This video is a tribute to the University of Guelph’s graduating class of 2021. A virtual celebration to recognize the special accomplishment by fellow Gryphons. Faculty, students and alumni share messages to reflect on their journey at University of Guelph.
[Soft music. The University of Guelph logo. Black Text with red background reads “Welcome to your 2021 Graduation Celebration”. Aerial shot overlooking University of Guelph’s landmarks cut between a senior U of G leader walking towards the camera carrying a mace. A female blowing a trumpet.]
[Text on screen reads: “As we gather together virtually, we acknowledge that the University of Guelph, the physical space that connects us, resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We recognize the significance of the Dish With One Spoon Convenant to this land and that today, this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. Through these words, we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Metis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them and we’re reminded of our connection and we’re reminded of our connection and responsibility to this land where we learn and work.”]
[A compilation of footage that captures the road side view of scenic locations across Guelph cut between a compilation of campus shots.
[Footage of the War Memorial Hall entrance cut between University of Guelph president Dr. Charlotte Yates looking out the window.]
[A compilation of shots with Dr. Yates standing beside the window looking at her phone. Animation appears on screen that reads “Graduation Celebration Today” as she’s reading her text message on her phone. Dr. Yates walks out the door cut between a shot of her blowing a conch. A startled squirrel cut between a dog alarmed and birds flying into the air.
[A man runs down the path stops and listens to a sound across the campus. He runs towards the campus.]
Voiceover of Dr. Yates: “Senior leaders, assemble!”
[Footage of Dr.Yates shouting towards the campus cut between animated shots of an album.White text to the bottom reads “War Memorial Hall, President Charlotte Yates”]
[Senior leader running towards campus cut between shots of senior leaders making their way to War Memorial Hall. Senior leaders sitting in their chairs cut between the logo of University of Guelph. Animation of red, blue and black colours on screen cut between Dr. Yates giving a speech on the podium.]
Dr. Yates: It is my pleasure to welcome each of you to our virtual convocation.
[White text reads: Dr. Charlotte A. B. Yates, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Guelph]
On behalf of the University of Guelph, I am delighted to congratulate the class of 2021 on joining the Gryphon alumni family. Our alumni community is now 180,000 strong.
Graduates, you have completed your degree during unprecedented historical circumstances and I know you faced many challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you take some time to reflect on the perseverance, skill and support that have led you to your graduation. I encourage you to rely on those same pillars when you face obstacles and opportunities in your future. The world is fortunate to have the talent and dedication you offer. And I encourage you to think about how you might improve life for the world around you.
Keep in touch with us. We want to know about your next endeavours and how we can continue to support you. From the administration, faculty, staff, peers, friends, and family, always remember that you have the entire U of G community behind you. We are rooting for your success. We could not be prouder of what you have already accomplished. Let me be the first of many today to say congratulations to you the class of 2021.
[Footage of Gwen Chapman standing on the podium and giving a speech to the camera.]
Chapman: My name is Gwen Chapman, and I’m the Provost and Vice-President Academic of the University of Guelph.
[White text reads Dr. Gwen Chapman, Provost and Vice-President Academic, University of Guelph]
In a few moments, we will be conferring your degrees. Your success today was the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, and I know you have also been fortunate to benefit from a great deal of motivation and support from family, friends, mentors, and peers. So as we celebrate you today, we also have the chance to recognize those that helped you reach this moment. You have accomplished so much, and this is just the beginning. Madam vice chancellor, I have the donor to present to you these scholars who although are unable to join us on campus today have fulfilled the statutory requirements laid down by the senate of the University of Guelph that they may be admitted to their degree.
[Footage of Dr. Yates giving a speech speaking to the camera cut between an animation and text that reads, “ A message from the graduating class of 2021”]
Yates: By virtue of the authority vested in me and in the University of Guelph, I hereby accept you in absentia for admission to your degree with all the rights, privileges and obligations appertaining there too.
[Gentle music. White text: A message from the graduating class of 2021.]
[Footage of students walking on campus cut between a compilation of students speaking to the camera.]
Voiceover: 3,600 graduates, different people… from different backgrounds..working towards different things. Different cultures…different beliefs..different goals…but for a short time, we all had something in common. The University of Guelph.
So, what defines the class of 2021?
We’re not masks, social distancing or virtual learning. We are not the forgotten class. We are not the victims of a global pandemic, far from it.
What defines us is our resiliency. We relied on strength to meet our goals despite the obstacles.
We developed relationships that went well beyond Zoom. We developed compassion and empathy for others and learned to ask for help when we need it.
We focused even when everything around us was chaos.
We came to the University of Guelph…from all over the world with the goal to improve life.
We came and stood beside the Gryphon Statue with pride.
[Camera shuttering]
Not all of us will create vaccines, save animals or solve the global crisis..
But all of us will leave the U of G as better people and better prepared to take on what’s next.
Some call the next step after graduation, entering the real world.
And if that’s the case then the class of 2021 is ready. What can the world throw at us that we haven’t already seen? What can’t we do?
Our future is going to be full of adventure and joy. Whether there will be hard times..and when those times hit..We’ll remember all of the things we learned at U of G…and what we need to do to thrive.
That’s resiliency. That’s in the Gryphon.
Congratulations to all of the 2021 graduates.
[Bright music. Footage of animation cut between white text on screen “Words of wisdom from the class of 2021 from the Honorary Degree Recipients”]
Voiceover of a compilation of faculty, alumni and students:
You have reached a measurable stage of progress in your life’s journey, which calls for both recognition and celebration. Graduates today are well beyond acquisition of knowledge of life skills than any of the generations that proceeded them. You’ve had the benefit of an education, which ranks among the finest available on the face of this planet, and you’re about to embark on further adventure. Leave space in your budget or your day to donate dollars or time to a cause. Charitable work really does enrich your life and the lives of others.
– Importantly, I think they’ve had to accept what’s in front of them. What’s here and now? And be very present today because tomorrow may be different.
– Learning is not compulsory, neither is survival. It’s easy to make a buck, it’s a lot effort to make a difference.
– Always go after your passions and don’t be governed by reason.
Listen, more than you speak. Always be caring, but recognize that you’re not equipped and not expected to fix everything.
– Enjoy, what you do, and always do it better than others. And take time to care.
– Hello and congratulations to all you Guelph graduates out there. I cannot imagine what it must’ve been like to go into your last year at Guelph with all these COVID restrictions and changes. And honestly, you guys hunkered down, you got through it, big congratulations. You are the toughest grads there are.
– In terms of passing along some wisdom to the people sitting in chairs, albeit virtually that I once sat in, it would be to always follow the chance of serendipity when it appears in front of you.
– I would encourage new graduates to be courageous and to embrace every opportunity that comes your way, because you never know where they may lead.
– I suggest not waiting for the perfect position or the perfect job to come around and instead take new positions that let you grow and build your skills and that will propel you forward to where you wanna be.
– If I were to tell a new graduate one thing, It would be to pursue your passions to the fullest extent and follow your dreams and let nobody get in your way.
– Keep learning. You should keep educate yourself that will make you super, super different and unique from anyone around you.
– There’s nothing more important than a big part of a great university and showing your willingness to learn.
– Don’t let anybody to find what successful means for you. You are more than your grade, you are more than if you manage to get a job straight out of your degree, or whether you take some time to figure out what it is that you really wanna do.
– My wisdom to you is, travel the world. As soon as I left Guelph, I took a job in England and then another job came up in Vancouver. And then we just relocated to San Francisco for my partner’s dream job.
And there’s such resiliency skills and amazing adulting skills when you move around. So take that opportunity say yes, and I hope you do some traveling.
– Never stopped networking. Even if you didn’t do too much of it in your undergrad, it’s never too late to start. If there’s something you’re after, get out there and network for it .
Over here in Australia, there are tons of opportunities for new grads and it’s a very diverse workplace so it doesn’t matter what kind of degree you’re coming out of Guelph with, I guarantee there’s a spot for you over here.
– I’m working in one of the least developed countries in the world, which means there are a lot of gaps to fill. And so whether you are in the medical field, the environmental field, in economics, teaching, maybe some of you will end up over here to help the country fill those gaps.
– I’m in Silicone Valley right now and there’s so many opportunities up here. You wanna work at a startup, a tech company, social justice causes, there’s so many amazing things. It’s a great hub.
– Now that you’ve graduated, there are some fantastic opportunities to pursue a higher degree in Australia. There are 42 universities to choose from so you’re sure to find one that accommodates your area of interest..
– Stay connected to your Gryphon grads, to your friends. All around the world, I’ve seen Gryphons wherever I’ve gone, making a difference and it’s the one thing that connects us all is the passion from where we went to school and the skills that we learn there.
– So you might be sitting there thinking, I’ve got a degree in this, I have to work in this, but do know, there are plenty of opportunities that await you as you enter the world as a graduate of the University of Guelph. And do you feel comfortable knowing that if you take a risky chance, the worst that can happen is it doesn’t work out and you go back to the drawing board and what you’re comfortable with and you know.
And the best that can happen, is you can really go on to change life and improve lives for a bunch of people in the world.
[Upbeat music. Footage of Recklaw band members speaking to the camera.]
Recklaws band members: What’s up University of Guelph? It is The Reklaws and we just wanted to say, congratulations on this very special moment. As University of Guelph grads ourselves, we know how important this memory is and how special it was to go to that school so congratulations. Enjoy this next chapter. As she said, we went to Guelph ourselves, so you never know what was coming out of it and big things can happen. So enjoy this, congratulations.
– Go Gryphons go!
– Go Gryphons!
[Soft music. Footage with a compilation of shots on campus reflecting the various learning experiences on the campus.]
Voiceover: Your university experience is made up of moments.
From the moment you opened your acceptance letter, survived online enrollment and packed the moving van, your adventure began. From the nerves of being a first year student who chose to make Guelph their home, you became part of a community. From the days you met your first roommates, made your first university friends and moved into your first apartment, your social circle grew. From the times you missed your family, weren’t sure if university was for you, then bravely decided that it was, you gained courage.
[Ball thudding]
From the late night study sessions to the early warning exams and finishing your projects at the very last minute, you proved to yourself that you could do it. From the summer jobs, the co-op terms, and the contacts you made in your field of study, you turned your classroom learning into practical experience. From the football games, [Crowd cheering] the campus clubs [Crowd cheering] and the groups you were the beating heart of, you showed that nothing is stronger than a Guelph connection. From the moment you don your gown, cross the stage and got the degree you worked so hard to earn, you’ve been part of something special.
From the University of Guelph, we say thank you. Thank you for contributing to a culture and reputation that’s unlike any university in Canada. Thank you for innovating, striving for excellence and helping us to improve life. Thank you for continuing your relationship with a university as mentors, advocates, and proud alumni. Thank you for sharing some of your most important moments with us. Congratulations, and thank you for forever being a Gryphon.
[Fireworks crackling] Welcome to the alumni family. [Fireworks crackling. gentle music.]