Kim Swan Delivers US Commencement Speech
Opposition Leader Kim.Swan this weekend delivered the keynote commencement address at Troy University, his alma mater, telling the graduating class he still lived by a code of ethics and discipline instilled in him at the Alabama university.
Mr. Swan graduated from with a bachelor of science degree from Troy University in 1980. While there he was a standout golfer playing under legendary coach Mike Griffin. He led the Troy team which placed 4th in 1979 NCAA Division 2 Championship at El Macero Country Club, Davis, California and was named MVP for Troy University in 1979. Mr. Swan went onto become a professional PGA golfer.
“I came to Troy in 1978 as a member of the golf team and, after graduating, became a professional golfer and travelled to Europe to make a living,” Mr. Swan said at the ceremony on Friday (Dec. 10). “ And that was only made possible, in part, because of the watchful eye of coach Mike Griffin. He was a great coach who helped polish my game. He is also a great man, who helped shape me as a person and to prepare me for a tough world of uncertainty; to be prepared to face ANY situation.
Pictured below is Mr Swan and Chancellor of Troy University Dr. Jack Hawkins and the prior to the commencement ceremony:
“Today, as a political leader, the guiding principles and values hammered home by Coach Griffin continue to hold true in my life. Truth be told: good values never get old. Coupled with belief in yourself and the courage of your convictions, and you can go far.”
“The rules that Coach Griffin insisted that we adhere – get up early, dress well, work hard, show respect, look at people when your addressing them, be respectful on and off the course, always remember who you are representing – are those that would make any young adult a good person – for all times and all occasions – and, by extension, help to create a better society.
“Oh yes, ‘The Griff’ was tough, but he needed to be and, with hindsight, I remain grateful to have been part of his programme, one of the most successful in the country.
Saying he was “deeply honoured” to be invited to give the keynote address, Mr. Swan also told graduates about the longstanding historical and cultural ties between the United States and Bermuda: “The relationship between Bermuda and America has existed from the very beginning of this country’s history. It has changed and grown with time. As a tiny British overseas dependent territory, we have watched with hope and pride your emergence as a beacon of freedom to the world. We believe in the United States. Long may it live!”
The full text of Mr. Swan’s commencement address follows below:
To the esteemed Chancellor of Troy University Dr. Jack Hawkins, Board Members, Faculty, Staff, Invited Guests, Friends and to YOU the Class of 2010 of Troy University;
On behalf of my wife Cindy, my family and friends in Bermuda and America and most especially Hon. Ralph Marshall CBE, JP, who made sure I could afford to attend Troy State University, it is indeed an honour to be here today to officially address you at this Commencement Ceremony.
I gladly give thanks to God Almighty who keeps watch over us ALL as we go about our busy lives.
For my family and me this invitation to address you is an honour we will cherish.
Let me take the opportunity to congratulate Chancellor Hawkins and his team for achieving international recognition from Forbes Magazine this year, which rated Troy University as the best buy in the State of Alabama and the #16 best buy in the Nation. Also Last night’s reception at our own Rosa Park Museum and the concert the Troy Davis Theatre were both outstanding and urge all to support the worthy cause last night represented – thank you and congratulations to Mrs. Hawkins.
This tells me that you are good stewards of a fine institution, providing value as educators of the next generations.
Today, I salute all 544 Troy University graduates represented here, who hail not just from the United States but also Germany, Azerbaijan, Kenya, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Korea, Nepal, Russia and Pakistan.
What diversity represented here in the glorious South!
Graduating Class of Troy University for 2010, there is a quotation by John Newton, the 18th century Englishman who wrote that great spiritual song “Amazing Grace”, that I think is relevant.
Newton said: “Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.”
This commencement exercise is a testament of the fruits of your labours, which are today certified by a diploma that attests to the knowledge that will anchor your passions; a diploma that reflects the commitment and discipline you applied to enrich your lives and perhaps the lives of others not yet known.
Today is the culmination of years of planning, hard work and dedication, and we have gathered here to recognize and celebrate it.
BUT the onus is on you to build upon it going forward.
From this day on, each of you will be on a journey to a future made less uncertain by the strength of your aspirations, the good sense of your plans and the support of your new credentials that say you are capable and ready to move forward.
In this journey, you should continue to strive to be the best you can be and, above all, to keep an open mind as you go forward.
Dr. Hawkins and esteemed members of the Board. Faculty, Staff and Graduating Class of 2010:
As a Member of Parliament for St.George and Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in Bermuda, it is also my duty to bring warm greetings from my country.
It is a tiny island in the North Atlantic, located some 600 miles off of the eastern seaboard of the United States, with our closes point Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
We have a rich history of survival, making do and prosperity; and a history intertwined with our American cousins. Some of the historic milestones since our settlement in 1609 include:
• In 1610, Bermuda’s shipwrecked settlers built a ship and sailed to Jamestown, Virginia with supplies that would save the starving community…
• During the Civil War, Bermuda was used by blockade runners to get much-needed supplies to the Confederacy and to main trade ties with British commercial interests. Today, that fascinating history is told in the Confederate Museum in the Town of St. George’s where I am a representative.
• In 1870 Joseph Hayne Rainey, who worked in St. George’s during Civil War, became the first black United States Congressman.
• In 1874, one of our own, Mrs. Mary Outerbridge, introduced tennis to the United States.
• In 1940, the US military established naval and army bases on Bermuda to operate as the first line of defence for the continental United States.
These bases continued their front line operations all the way through to the end of the Cold War.
In addition to being an exquisite tourism destination, modern day Bermuda has become a global leader for the insurance and reinsurance industries. Bermuda re-insurers paid a large percentage of the insurance claims following 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and many other catastrophic events affecting the United States and countries across the world.
Bermuda is also responsible for contributing billions of dollars a year to the US economy.
A recent study by a Washington-based global business firm concluded that Bermuda is “The most important off-shore supplier of reinsurance and payer of property and casualty losses to the United States.”
The relationship between Bermuda and America has existed from the very beginning of this country’s history. It has changed and grown with time. As a tiny British overseas dependent territory, we have watched with hope and pride your emergence as a beacon of freedom to the world.
We believe in the United States.
Long may it live!
Graduating Class of 2010, the world needs good leadership and your time has arrived.
Dare I say, our world needs you now!
It needs your faith, your intelligence, your work ethic and your commitment to a better world.
As I look to the future, I feel in my soul that there are persons in this room who can make a positive difference in our world.
I know already that in this room there are:
Good people who are going to go out into this world and stand for fairness, justice and equity;
Compassionate people who will work to end poverty and suffering wherever they find it;
Environmentally sensitive people who will work to protect the Earth from pollution and overdevelopment;
Socially progressive people who will become leaders of industry or commerce and still champion causes for the weak and the needy;
Committed people who will become passionate educators and motivators;
Gifted and dedicated people who will excel in literature, the arts and sports, whose endeavours will convey the glory of life.
Most important of all, there are unselfish people who will simply do the right thing for the right reasons at the right time.
Class of 2010, I must confess I am a bit choked up today.
I am deeply proud of Troy University and all those who have made it what it is, past and present; and proud of each of you to the extent that I expect extraordinary things to happen from this day forward.
Each of you has the ability to help to change this world for the better,
Whether through kindness or through your dedication and commitment as righteous people, you can make a difference.
But first we need to be that righteous person; that person who:
• Commits to making a positive difference within your family
• Commits to doing the best at whatever you do
• Commits to making a positive difference within your community; and
• Commits to making a positive difference within your country and by extension OUR world.
Graduates of 2010, today’s ceremony is your starting point, your new beginning, when your work, your accomplishments and your experiences here at Troy lead to decisions and actions of your choice.
It is a time of wonder and excitement, anxiety and hope, all working together at once, and it reminds of a line from a song by the great Bob Marley: ”I feel a natural mystic blowing in the air.”
Today is a day like none other. It is a time reserved for you to celebrate and appreciate your natural mystic, which is certainly in the air here today.
It is time to make history, your own history, for the rest of your precious lives.
This year marks 30 years since I graduated from Troy State University. It is a special homecoming for me for several reasons.
I came to know about Troy State University through “golfing great” Ken Green (here today), then my Palm Beach Junior College roommate; and one of the biggest influences in my life. Ken was recruited by many of the major southern universities, including Troy State which was the reigning NCAA Division 2 Champions.
I came to Troy in 1978 as a member of the golf team and, after graduating, became a professional golfer and travelled to Europe to make a living.
And that was only made possible, in part, because of the watchful eye of Coach Mike Griffin.
He was a great coach who helped polish my game. He is also a great man, who helped shape me as a person and to prepare me for a tough world of uncertainty; to be prepared to face ANY situation.
Today, as a political leader, the guiding principles and values hammered home by Coach Griffin continue to hold true in my life.
Truth be told: good values never get old. Coupled with belief in yourself and the courage of your convictions, and you can go far.
The rules that Coach Griffin insisted that we adhere – get up early, dress well, work hard, show respect, look at people when your addressing them, be respectful on and off the course, always remember who you are representing – are those that would make any young adult a good person – for all times and all occasions – and, by extension, help to create a better society.
Oh yes, “The Griff” was tough, but he needed to be and, with hindsight, I remain grateful to have been part of his programme, one of the most successful in the country.
One of my biggest honours in life – until this day – is to have been the Most Valuable Player for Troy State University in 1979.
And so I would like to take this extraordinary opportunity to say thank you to Coach Griffin, Assistant Coach Eddie Spears, Sports Information Director Gary Stogner and golf team Alumni like Colin McCrary, Karl Narro, Cleve Coldwater, Ronnie Mobley for having a positive influence on my life.
Today also affords me the chance to say thank you to my state and local government professor, former Alabama Governor John Patterson, with whom I spent many evenings chatting and picking his brain about politics.
Graduating Class of 2010, I would like to ask something of each of you, and that is to take time to remember and appreciate the people and the experiences that have helped you get this far.
Make time to say ‘Thank you’, and make time to think about the course of your life, to make sure your priorities are the right ones for you.
Whether you are committed to furthering your education or venturing into the workforce, your time at this outstanding institution has given you the opportunity for success in the years ahead.
Be proud of your accomplishment. But know the future is unpredictable, and that the world is getting smaller.
As a former international student at Troy, I urge you to think of yourselves as citizens of the world and to do your part to leave this planet better than you found it. It is getting smaller all the time. Our actions more and more have repercussions beyond the borders of where we live.
Mr. Nelson Mandela once said: “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
Today’s ceremony is testament that you have committed to developing your mind, but it is my duty to say to you that a good mind alone is not good enough to change our world.
And so I dare you to stand for things that are fundamentally right.
Dare to stand for a healthy environment so our children can enjoy a greener planet.
Dare to stand for fairness in all things.
Dare to be your brothers’ keeper.
Dare to break down barriers that keep people apart.
Dare to fill your heart with love each day.
Dare to make this world a better place.
Graduating Class of 2010, Go forth into the world. Make use of your knowledge with a spirit of love.
Let that spirit flow outward like a river from a mountain.
Let it flow to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbours and fellow citizens, to one and all.
Live your life with love, and it will bear fruit.
Dr. Hawkins and esteemed members of the Board. Faculty, Staff and Graduating Class of 2010,
There is just one final duty I must perform here today and that is to give thanks to God for laying his hand on my life and on this University.
Troy University gave me vitally important things – skill, confidence, pride, discipline, compassion and an urge do what I can to make this world a better place.
Looking out on this great gathering, and seeing so many bright faces at the beginning of their great journey, I am filled with excitement and pride.
This is your time. This is your life. Work hard, do good, enjoy life.
God Bless America, God Bless Troy University and May God Bless OUR World with Peace and Love.
Thank you.
Kimpossible and his American friends!
Yo Kimbo! Did you mention your disgust that your Premier actually assisted the Obama administration in it’s effort to close down Guantanamo? What a hypocrite.
Um… I don’t think that THAT is what disgusted him.
I think it MIGHT have been our Premier lying to us and to the House that disgusted him… and the rest of us.
But you keep on rewriting history… see how that works out.
Congratulations Kim,
Your acceptance and then presenting the commencement speech to Troy was an honorable gesture and thanks for putting in a good word regarding Bermuda. How much did you receive for yourself or on behalf of Bermuda? We all know your stand regarding helping our American friends!!!! (For a price).