On Thursday, May 6, 2021, the College of Education and Human Development celebrated its most recent graduates in an in-person ceremony at Temple Sports Complex. The college recognized May 2021, December 2020, and Summer 2020 graduates who completed their final semesters at Temple amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite calls for rain during the week, graduates were greeted with a beautiful and sunny spring day to cap off their academic careers.
Desiree' LaMarr-Murphy '10 gave the keynote address during the ceremony. LaMarr-Murphy is a West Philadelphia native, Temple University alumna, lifetime educator and founder of Murphy's Giving Markets, a community food pantry. She encouraged students to use challenges and adversities they may encounter to make change and help others. Graduates should use their personal obstacles as a vehicle to "help those who cross our paths and are struggling in those very same ways." She called on graduates to use their "time, talents and treasure to alleviate suffering wherever and whenever [they] can and to uplift others as [they] climb."
Nicholas Raymond Adams '16, '21, the graduate student speaker, and Roxanne E. Biedermann '21, the undergraduate student speaker, encouraged students to reflect on their time at Temple and use their abilities to make a difference in the world and for those around them. Biedermann recounted her journey to become a Temple graduate and shared that graduates' "ability to impact the world is limitless." Adams reminded graduates that "people change people" and encouraged them to "be that inspirational change others can look to. Lead with care and compassion."
Graduates, friends and family who did not attend in person were able to celebrate remotely by streaming the ceremony live. The ceremony recording is available to view on the college's YouTube channel. Additionally, the college's commencement program can be viewed online.
Explore more from commencement: