Commencement Reflections

Graduation is always a special time at Old Dominion University. We have a week-long celebration where faculty, staff and students are honored in a series of wonderful events. Obviously, it culminates on Saturday when parents, brothers and sisters, spouses and friends stream into the Constant Center to attend either the morning or afternoon session.

For the Broderick family, this commencement was even more special since our son, Matthew, graduated during the morning ceremony with a degree in criminal justice.

My wife, Kate, the university's director of disability services, joined me on the stage so we could both present Matt his alumni certificate. It was one of those Kodak moments, which I hope one of the photographers captured. After all, what are the odds a parent can ever present a university diploma to his or her own son or daughter...let alone both parents experiencing the honor!

The fact that my wife was there with me, the day before Mother's Day, made the moment beyond special.

I must have shaken 1,000 or more hands over the weekend between commencement and other events I was privileged to attend. The smiles and the thank you's made the time fly by.

To all our 2009 graduates, I wish you the best. I hope you won't forget to be an advocate for your alma mater in everything you say and do. Old Dominion, as afternoon commencement speaker David Gergen said, "is an institution growing every day in reputation."

And, if you ever need inspiration, look no further than morning speaker Kathleen Gainey. The Old Dominion graduate is now the second highest ranking female in the U.S. Army as a three-star General.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009!