Roger
NPR has a short clip to enjoy!
Here is the letter:
Colleagues:
Earlier this morning we announced that President Barack Obama accepted our invitation to be the keynote speaker for our 2014 commencement in June. Today’s news release can be found here.
We are honored that the president will join in our celebration, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of our campus groundbreaking and dedication. In June 1964, on a cattle ranch that is today UC Irvine, President Johnson exalted higher education’s role in fostering peace and prosperity. We’re proud that we are fulfilling the promise made on that day, as UC Irvine opens the doors to a better life for thousands of students and their communities. Nearly half of the more than 8,000 students in our class of 2014 are first-generation university graduates.
I express my sincere thanks to those who helped make the presidential visit a reality. Students, trustees, alumni, faculty, and staff all played a role in our success. Their calls, letters, messages, and postcards – along with a student-produced video – made a compelling case for UC Irvine.
The president’s visit signals the start of our two-year 50th Anniversary celebration, which will include special academic and community programming. For more information, visit our 50th anniversary celebration website, which will be updated regularly. We hope you will join us as we salute our legacy and embrace our exciting future.
Sincerely,