If you click 'play' on both of Dr. Gutmann's commencement 2009 and 2010 videos above and let them run at the same time, it's kind of fun to listen to some of the similarities in the beginnings of both year's inspirational speeches.

Enjoy!  :)

Check out videos from this year and previous Penn graduations HERE

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Yesterday I shared with you video from the 2009 graduation from Penn President Amy Gutmann and Google's CEO Eric Schmidt.

Now, thanks to some of my twitter and facebook friends, check out Penn graduation speaker John Legend's (C'99) very inspirational speech. Below is an excerpt from his speech which is especially moving:

"I believe that you, as graduates of this prestigious institution, the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, have soul power. No matter what careers or hobbies you pursue after leaving here, do them with SOUL.

You are empowered to be great leaders. You are equipped--in your jobs, your hobbies, your relationships. You are equipped with the ability to think critically, to listen attentively, to navigate the gray areas, to read between the lines, to bear witness, and to lead in the pursuit of truth.

You have knowledge.

Knowledge is power.

And, as my late grandfather would say, or as the freedom fighters of the civil rights movement would SING, if you know the truth, the truth will set you free. The truth will set you free someday.

Class of 2009, your someday begins today."

My other John Legend posts (including performances at Penn this past year) HERE

Check out videos from this year and previous Penn graduations HERE



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On Monday (May 18), Eric Schmidt, Google chairman and chief executive officer, delivered the 2009 Commencement Address and talked about:

• his gratitude for Penn for the invention of ENIAC
• the quality of the Penn interns that work at Google
  
• this generation as the Google and Facebook generation
• how the future will have us walking around with ipods with over 85 years of video storage
• how success is about being ready for opportunities that come before you
• how it is important for everyone to turn off your computers and phones and discover all that is human around us

Around minute 6:15, Eric talks about how Penn was struggling 20 years ago.  I am not exactly sure what he is referring to.  Anyone want to chime in on this?

More covereage from the Daily Pennsylvanian HERE

Check out videos from this year and previous Penn graduations HERE



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While sopping wet rainstorms have drenched previous graduation ceremonies, it was merely a gentle breeze at the 2009 graduation ceremony that caused President Amy Gutmann to become speechless.

Her carefully crafted words of wisdom were blown right from the podium into the air by the unexpected gust of wind on an otherwise beauty of a day. In seconds, the papers flying led to an outburst of cheering and applause instead of her sentence of praise toward the departing class' ability to take risks.

How did she react to the disastrous downdraft?

Just as you'd imagine from the pro we've grown to love as a wise leader and who since 2004 only keeps getting better at embracing simple elegance and sheer grace.  What followed once she won the stadium-packed audience back is just as simple, elegant and wise a message as you'll see in the above video that caught the whole thing first hand.

Check out videos from previous Penn graduations HERE



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University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann with Jodie Foster (2006)
Originally uploaded by JackieE.

The DP just announced who will be speaking at the 2009 College of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony and it's awesome!

(Hint: there's another good reason why this speaker will be coming to Penn besides graduation!)

Click here to find out!

John Legend 
(aka "John Stevens (C'99, Counterparts))!

In addition to speaking at graduation, this will also be his 10 year reunion!

The video above was taken when John sang at an Obama rally this year at Penn.

More of my John Legend posts and videos here (including 2 alumni who interviewed him!)

More about this news in the DP here

Check out what else is happening on campus

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