Here is the text for my Commencement address that I delievered on May 15th, 2004 at the 110th Annual Spring Commencement at North Dakota State University. It was an awesome experience that I am very grateful for. Thank you to everyone who helped me get there.

Traditions- A Student Perspective.
Today I would like to talk about a word that means a lot to me: tradition. While considering what to write for a commencement address, I thought back to all the commencement ceremonies I have attended while playing clarinet in the band or when watching my cousins and friends graduate over the years. One unifying, central theme that all these ceremonies had was tradition. From the customary robes adorning the graduates and professors, to the ceremony of handing out diplomas, tradition is ever present. As Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman once stated “Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe and aren't even aware of.” The past four years of my life have been marked by the unique, often unnoticed, customs that denote the passing of time at NDSU. Today I am going to explore these unique traditions that encompass life at NDSU.
First of all, traditions are what bring us together. Think back to your first year, what do you remember the most? I doubt it is how hard biology 150 was, or the professor’s jokes in Chemistry 121, it is more likely the fun and excitement that occurred during Orientation, welcome week dances, and residence hall activities- all of the traditional activities that mark the passing of the school year. In fact, as students we can mark our calendars by routines surrounding fall and spring semester. No matter what, every year begins the same way, and ends with commencement, as it is today.
Traditions not only bring us together as students, they connect us to the past. This year has been one full of traditions for me because of participation in band. The Gold Star Band at NDSU marked its 100th year as an organization on campus. Along with this celebration came an alumni event. At this event I was able to speak with Bison alumni from as far back as the 30s. What did all of these individuals remember the most about their time at NDSU? It wasn’t the calculus they learned, it was the rituals that they help start or uphold. I heard stories of why certain cheers were started, and why activities that I had been doing since first year are significant.
Even though traditions connect us to each other and to the past, they have to evolve. Whether it is on the playing field, in the classroom, or on campus, the customs upheld today are often different from the ones that my father participated in 30 odd years ago. And yet, it is the continuity of the activities that hold us together as students, and make us part of the larger Bison family.
Even though they evolve, traditions continue to tie us to the past. However, sometimes the emergence of a new tradition is necessary. For example, this year marked the ending of NDSU’s participation Division II athletics and with it the longstanding rivalry with the University Of North Dakota. The loss of this rivalry and the traditions surrounding it is very sad because most of us have some fond memory about this rivalry. My memories include four years of exciting Bison/Sioux weekends as a member of the Gold Star Band. Now, with the DI transition, the rivalry with UND has ended and a new one with South Dakota State University has begun. Though exciting, this new rivalry will never replace the old one in the hearts of the Bison family. However, for all of us NDSU’s transition to the next level is a blessing because many new traditions, such as the Dakota Marker, will emerge as the old ones are modified to meet the needs of everyone involved.
In our own lives, we are experiences a transition not unlike that of NDSU. Like NDSU, we are heading into unknown, but not uncharted territory. As many before us, we will end our tenure as NDSU students during commencement this morning. From there, we will go our separate ways to the future, the next level. For some, like me, it is just the beginning of a journey towards more education, but for others it is the first step towards a career and a new adult life.
The footprints towards the next level have been laid down by our predecessors. They are now ours to follow and make our own.
The conclusion that can be drawn from my observations is that traditions are the understated glue which holds together the core of our culture. No matter what kind of achievements our futures hold, everyday customs and rituals will continue to play a large role in our lives. Long after we receive our diplomas we will be members of the Bison tradition because our futures are forever tied to this school, as our successes reflect upon our professors and our peers. Therefore, no matter where we go, there is one tangible fact that can unify all of us: we are Bison. I am proud to be a Bison, and hope to someday come back and see what traditions are being upheld by the students of tomorrow.