Chancellor Lenczowski, President Woś, Dean Robbins, faculty, alumni, students, and honored guests of The Institute of World Politics. I am incredibly honored to stand before you today, and I thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the IWP Class of 2025.
I would like to begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations to all of my fellow graduates. This is a remarkable achievement, and each of you should take immense pride in the dedication and perseverance that brought you to this moment. Today marks the culmination of a long and challenging journey—one defined by both triumphs and trials. Your presence here today is a testament to both your academic resilience and steadfast commitment to upholding the values of the American founding.
As we prepare to walk across the stage, let us remember that this achievement is not ours alone. It is a shared triumph—made possible by the love, support, and sacrifices of our family and loved ones—those living and those who are no longer with us—for this accomplishment also belongs to them. I would like to personally thank God, my parents, my sister, my girlfriend, and my loved ones both in Northwest Arkansas and Mexico for their encouragement and support these past two years.
To be frank, when I was asked to deliver this address, my initial thought was whether I was truly worthy of standing before you as valedictorian. As a remote graduate student, I was not able to partake in many of the exceptional on-campus opportunities and extracurricular activities. I was worried that I could not possibly connect with you. However, as I reflected more deeply on my time at IWP, I realized that despite the miles between us, I still formed a meaningful connection with IWP and, more importantly, with its mission. Despite the diversity of our experiences—whether in-person or online—we are united by a shared dedication to the study and practice of statecraft and national security. We have all emerged from this program with a profound appreciation for the principles of the American Founding and the Western moral tradition. What binds us is a common vocation: the calling to prevent international conflicts and to shape policy in pursuit of peace and justice.
I would like to share with you a reflection by a personal hero of mine: St. John Paul II. In an address to scientists and scholars in 1981, he spoke of the profound responsibility that scholars and scientists bear in an international climate marked by conflict. He affirmed (and I quote):
“The scientific, cultural and university world has an eminent part to play […] As scholars and researchers, you represent an international community, with a task that can be decisive for the future of humanity. […] The building of a more united international community is not just a dream or a vain ideal. It is a moral imperative, a sacred duty, one that the intellectual and spiritual genius of man can face.”
I firmly believe that St. John Paul II’s address—delivered 43 years ago—remains profoundly relevant amidst the current state of global affairs. He emphasized the critical juncture at which humanity stands and entrusted us—as scholars and future national security leaders—with the responsibility of shaping policies and strategies to help build a better world for future generations.
Today, our world is marked by uncertainty, despair, escalation, moral relativism, and conflict. Our studies at IWP have taught us to confront the world as it is, not as how we wish it to be. These last few years, we have examined the noblest achievements of civilization. Yet, we have also studied the darker chapters of human history: authoritarianism, ideological extremism, genocide, war, and the ever-present threat of nuclear disaster.
IWP has equipped us with the intellectual tools, historical lessons, and moral framework to face today’s national security challenges. Whether we fully realize it or not, once we leave this ceremony, we will step into roles as national security professionals. We will be charged with the responsibility to pursue truth, to advocate for the ethical application of power, and to uphold realist yet just national objectives. May we carry that responsibility with integrity, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to the principles we have studied so diligently.
Once again, congratulations on this marvelous achievement. I look forward to following your careers, and I wish you all great success in your future endeavors.
Thank you very much, and may God bless you and your careers.