Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

On May 15th, former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) delivered the commencement address to the BSFS class of 2009, capping off a busy week of celebrations which included senior convocation, SFS tropaia, senior ball, and numerous events hosted by the programs and centers.

Enter your content here.Senator Hagel spoke of life’s highs and lows, drawing extensively from his own personal experience. He acknowledged the difficult times ahead and challenges we face at present, but ultimately delivered a message of hope, remarking that “the great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks and valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend.” Hagel also shared five lessons from his life with the graduating class (see inset box) and counseled those in attendance that “the longer you live, the more you will realize that the three indispensable requisites in life are faith, character and courage. Never lose them. Life is not worth much without them.”

Georgetown University president John J. DeGioia thanked graduates for bringing their “dreams, skills, and passions” to campus and congratulated them on all they had accomplished in their time at Georgetown. He encouraged the class of ’09 to stay in touch, and reminded them that the Georgetown community “will always be available as they continue their journeys, now beyond the Hilltop.”