Grad Gripes

The university will celebrate its 122nd commencement exercises on Thursday, May 14, in the Liacouras Center, our 10,200-seat arena, which will be filled with graduates adorning the $50 black caps and gowns, which they purchased in addition to their $50 graduation fees.

As a thank-you for the money we’ve spent on tuition, housing, meal plans, books and various other college accessories, the university is rewarding us with a highlighted speaker – President Ann Weaver Hart.

In the three years since Hart was elected Temple’s ninth president, one of the most common complaints around campus has been her lack of presence. While former presidents can be found wandering Main Campus, Hart appears to be strangely absent, and her interaction with students has been limited.

As seemingly invisible as she’s been, Hart could theoretically address the student body at any time. And as the president of the university, she’s already on tap to speak at this year’s commencement. Yet, she is the highlighted speaker, the main attraction.

Last year’s graduating class was bid adieu by Bill Cosby, Temple alum, comic and sitcom star. Why isn’t some like Bob Saget, Daryl Hall or John Oates – all famous alumni scheduled to appear? Or a former student or professor who led an extraordinary life.

Instead, Hillel Hoffman, assistant director of university communications, confirmed that Hart will be this year’s highlighted speaker. A few others will also give brief addresses.

Chief Judge Anthony Joseph Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, will give brief remarks, and Kendrick Davis, a mechanical engineering major, will speak on behalf of students.

Other appearances will include a professor from the School of Communications and Theater, the chair of the Board of Trustees and Temple’s alumni association president. While these people have given fully of themselves and made invaluable contributions to the university, they can be found on campus just about every day.

Graduating seniors deserve a commencement speaker who is more than just a campus staple. After more than four years of hard work and hard-earned money, our seniors deserve more than this.

Introspection a goal in commencement speech

Attending Temple was a “last resort” for Kendrick Davis.

“But when I was faced with making a decision after high school graduation, I took a second look at it,” he said.

“I thought, ‘Maybe this is a good place for me. I could fit in. There are opportunities for me to grow and plenty of things to get involved in.”

Davis, a senior mechanical engineering major, took advantage of the opportunities at Temple, prompting a panel to choose him to represent the graduating class as Temple’s student commencement speaker on May 14.

Having one person speak for the 4,270 graduates is no easy task. But Davis is up for the challenge.

“My goal is to take a look at where we are as a nation, as a world and as a university and bring those things together to come up with something optimistic, something that gives a promising tone to the graduates as you sit there wondering, ‘I spent these four or five years here, what is my degree worth?’” he said.

Davis grew up in an inner-city, low-income section of Pittsburgh.

“That’s why it was more important for me to get out and try to expand and broaden my horizons,” he said.

He was valedictorian of his high school graduating class and became interested in Temple because of his brother, Cornell, a 2005 alum.

Though he has pride in his hometown, Davis said it’s not the most ideal place to root yourself or start your career.

“My mom told me this since I was young,” Davis said. “She said, ‘Once you leave here, don’t come back.’”

He has kept busy during his years at Temple. In his freshman year, he was the chairman of the judicial panel in his residence hall. That led to becoming a resident assistant, which he has been doing since his sophomore year.

Last year, he got involved with Phi Sigma Pi, the national honors fraternity, and he was vice president of Temple’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers in his senior year.

Going through the process of applying to be commencement speaker allowed Davis the chance to introspect. Being chosen, he said, has been a “humbling experience.”

“[I thought] if I’m chosen, based off my experiences here at Temple, based off my outlook on the Temple community and the potential we have as graduates, that really speaks to maybe I did the right thing, maybe I took the right steps, maybe I influenced the right people,” he said.

Davis said many people at Temple have influenced his time here, including Honors Program Director Ruth Ost.

“I know what commitment and achievement look like. Kendrick could serve as the prototype,” Ost said. “Beyond his scholarly expertise, Kendrick is a major inspiration around these parts. He models excellence and involvement.”

Dean of Students Ainsley Carry, who helped Davis structure his speech, called Davis “an outstanding student and member of the Temple community.”

“He has separated himself inside and outside the classroom through his commitment to service, academics and leadership,” Carry said.

Davis’ efforts paid off. Last year, he won a Diamond Award, the highest recognition for an undergraduate at Temple.

Through his speech, Davis said he wants the graduates to do some introspection of their own, similar to how he did when preparing the speech.

“Think back to what people you touched, what people touched you, what experiences you had,” he said. “No matter what discipline you’re in, you have the ability to do great things and touch the people around you.”

Davis will start graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis next year, and he said Temple has given him the necessary experiences to transition into the next phase of his life.

“There’s time for you to grow in other places,” Davis said. “Once you’re done in that place, move on to the next. The world’s out there.”

Chris Stover can be reached at stover@temple.edu.