“When you receive your diploma, you won’t just be getting a piece of paper with your name on it; you will have earned membership within a pantheon of graduates who’ve used what they’ve learned to make the world a better place,” Moore said. “And today I call on you, Coppin class of 2023, to own that tradition. I call on you to serve.”
Gov. Wes Moore delivers the 2023 commencement speech for Coppin State University. (Courtesy, The Office of Gov. Wes Moore)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivered his first commencement speech as state executive at Coppin State University’s 2023 graduation ceremony Friday.
He was also awarded the Coppin State University Presidential Medallion, which honors Fanny Jackson Coppin’s life of academic service.
In his speech, Moore referenced the “journalists, elected officials, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs” who graduated from Coppin.
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“When you receive your diploma, you won’t just be getting a piece of paper with your name on it; you will have earned membership within a pantheon of graduates who’ve used what they’ve learned to make the world a better place,” Moore said. “And today I call on you, Coppin class of 2023, to own that tradition. I call on you to serve.”
.@CoppinStateUniv Class of 2023, I’m humbled to be with you to celebrate your graduation. You are our future and this moment is a testament to your hard work.
As you enter the world remember to lift as you climb. And know that there is never a room you don’t belong in. pic.twitter.com/KUEqXbVrMH
He specifically called on the class of more than 400 graduates to serve the city of Baltimore, where the historically Black university is located.
“Today, you have before you a community that needs your service: Baltimore City,” Moore said.
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Moore told CBS in January that he had considered Baltimore his home since his mother moved there when he was 14 years old.
“I’m not a Baltimorean by birth; I’m a Baltimorean by choice,” Moore said.
His family also moved to Baltimore in 2016 before moving to Annapolis, Maryland’s capital, this year when he was sworn in as governor.
In his speech, Moore called Baltimore a misunderstood city, saying people “have worked to make Baltimore a descriptor of something nefarious, undisciplined and dark.”
“But here’s the Baltimore I know: I know a city that’s full of love. I know a city that’s full of heart. I know a city that unites people from all walks of life,” Moore said. “Now is the time for us to band together and unleash the full potential of this city — and I want you to know that you have a partner in the State House. Because for this to be Maryland’s decade, it needs to be Baltimore’s time.”
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Gov. Wes Moore hugs a Coppin State University graduate. (Courtesy the Office of Gov. Wes Moore)
Moore’s office also highlighted in the speech’s news release how Maryland’s 2024 budget dedicated $62.6 million to the state’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with Coppin State receiving $9 million.
Moore connected the graduates’ service to their community to his future goals for Maryland.
“By taking up a mantle of service, you will be able to participate in the movement that we are building.”
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One teen shot another during a dispute in a Maryland high school bathroom Friday in what authorities called an isolated incident.
The victim, a 15-year-old student at Joppatowne High School, was in serious condition after being airlifted to a hospital, the Harford County Public Schools said in a news release, citing information it received from the county sheriff’s department.
A 16-year-old student whom police identified as the shooter fled shortly afterward but was caught minutes later nearby, according to the news release. Officials said no information would be released immediately about the weapon, which had not been recovered.
The state’s attorney has said the suspect will be charged, the release said, citing Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler.
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Shortly after the shooting, the sheriff’s office asked people to avoid the area, but emphasized that the confrontation was an “isolated incident, not an active shooter.” A parent-student reunification center was established at a nearby church. More than 100 personnel responded to the high school about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Baltimore, Gahler said.
The fight happened two days after a shooter whom authorities identified as a 14-year-old student killed four people at a high school outside Atlanta. Wednesday’s attack renewed debate about safe storage laws for guns and had parents wondering how to talk to their children about school shootings and trauma.
Michigan State football heads out east looking to open Big Ten play with a big-time victory.
The Spartans will play at Maryland on Saturday afternoon in their first conference game of the year. Michigan State enters this matchup with a 1-0 record on the year following last week’s win over Florida Atlantic. Maryland is also 1-0 thus far on the season, picking up a blowout non-conference win over UConn last week.
Maryland enters this game as a more than touchdown favorite depending on the sports book. The Terps have won the last two meetings between these two schools.
Below are the details for Saturday’s matchup between the Spartans and Terps:
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Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET on September 7
Location: SECU Stadium (College Park, Md.)
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Listen: Spartan Media Network or MSUSpartans.com
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Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.
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