UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 05.14.21

Dear Team:

One of the most revered spring traditions is that of commencement. Whether it’s from college, high school, junior high, or even kindergarten, graduations are a rite of passage that mark new beginnings for hundreds of thousands of students and families every year. Although the pandemic has impacted how many commencement ceremonies are being conducted for a second consecutive year, there is still a great joy to be found in the notes of Pomp and Circumstance.

At the University of Illinois, we are excited to be sending approximately 20,000 new alumni into the world to join the nearly 800,000 who are already there. Over the last 14 months, our 2021 graduates endured some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable for college students. Yet, they are still emerging with an Illinois degree that will impact their status and station in life long into the future. And that is something for all of us to be proud of!

To those of you who have a graduate in your family this year, congratulations! Your hard work is paying off. No one who earns a diploma does it without the support of many others. I also offer a hearty thank you to all of you who work hard every day to help advance the University of Illinois.  Everyone in our advancement enterprise plays some role in the experiences of our Illinois students. As we celebrate commencement, it is an appropriate time to also celebrate our entire University of Illinois community. Kudos to our graduates, faculty, staff, and university leaders for a job well done!

Have a great weekend, and cheers to the Class of 2021!

Jim