Senior Speaker: Landscape Architecture

A message from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Each year, our graduating students in every major select a student to speak on behalf of their area of study. Because we are a large college, the time allotted to our ceremony does not allow for each speaker to appear on stage. However, these speeches have been recorded for your viewing pleasure. 

At its core, our College supports open and free inquiry and debate about the most weighty and consequential subjects that face us all. Each student was given a minute to speak on whatever topic they think will be meaningful to their peers. Some of the contributions are lighthearted, others are serious, and some may inspire some people and conflict with the values and beliefs of others. But that is the nature of free inquiry and debate: it should challenge us and make us think. We are proud of every one of our graduates, whether or not we agree with the views they express here. 

Transcript: 

Good afternoon everyone.

Landscape architecture, at its core, is about fostering connections. Connections between land and water, people and place, and the communities that shape the landscapes around us. Through this program we learned that our work is not only about designing spaces, but about being stewards of the land and caring for it thoughtfully.

I want to thank our professors and mentors for everything they have given us. Your guidance, patience, and belief in us are what made this program so special. What I will remember most is this group. Studio has a way of turning classmates into a tight knit team, and in many ways a family.

We came here with different stories, and we will go on to different places, but in this moment we are united. And I am incredibly proud to graduate alongside each and every one of you.