Good morning on what is a very special day for everyone here. For those about to receive degrees, today marks the culmination of a commitment that demanded hard work and a willingness to take on challenges that may have seemed insurmountable at times. But with those challenges met, you should take great pride in your accomplishments.

Family members and friends with us today share your pride, and it’s appropriate to recognize them for the support that has contributed so much to the achievements we celebrate this morning. Please join me in expressing deep appreciation for their support, friendship and encouragement.

Let’s also recognize the faculty and staff whose dedication is the foundation of your success, both in helping you acquire the knowledge needed for your careers and in developing perspectives attuned to lifelong intellectual curiosity and creativity.

NJIT is in the business of promoting positive change through the discovery of new knowledge that can improve the lives of people around the world. We hope that you will not only be comfortable with change in the years ahead, but seek to play energetic, leading roles in scientific, technical and social innovation.

But change can be unexpected and perplexing at times. As a famous member of the legendary musical group the Beatles, the late John Lennon, said, “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” I am confident that you will leave NJIT equipped with the knowledge and ability to manage change constructively, however challenging.

You will have to deal with change not only as individuals, but also as members of companies, educational institutions and government organizations. The university shortly to become your alma mater stands out as an example of an institution that has met the challenges of both planned and unexpected change in moving to new levels of achievement.

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey in his State of the Sate address on January 13 challenged NJIT, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Rutgers to redirect energies and build collaborative research teams and institutional partnerships that will impact the economy of the State and improve the opportunity for graduates to participate in today’s knowledge-based economy.  We expect NJIT will be a key contributor, in fact a leader, in this new initiative.

We have also charted a complementary course of our own toward enhancement of NJIT as an institution.  Major changes and new directions developed through a strategic planning process are being pursued to enhance our educational and research programs, improve the quality of life on campus and strengthen our relationships with industry. The physical transformation of the NJIT campus is a commitment to positive change in the city of Newark, our home community, as well as to current and future students and alumni and friends.  Tactical implementation of these objectives is well under way.  We recently established the non-profit NJIT Research and Technology Corporation to support applied research, intellectual property and business development which will allow us to build upon successes such as our business incubator, the largest in the state.

The near future will see many other exciting developments at NJIT, including research that expands knowledge on frontiers as diverse as the subatomic structure of matter and the farthest edge of the solar system. It is my hope that you will be active participants in the exciting life of your university ? a great university ? as alumni.

This morning you will also hear from someone who is remarkable in many respects, Judy Lewent. I know that she will bring words of inspiration from her experiences and accomplishments in the corporate sector.  So, be inspired today and accept the challenges and changes ahead of you with enthusiasm and imagination.  

 Thank you and congratulations to the NJIT Class of 2004!