Remarks by Richard J. Riordan

Thank you very much, President Upham, and faculty…mucho gracias.  They say behind every great woman is a strong man.  While watching my wife, Nancy, work ten to twelve hours every day on behalf of children who have been dealt a bad hand in life, quite honestly has worn me out.  But I am humbled and honored to stand with her today at this great institution.  It is truly a great honor to become part of this great university.  Claremont Graduate University and its alumnus represent the best our world has to offer.  You are joining an elite group of leaders.  You have truly been given the tools to do great things for society. 

I believe every child that comes into this world has a God-given right to the tools to compete in the world, equality education and quality health care.  Yet in California alone, over seven million people do not have health insurance.  This is outrageous!  In the large cities of America, a poor six year old has only a 12 percent chance to read and write at the eighth grade level by the time they are 18 years old.  This makes Nancy and I truly angry and should make you even angrier, so angry that you will go out and do something about it. 

The secret of success in life can be wrapped up in two words:  courage and giving.  Courage implies fear, for after all, how could you be a hero unless you’re afraid?  Only a fool can approach difficult situations without fear that they will fail.  So just do it.  Do it in little things to start out with, like getting up in the morning, starting exercise, starting your term papers; or big things, like changing careers.  Paraphrasing Peter Drucker, “Every great accomplishment in business or government starts out with a courageous act by only one human being.”  Giving - it is the best cure for depression.  It’s getting outside of yourself.  It can also start with little things like befriending the class nerd, mentoring a poor child, or a big thing like giving $10 million to Claremont Graduate University. 

So let me close by repeating that each of you has been given the tools to be great.  Use them well.  Never stop questioning and learning.  Don’t let fear stop you from acting.  Be courageous every day.  Remember the words of the Rabbi Hillell who said, “If not now, when?  If not me, who?”  The “now” is now; the “me” is each and every one of us. 

Thank you very, very much for this wonderful honor.  Thank you.