Governor Offers Encouragement to Grads Amid Bleak Job Market

SPECIAL TO THE BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

WISE, Va. – Gloomy economy and shrinking job market aside, the future offers reason for optimism, Gov. Timothy Kaine told the Class of 2009 at the University of Virginia College at Wise.

“You’ve taught me to be more optimistic about tomorrow,” Kaine told the 299 graduates at Carl Smith Stadium on Saturday. “I see in you a public spirit. I see openness, resilience and a community spirit. I congratulate all of these graduates. Because of all the preparation, love and care you have received, we are expecting very much out of you.”

As the keynote speaker for the ceremony, Kaine said he has learned much from interacting with students during his 15 years in public office. He also said education is the most essential thing a government can do.

The importance of learning was a theme carried through the day, in speeches by the graduates and College Chancellor David J. Prior, who reminded the graduates that they are a part of the growing culture of education in the region. Prior urged each one to pass the gift of learning to others.

Each graduate received a copy of the book “The Little Engine That Could” as a gift from the college and the Napoleon Hill Foundation. Prior asked the graduates to encourage a child to dream of going to college by reading the book to a youngster in the coming week.

Kaine, who helped get a $1.6 billion bond package approved last year to improve access to public education, told the crowd that Virginia has succeeded in higher education, but there is room for improvement.

“We have to do a lot better,” he said. “There is no successful future for us as a nation if we just basically put a ceiling on higher education. We have to get better at it. That is where UVa-Wise comes in, because this school got started precisely to deal with that issue.”

In 1954, when the college opened, Virginia had a small percentage of its young people in college compared to other states, the governor said. As a result, Virginia was ranked 36th in the nation in per capita income. Today, he said, Virginia has strong educational programs from kindergarten through higher education, and now ranks fifth in the nation in per capita income.

The investment Virginia makes in higher education will keep the state strong, he said.

UVa-Wise is part of that effort, Kaine said, pointing to the fact that the college is the only one in Virginia offering software engineering degrees. The college on Saturday graduated its first software engineering program students.

Kaine’s father-in-law, former Gov. Linwood Holton, a native of Big Stone Gap, also attended the ceremony. Holton was governor during the college’s fledgling years, and he told the crowd he was honored to visit and see the campus’s growth and development.Also speaking Saturday, graduate Stephanie Ring reminded her classmates that this is not a day of finality.

“Learning is a continuous process and experience is a great teacher, but only if you are willing to learn its lessons,” Ring said. “Look back on all that you have achieved, all that you have accomplished and be proud.”

And Andrew Maggard told his fellow graduates that the class of 2009 will face more obstacles and challenges than others of recent times. An ailing economy and inadequate national leadership has resulted in fewer jobs for today’s graduates, Maggard said.

“But before we begin to criticize those who we feel have failed us, we need to realize we are the future leaders,” Maggard said. “Therefore, I challenge you to harness your anger and frustration and let it motivate you to become the kind of leader that can deliver the change that is so desperately needed.”