27 years ago about the approaching Planet X while they stole our money to build them safe places and spray our skies every day with toxic chemtrails to hide it. They are planning to have us exterminated by Russia, China and the SCO in the war of Armageddon. It will happen the same day as the next false flag to invade Iran, whom the Russians and Chinese have told us for five years that they will nuke us over.
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That got out of hand quickly
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