'We Need Your Energy And Passion': Sen. Reed To RWU Graduates

BRISTOL, RI — This past weekend, more than 1,000 undergraduate, graduate and law degrees were awarded during Roger Williams University's 2019 commencement weekend. U.S. Senator Jack Reed, this year's keynote commencement speaker, called for graduates to be problem solvers and help make the world a better place.

"We need your energy and passion. We need intellectual firepower and new ways of looking at long-standing problems. And we need people who are unflinchingly kind, compassionate, truthful, and understanding," Sen. Reed told graduates on Saturday. "Always remember that talent and technology alone will never succeed, if character and courage fails."

Over the course of commencement weekend, the university awarded 943 undergraduate degrees, 157 master's degrees and 130 law degrees. The Class of 2019 was the second class of "Civic Scholars," students focused on community engagement.

"As graduates of Roger Williams University, you are well equipped to help us build the world we need now. A world where we bring knowledge and skills together to address our lifelong challenges. A world where diversity is strength. A world that fosters citizenship and lifelong learning," Sen. Reed said.

RWU Interim President Andrew Workman challenged the graduates to continue to serve as Civic Scholars to take on the challenges facing the world today.

"My charge to you is to be Civic Scholars for the rest of your lives. Use your knowledge for good, to make the good society. By doing so you will have met the highest expectations of the RWU community, and it will help you and it will help the world," Workman said.

Honorary doctorates were also awarded to civil rights leader Clifford R. Montiero, who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and served as President of the NAACP Providence branch for a decade, and to Marcia Morris, Vice Chair of the RWU Board of Trustees who served in executive management and chief legal officer roles during her career.