Reflections and gratitude


Dear Cornellians,

As we celebrate this historic Commencement, and the many achievements of the Class of 2021, we celebrate, as well, all of you: the students, faculty, staff, and families who came together, in our remarkable Cornell community, to bring us to where we are today.

The success of this on-campus pandemic year has been your success. It has been the success of science, of community, and of caring. And it has been, above all, the success of the unique and wonderful ethos of Cornell: a place for any person, and any study.

It was an honor to reflect upon this extraordinary year with our graduates and guests this weekend, and I write to share those reflections with you this evening.

Thank you, all of you, for everything you have done to bring us to this point; and congratulations again to the amazing Cornell Class of 2021.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack
President


Commencement 2021

Full text of President Pollack’s remarks to the 153rd Graduating Class of Cornell University.