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Convocation Remarks

PRESIDENT GARY L. MILLER

Aug. 19, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., at First Energy Stadium

  • Good morning Zips!
  • Welcome to The University of Akron!
  • I want to begin by introducing you to some people who help create the great opportunities you will have at UA.
  • Mayor Dan Horrigan
  • USG President J.P. Garcher
  • Executive Director of Alumni Affairs Willy Kollman
  • The University of Akron is governed by a public Board of Trustees appointed by the governor of the State of Ohio. We have a few members of that board with us this morning:
    • Christine Mayer
    • Mike Saxon
    • Bryan Williams
    • others
    • Brooke Campbell – student trustee
  • I want to thank Dr. John Messina, vice president for student affairs, and his great staff. These folks work with great energy and creativity to create an exciting campus experience for you and provide the support you need to succeed.
  • We are so excited to have all of you here with us.
  • You are about to start a great adventure.
  • I want to ask you to do 10 things for me which will make this adventure even more exciting and rewarding:
  1. Make lots of friends – they will help you through the tough times and celebrate with you during the good times.
  2. Stretch your mind – get involved, study things you don’t know anything about; ask lots of questions.
  3. Support each other – we live in this world together. Let’s help each other out.
  4. The City of Akron is part of our campus. Get to know it. Lend your talents to making it an even better place.
  5. Go to class even if you don’t want to – it is the simplest way to succeed.
  6. There are thousands of people who work at this university. They teach you, keep the facilities running, keep the campus beautiful, make sure you have internet and provide many, many other services to you. Please get to know these folks and thank them for their work.
  7. Get to know your professors. They are deeply committed to you and are here to make sure you succeed.
  8. Introduce yourself to me. I want to meet as many of you as possible.
  9. While you are here, work to change this university to make it even better. You are now part of us.  We want your ideas and your energy.
  10. Finally, don’t ever forget you are now a Zip. 
  • I wish all of you great success. 
  • Go Zips.