On what she called “this amazing day,” talk-show host Oprah Winfrey urged nearly 4,700 graduates at the University's 117th Commencement to “forget about the fast lane” and consider a “paradigm of service” as they looked ahead.
“To be happy, you have to give something back,” the media star and philanthropist said, as escaped balloons bounced in front of the stage set up on the stadium field. It also was important, she added, “to be surrounded by people you trust and treasure.”
An audience of families and friends estimated at 30,000 gathered on Father's Day 2008, and all graduates found two books waiting on their chairs, courtesy of Oprah's Book Club. Winfrey high-fived students along the processional and recessional, and a group of draw mates paid homage to her efforts to promote reading by portraying the covers of various books she has championed during the years.
Biology major Deborah Akinniyi could not contain her glee as she threw sparkly confetti on everyone within reach, and bubble blowers Karen Jacobson and Niccolina Clements also wanted to share their high-flying joy. Cell phone to his ear, Vamshi Kongara reached his family in the bleachers and flagged his whereabouts, while Tom McFadden, stuffed inside the head of a brown woolly mammoth, mostly tried to disappear on the field. He not only suffered the indignity of being mistaken for an elephant, but also had to fend off attacks by club-wielding cavemen from his freshman draw group in Roble.
“I really wanted to give you cars,” Oprah told the graduates, in closing. Instead, she offered a big shout-out: “Congratulations, Ohhhhh-8!”
