"Dear Class of 2020"

It is a great privilege to address you. As I gathered my thoughts around what I was going to say in this letter, my first point was very clear: I want to congratulate each and every one of you. The milestone you’ve just accomplished is no small feat, and you should be proud of the work you have done to reach this achievement. Even more remarkable is that this is only the beginning. As each of you prepare to take the next step in life to live out the visions, goals and dreams you have, I want to leave you with a few thoughts.

In 2018, at the Lead365 National Conference, Dr. Ann Marie Klotz gave this advice during one of her keynotes: “Be unapologetically bold in your quest of life.” We have all spent the last four years learning and growing, and undeniably for many of us, will continue to do so. I challenge each of you to work daily to be your best selves. Be the Golden Knight you are, wherever you are. I encourage you to use this message and this time to continue to build strong relationships with your family, friends, peers and people in your community, and to not take a single day for granted.

As we join the more than 40,000 Gannon University alumni around the world, it becomes our responsibility to serve as the next generation of great leaders.

What I hope you remember about your time at Gannon is the amazing three-and-a-half years we got to spend together. We have had many experiences to remember: women’s varsity and club sports, TRAVEL, ABST, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Honors Program, Saturday mornings participating in GIVE Days, and so many other opportunities, we got to take advantage of. For me, my time at Gannon will always be special. If I wrote out a thank you to everyone who has made an impact on me, it would cover the entire magazine.

So, to everyone: thank you. Gannon University is a place that has changed my heart forever.

Members of the Class of 2020, this one’s for you. Each of you are special and amazing individuals, and I hope to see you return in the fall for graduation. This is only the start of our legacy.

-David Long ’20, Student Government Association president