Benjamin Rosen gives commencement address

2015 May 15

Benjamin Rosen, a graduating senior from Portland, OR, gave the annual student address at Cornell College's Commencement ceremony on May 10, 2015.

Rosen, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and business, was chosen by his fellow seniors to speak at Commencement. He was one of 271 students to receive their degrees at Cornell College's Commencement ceremony.

He said:

"These things we have done, we have not chosen because they were easy. We have done these things because we care and are passionate about our dreams. Why then should we look for a life of comfort and ease after receiving our diplomas to just plunge into the 'real world?"

Now more than ever, our nation and world need us to work towards healing. With the recent economic disasters, ongoing racial healing, and more tragic events like those in Nepal, our world needs leaders to rise up and to begin helping resolve these issues among many issues. Not all of us need to be like that of Bill Gates and have billions of dollars to give these causes, but I ask that you give yourselves to issues that move you.

[...]

So, today is our last day as undergraduates, and as we prepare for our future, as we move into tomorrow, let us hold fast to the words of Gandhi, in remembering that Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use and that progress in our own communities, in our world, can only happen when brilliant minds like us decide to become engaged and act.

Video and the text of his full speech are available online, along with other coverage of Commencement weekend.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship--all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.