Monday, May 09, 2011
Listen to Brad Ellsworth's Commencement address
Brad Ellsworth
Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 The text of Ellsworth's speech follows, or you can listen to the speech at the link under his photograph at right. You can also listen while viewing a slideshow of images from Commencement. Good afternoon President Bennett, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, parents, family, friends, and most of all the Class of 2011! Congratulations on your graduation. It is an honor for me to address you and thank you for this honorary degree. When I was an undergraduate at Indiana State University Evansville (now the University of Southern Indiana), I worked two jobs to cover my tuition. All $329 per semester of it. I know you have spent years buried in books and term papers, sinking in debt and sacrificing sleep for a degree from this outstanding institution. I, on the other hand, show up to talk 7 to 10 minutes. I think it's clear who got the better deal. All joking aside, thank you again, this is truly an honor. I want to start by congratulating the parents here today. My daughter, Andrea, graduated recently, so I know this day is bittersweet for you. You've worked hard to send your son or daughter to college and encouraged them to chase their dreams. These graduates would not be here today without your love and support. And hopefully, they will show their appreciation by moving off your payroll and onto their own. Graduates, there is no better time than now to thank your parents, families, faculty members whose hard work has brought you here - so please give them a hand. While we're thanking people, this country has been blessed with generations of Americans who have stepped forward to protect the freedoms that we all enjoy. This may seem out of place at a University graduation, but I believe it's important to thank the hundreds of thousands of men and women that are working and have worked in the past to keep our country safe. Please join me in thanking the members of our armed services and our veterans for their service and sacrifice. USI has great memories for me. The daily drive across town, the four buildings that made up the campus, the basketball games at Central Arena downtown, and asking Beth Wannemueller for a first date while sitting on the pyramid (ask someone old about the pyramid). And by the way, she married me a few years later, 28 years ago. The Eagle Grand Prix, stripping the wheels off a fraternity brother's car in the parking lot for the Sig Tau's chariot during Greek Week... A lot has changed, but much is the same. You are thrilled to be here, but you're nervous about what lies ahead. Some of you will be moving on to a new job and some of you will be moving back into your parents' basement, but don't worry, the games look better on their big screens anyway. Someone once said, and I'm paraphrasing here so that I am not accused of plagiarism, it's fitting that we call these ceremonies "commencement exercises" because graduation is not the end, it's the beginning. It may be the end of the classroom, but it is merely the beginning of many learning experiences, maybe some things you would rather not learn, but many that will benefit you throughout your lives. Most of you are probably feeling a little anxious about what the future holds for you. And, I don't want to pile it on, but the people on this stage, your parents, friends, professors, and this community - we all have high hopes for you. We believe you have something positive to offer this world. I'm not sure that my teachers and professors would have said that about me when I was sitting in your seat. As I was growing up, I can safely say, I was never the smartest kid in class. I got by, of course, but I may be the last person my teachers thought would ever become a sheriff, a U.S. Congressman, run for the U.S. Senate (I lost by the way), and now working in management at Vectren. I started my career as a deputy sheriff with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office. I had no idea it would lead me to where I am today. As the years progressed, I was given the opportunity to progress through the ranks and take on more responsibility and challenges. Eventually I served as the sheriff. Then in 2006, my last year as sheriff, I had the opportunity to run for Congress. It was, without a doubt, one of the scariest, most challenging things I had ever done in my life. That is, until I was actually elected. Leaving the sheriff's office and going to Congress was like a commencement for me. I was leaving behind a lifetime of experiences and friends for a new job in a new city. And, I would be lying if I said it was easy. More than once I had to call my staff for directions back to my own office. There's an old joke that goes around Washington about when you first get there you wonder what you are doing there and then after a while you wonder what the others are doing there. The more time I spent there, I realized how a background in law enforcement was helpful. You may be surprised that breaking up bar fights and hostage negotiation training has practical applications in Congress. That's a long story to make a simple point: The reason I am here today is to tell you not to shy away from challenges and opportunities that life puts in front of you. What's great about our country is that you can go from being a cop one day to a congressman the next. The possibilities are endless for those who are willing to work hard and see every opportunity for what it is and not be shy about chasing your dreams. |
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