Graduates lined up inside the Integrated Science Center before they walked their way under the Dovre Campanile toward Memorial Auditorium. Nearly 4,000 family and friends of the Concordia community came out to support the graduates on commencement day.
Dr. Martha Nussbaum, American philosopher and professor at the University of Chicago, gave the commencement address. She affirmed the value of the liberal arts and challenged the graduates to use their education to its full potential.
“The future is in our hands and especially in the hands of all of you graduating,” she said. “You know the value of this education. It will become even more and more apparent to you in the years to come. Liberal arts is the preparation for the whole life.”
Nussbaum and John Meslow received honorary degrees. Meslow is a retired executive for Medtronic Inc., the founder and program director for the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program, and a former member of Concordia’s Board of Regents. Corinne Burrell ’18 gave the student response.
“You are ready,” she said. “Use your liberal arts education to change the world for the better. I can’t wait to see what you do.”
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