Yesterday 550 students graduated from UNC Asheville, a small public liberal ars college in North Carolina. We are not Chapel Hill, the premiere UNC. We are one of the 17 state funded institutions in North Carolina. After graduation, after the loss of two students at our sister institution, UNC Charlotte, where one of the students is from our region, I was reminded that where ever we are, whoever we are, we are teachers. If not us, then who is a recognition that all of us, regardless of our degree, our 'status,' our job, we each play a role in the lives of our students.
So to all of the high schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities where graduates are being honored and celebrated, this is for you...
Thank you for making graduation a true celebration of hope!
Prior to our ceremony there was an amazing series of events, led by an amazing group of teachers who made ‘it’ happen....
Our teachers are grounds keepers, HVAC and electricians, traffic/safety people, the coordinators of the ceremony, printing services, these are our teachers; the faculty and staff who orchestrate the graduates, The registrars for everything they did and do, catering people, musicians, technicians and interpreters, Student Marshalls, and the people who practice and read names of every student for over an hour, these are our teachers; the guardians of the valley who let the rains clear long enough to allow a few graduation photos across the campus -Mother Nature is our teacher; graduates who had the drive and opportunity to do great and small things, they too are our teachers; and our community partners near and far, BOard of Trustees, our senior staff, our guests on the Platform, the faculty who along with people in the library, writing center, ITS, student services, custodians, food services, administrative assistants, switchboard operators, athletics, event planners, clubs/sororities and their sponsors, mentors, and others who make an impact/teach, the class of 2019, we are all teachers.
We have all had the joy, privilege, and opportunity to help our students and one another learn. Thank you to all who make it happen. Thank you for being a teacher.
