As prepared for delivery at the 2026 Commencement of Franklin & Marshall College

President, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, families and friends, and most importantly, the Class of 2026.

What an honor it is to stand with you on this milestone day. Today is the result of your years of effort, sacrifice, discipline, and growth. You didn’t just complete a degree. You navigated uncertainty, global disruption, and a world that refused to slow down while you were figuring out who you are becoming. That matters. Take a moment and own that achievement.

Commencement is both a celebration and a transition. It’s a moment where the structure that shaped your days gives way to something far less predictable. And while that can feel intimidating, it should also feel empowering. Because the truth is, you are far more prepared than you may realize. 

Roughly, a third of you are student-athletes, and you understand something that translates directly into life after today. You don’t win on game day, you win in preparation. Early mornings. Weight rooms. Film sessions. Reps that nobody applauds. Discipline without recognition.

Whether or not you competed in athletics, you learned the same lesson here at Franklin & Marshall. Through labs, libraries, internships, leadership roles, group projects and difficult conversations. You learned how to prepare, how to adjust, and how to persevere. Different arenas, same training.

Here’s an important takeaway as you leave the campus of Franklin and Marshall: What you’ve learned here is transferable to the new normal you are about to live.

Time management. Accountability. Communication. Collaboration. Teamwork. Learning how to accept feedback...how to recover from failure...how to lead when it’s your turn and support when it’s not. These skills don’t disappear after graduation. They mature and grow stronger.

Athletes understand this instinctively. You don’t play the whole season in one quarter. You execute the next play. You trust the preparation. You make adjustments. Life works the same way. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to solve everything at once. Set a plan. Commit to it. Measure progress honestly. Adjust when necessary.

I learned these lessons early in my own journey. When I was drafted into the National Football League, it didn’t take long to realize that everyone at that level is talented. What separated lasting playing careers from those that didn’t was preparation, discipline, and the willingness to keep learning. Later, in transitioning from the field into corporate leadership, the same truth followed me. The uniform changed, the expectations changed, but the habits remained. Preparation was still the difference.

There will be opportunities ahead, where you won’t have perfect clarity. You won’t know if it’s the right role, the right organization, or the right timing. That’s okay. Growth often lives just beyond certainty. Some of my most meaningful decisions came without a full playbook. What mattered was character, preparation, the people who were close advisors, and my non-negotiables.

You may have different non-negotiables. These are mine and they have served me well: My walk with Jesus Christ is a non-negotiable. My commitment to my family is a non-negotiable. I stand against any form of violence toward women and girls. I do not negotiate with lazy people. It’s Excellence or nothing.

My future isn’t based on fear — it’s based on faith. Let me offer you this encouragement. Do not be hindered by the fear of getting it wrong. Have faith and stand strong on it. Not everything will go the way you want it, but understand that failure is not a destination. It’s part of the process. Learn from it. Own it. Improve because of it. Setbacks are not signals to stop, they are opportunities to grow stronger. No fear.

In your next chapter, as you have learned well here on the grounds of Franklin and Marshall, leadership will be part of your life, whether you seek it or not. You will lead teams, families, organizations, classrooms, and communities. Leadership is not about position. It’s about service. It’s about responsibility. It’s about what you tolerate, what you model, and how you treat people when no one is keeping score.

You don’t have to wait until you’re established to make a difference. Influence doesn’t start with a title. It starts with intention. Serve the people in front of you. Know your neighbors. Invest in your community. Show up consistently. Society doesn’t change through headlines alone. It changes through everyday decisions made by people who understand that excellence and compassion belong together.

No matter where life takes you, anchor yourself to principles that endure--integrity, respect, responsibility, and service to others. Those values, here at Franklin and Marshall, travel well, across industries, communities, and generations.

Athletics teach another lesson worth carrying forward. You can’t control the weather, the opponent, or every call. But you can control your effort, your preparation, and your response. Life will present unfair moments. Don’t let them define you. Respond with discipline. Respond with integrity. Respond with resolve. One truth never changes. The will to prepare to win separates good from great. Talent opens doors. Preparation keeps them open. Commitment sustains them.

Stay teachable. The moment you think you’ve arrived is the moment you stop growing. Ask questions. Seek counsel. Be honest with yourself. Inspect your habits as carefully as you inspect your goals.

And remember this, none of us succeed alone. Isolation weakens purpose. Community strengthens it. Choose your circle wisely. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, support you, and hold you accountable. People of integrity and character.

Class of 2026, you are ready. Not because the road ahead is easy, but because you have been prepared well here at Franklin and Marshall. Step forward with purpose. Play your position well. Lift others as you climb. And when your moment comes, be your best when your best is required. Congratulations. Well done. And welcome to what’s next.