Where:

Temple Baptist Church

When:

May 14, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Number of Graduates:

428 graduates

143 honor graduates with a cumulative 3.25 grade point average

34 Phi Beta Kappas

4 with a 4.0 grade point average

Speaker:

Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the North Carolina Community College Systems

What the speaker said:

The world looks a lot different for the class of 2009 than it did in 1986. It’s an anxious time for you folks.

Your achievements have come with great personal sacrifice and in some cases a big dose of reality. Yours has come with tears and sweat and hardiness.

Hardiness is the act of becoming increasingly comfortable with situations that make other people uncomfortable.

Hardiness means being comfortable with changing rather than static environments.

Hardiness means being comfortable with creating and innovating, not just waiting for things to happen.

Hardiness means doing more with less, with much less.

Hardiness is exhibited by each one of you.

What the graduates said:

I’m going home to pack for the beach!

My face is starting to hurt.

What got the most laughs:

The speaker informing the crowd that because Michael Jordan was a geography major at UNC, geography is the major with the highest average pay.

Hallelujah Brother!

-a parent when one graduate crossed the stage

What got the biggest applause:

You may turn your tassels.

-Dr. Deborah Friedman, president of Surry Community College

Overheard:

Oooh, I bet they’re coming in now!

-child in the audience at the start of Pomp and Circumstance

That’s my boy!

-to one of the graduates

Yes Lord thank you!

-to one of the graduates

Where are we going to eat?

-audience member

Parents’ Comments:

Do you remember who spoke at your graduation? Do you remember who spoke at mine?

You were great!

Who was notable in attendance:

Gene Rees, chair of the Board of Trustees

Dan Stone, vice chair of the Board of Trustees

LaDonna MacArthur, Board of Trustees member

Charlie Madison, Board of Trustees member

Bob Comer, Board of Trustees member

Andy Anderson, Board of Trustees member