President George H.W. Bush says, “ceiling and visibility unlimited” for the Class of 2008

The 41st president of the United States gave the keynote address at Bryant’s 145th undergraduate Commencement and was awarded an honorary degree.

At the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on May 17, President George H.W. Bush offered an entertaining and inspirational Commencement address reminding the Class of 2008 that “character matters.” He also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree and took part in the commissioning of Daniel Girouard (Lincoln, RI) and Kyle Mason (Warwick, RI) as second lieutenants in the United States Army.

President Bush applauded Bryant’s faculty and staff, as well as the graduates’ families for their role in helping the Class of 2008 reach this milestone day in their lives. He noted humbly that perhaps there was little advice he could give the graduates that they had not already heard. Still he said he hoped they would remember a few catchy sayings.

“If you think nobody cares if you are alive, try missing a few car payments,” President Bush joked. He continued, “If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.”

(Photo on the left) President George H.W. Bush and Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley and (photo on the right) Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley and First Lady Kati Machtley greet President George H.W. Bush on Commencement morning.

Turning serious, Bush surmised that success starts with knowledge. While the world-class education that the students received at Bryant is vital, a person’s moral fiber is indicative of true accomplishment, said Bush.

“Here at Bryant, to their everlasting credit, they’ve taught you that character matters as much as knowledge,” said President Bush. “No amount of fame or fortune is worth losing your very soul. Everyone wants to be the best and the brightest but I also believe it is equally important to be the kindest and gentlest person we can be.”

People will forget what kind of car you drove, the clothes you wore or the money you made, but they will not overlook the kind of person you were, said Bush.

(In front) V.K. Unni, vice president for Academic Affairs, and David Lux, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (in the back) confer an honorary degree of humane letters to President George H.W. Bush.

“They will remember if you kept your word, played by the rules, and loved your family,” he said. “They will recall, too, if you tried to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and demonstrated the kind of humility that renders one humble in times of victory and gracious in defeat.

“These are the same timeless values that have sustained our American experience in Democracy through 232 years of trial and triumph,” said President Bush.

Bush’s charge was particularly timely given that the world is now looking to members of the Class of 2008 to become the next generation of leaders in an ever-evolving global economy. Businesses must be able to devise new ideas and products to compete with the ingenuity of the growing powers of China and India. Creative solutions are needed to solve the country’s energy and healthcare crises.

The 41st president of the United States George H.W. Bush gave the Commencement Address as part of the 145th undergraduate Commencement on May 17.

“These are tough problems but seeing all of you and feeling the pride of this day only reaffirms my optimism in our country’s future,” said Bush. “I want to see every single one of you contribute to the overall well-being of this great country.”

President Bush concluded his address by recalling an old Navy saying: CAVU – ceiling and visibility unlimited. As a young pilot preparing for a mission, President Bush said, you want to see a cloudless sky so you can easily identify objects and threats in your paths.

He told the graduates that their years at Bryant gave them the training to start their own missions. “I can only wish you and our beloved nation CAVU – ceiling and visibility unlimited,” said President Bush.

(Photo on the left) George H.W. Bush offers a plaque with an old Navy saying CAVU (ceiling and visibility unlimited) and (photo on the right) Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley displays the gift.

“So go out there, make us all proud, make your University proud, count your blessings because you have plenty, especially on a beautiful day like this, and go out and make a difference in this world,” he said.

Before Commencement, President Bush took part in a special unveiling of plans to replicate a Forbidden City building on the Bryant campus.

(L-R) Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley, President George H.W. Bush, and Fan Jianchuan, president of Jianchuan Group, a major real estate development company headquartered in Chengdu, China, unveil a replica of the Forbidden City's Shu Fang Zhai building that will be built on the Bryant campus.

The replica of the Shu Fang Zhai (pronounced SHOO FONG JAI) building will be the first to be built outside of China with the permission and cooperation of the Chinese government. Once completed, it will become the new home of Bryant’s U.S.-China Institute.

To read the complete transcript, visit President Bush’s Commencement address.

Watch President Bush’s address.