2025 Ford School Commencement: U.S. Senator Gary Peters

Duration: 13:40 1876 transcript words EN summary

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United States Senator Gary Peters delivered a heartfelt commencement address to the Ford School class of 2026, celebrating their hard-earned degrees and acknowledging the deep support from families and faculty that made their success possible. Drawing on his extensive background in public service, which spans over three decades from local government to the U.S. Senate, Senator Peters highlighted his own journey as a Michigan native, a former Navy Reserve officer, and a bipartisan leader recognized for effectiveness across party lines. He took a moment to express personal pride not only as an alumnus of Michigan State University but also as a father with two daughters who are graduates of the University of Michigan, emphasizing that while he is a Spartan at heart, his identity as a parent and a supporter of the Wolverines basketball team's historic championship victory reinforces the spirit of unity and grit that defines the school. The Senator used the occasion to reflect on the legacy of President Gerald Ford, noting how the former president embodied the values of integrity, leadership, and the ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds during turbulent times like Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War. He shared his own experience working closely with numerous Ford School graduates who have served on his team as fellows and staff, illustrating how these alumni consistently reach across political divides to address challenging national issues with honor and dedication. Through these stories, he reinforced the idea that the true education received at the Ford School extends beyond the classroom, preparing students to stand up for moral principles and to leave their communities better than they found them. Looking toward the future, Senator Peters addressed the graduates based on their specific areas of study, outlining the critical roles they will play in an increasingly polarized world. He encouraged those specializing in social policy to defend access to public education, affordable housing, and equitable workplaces; he urged health policy experts to monitor emerging diseases and ensure high-quality care for all regardless of economic status; and he called on sustainable development students to tackle climate change while protecting vital resources like the Great Lakes. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of foreign policy graduates in fostering global peace and democracy, as well as economic policy graduates who must develop solutions that help families thrive rather than merely survive in a complex global economy. In his concluding remarks, Senator Peters emphasized that earning a degree is not the end of education but the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and growth that will open doors to incredible opportunities. He reminded the new graduates that politics are local and that state and municipal governments need their expertise just as much as the federal government does, urging them to remain active citizens who build coalitions and affect change in their daily lives. By following the example set by President Ford and previous alumni, he expressed his confidence that these students will find common ground with fellow citizens to solve big challenges together, ultimately making all of us proud as they embark on their next chapter with endless possibilities ahead.

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And now I am honored to introduce our keynote speaker, United States Senator Gary Peters. Senator Peters represents the best of public service for the Ford School. A commitment to Michigan, a steady dedication to the people he serves, and a willingness to work across differences to get things done. His public service spans more than three decades, beginning with his election to the Rochester Hills City Council in 1991. He went on to serve the United States in the Michigan Senate and as Michigan's lottery commissioner under Governor Jennifer Granholm before being elected to the US House of Representatives. In Congress, he served on the Financial Services Committee and participated in the conference committee that finalized the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Senator Peters has also served our country in uniform. He volunteered for the US Navy Reserve at age 34, earned the Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In the US Senate, where he has represented Michigan since 2015, he has been recognized for bipartisan effectiveness by the Center for Effective Lawmaking and the Lugar Center. I also share a quick Ford School connection. When I asked Senator Peters to join us to be our commencement speaker at our congressional breakfast in Washington, D.C., he said yes right away. Senator, we are grateful and we're proud that several members of your team are Fordies. Please join me in welcoming to the podium United States Senator Gary Peters. >> Thank you. >> Well, well, thank you. Thank you, Dr. Watkins Hayes, for having me here today and that warm introduction. It has certainly been an honor to work with you over these last few years and under your leadership, along with an absolutely exceptionally talented faculty and staff, the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy has continued to thrive as a world-class institution. I say that people all around the world have respect and admiration for the students, faculty, and alumni who call themselves Wolverines. And there is no better example of the product of your leadership than the graduates that are here before me right now. So, before I say any more, let me begin by saying to the Ford School class of 2026, congratulations! YOU'RE GETTING YOUR DEGREE! YOUR YEARS, years of hard work have paid off. So, when you walk across this stage to receive your degree, you will enter a new and exciting chapter in your life. And I know I speak for the entire university community and your families when I say with that we are all so, so very proud of each and every one of you and everything that you have accomplished. But, your success is not yours alone. It has been built on the love and the support of your friends, your families, and your dedicated faculty who have made such a significant investment into your future. And to the parents here today, I've been in your shoes before and I understand the emotions that you're feeling right now. I'm going to ask you your indulgence for just a minute for everybody here in the audience. I'm going to say something. Let me say it. I am a proud graduate of Michigan State University. But But But I want to be clear, but I am also a very proud Michigan dad. My My daughter My daughter Maddie has two degrees from the University of Michigan. So, I say that so that while I'm a proud Spartan, as a parent I'm talking to you parents as a parent, I have sent a lot of money to the University of Michigan. Let's be clear. So, I I also want to take a moment to before I talk here to just say how proud I am of the Wolverines men's basketball team and their 2026 national championship. What a phenomenal phenomenal victory. I tell you I think like all of you, I'm just so inspired by this team. Led by Coach May, this team overcame adversity and silenced critics to win the NCAA. Now, coming from different backgrounds with different stories, this team united to do something this school hasn't done in 37 years. Their grit, their determination, and their talent is an example of what it means to be a Wolverine. Being a Wolverine is special. And more than 26 years ago, this school was renamed in the honor of President Gerald Ford, an alumnus of the class of 1935. But long before he rose to the presidency, President Ford was like all of you. He walked this campus. He attended classes. And he learned how to become a national leader. President Ford was level-headed, measured, unafraid to reach across the aisle and work with those who saw things differently from him. He stood for civil rights and voting rights. He supported families and farmers. And he had an internal moral compass to guide him each and every day. President Ford was chosen to be vice president by Richard Nixon because he was seen as someone who could unify the country and promote stability during during a an incredibly turbulent period of Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War. But President Ford embodied the values of leadership, integrity, and bringing people from different backgrounds together. And I know I know these are the values that live on today in each and every one of you and every graduate of the Ford School. I say I know this because throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with many graduates of the Ford School. My office has hired numerous Weiser Fellows and Ford School students over the years. And I've been able to see up close just how they live out the values of this school and honor its history each and every day. Those students have played an integral role on my team, whether as interns or fellows or permanent staff. And they reach across the aisle to work on challenging national issues. They have shown their dedication by serving their country and their community with both honor and integrity. And that's why I know that all of you are prepared to stand up for what's right and what is moral. And I know you all want to leave your country, your state, and your community a little better than how you found it. And I'm confident that all of you here today will go on to successful careers in public service. And we desperately we desperately need your skills, your talent, and your knowledge. Because right now, as you know, we live in a highly polarized and hyper-partisan environment. Today, all you have to do is turn on the news and you'll be hit by a list of challenges facing our public officials. And as a result of that, we need leaders who are able to find common ground with people who think differently than they do. And because of the education that you have received here, we are absolutely counting on you to lead. Those of you graduating with concentrations in social policy, you're going to be at the forefront of protecting and expanding access to public services for generations coming up behind you. It'll be your job to defend public education and affordable housing options and ensure classrooms, workplaces, and public spaces meet the needs of everyone. Those of you graduating with concentrations in health policy, you came of age during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it's going to be up to you to monitor emerging diseases and public health threats, stopping the spread of new diseases before they start, and making sure that high-quality health care and vaccines are available no matter a person's zip code or economic status. Those of you graduating with concentrations in sustainable development and environmental policy, it's going to be up to you to take on the growing threat of climate change. Bridge the gap between business and government to move us forward towards a more sustainable future. While also preserving our natural resources and treasures like the Great Lakes. Many of you have used your time here to study foreign policy and diplomacy. And you know all too well that whether it's trade or international relations, we live in a very, very complex world. And peace can unfortunately be a very fragile thing. It's going to be up to you to foster peace across our globe, negotiate an end to conflicts, and protect human rights and democracy both at home and abroad. Many of you are also leaving here today to pursue careers in economic, business, and budget policy. And I urge you to remember that the state of our economy goes far beyond mere statistics. There are families across our country working paycheck to paycheck. And young professionals working multiple jobs just to get by. And they're relying on you to develop policies that lower costs, support families, and ensure that everyone in our country has an opportunity not to just get by, but to actually thrive. So, no matter your field of expertise, your Ford education has prepared you to take on the policy challenges of both today and the future. And I And I hope you will take the truly one-of-a-kind education you have received here and use it to better the lives of people in your community, your state, and your country in these extraordinary times. And while the degree you're earning today is an important record of your accomplishments, it does not represent the end of your education. You can look forward to continuing to learn and to grow for the rest of your life. Education is a lifelong journey, and I hope that you will embrace it. And if you do, your world will be open to incredible opportunities, many of which we can only dream of today. As new graduates, I know you will also continue to seek out ways to stay actively involved in your community. And remember all politics are local. Our state and local governments need your knowledge and your expertise just as much as the federal government does. So, no matter where or how you choose to serve, you all have the skills and the talent needed to build coalitions, to affect change, and to make a big impact on the complex issues that we face today. As public policy experts, I know you will continue to be active citizens in our democratic republic. I encourage you to follow the example set by President Ford and the alumni who have come before you. Continue to use your knowledge and skills to stand up for what is just and always work to find common ground with your fellow citizens. We face big challenges, and they will require big solutions. And our democracy is best when we work together. So, let me say again, we are all counting on you, and I have every confidence that you will make all of us proud. So, let me conclude by saying once again to the Ford School class of 2026, congratulations, your journey begins today. You have endless opportunities before you. We cannot WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT. GOD BLESS YOU AND GO BLUE!