Hard work being rewarded: Little 500 this weekend, commencements in May, reflect core values of a great institution

By Gerald Bepko, Interim President of Indiana University

On the surface, these athletic endeavors don’t seem central to our academic mission. But we must keep in mind that our core values include an unyielding pursuit of excellence and a commitment to collegiality.

If you closely watch the riders in the Little 500 races, you are bound to develop a great appreciation for how hard they have worked to achieve their goals. When many of us were staying inside and complaining about the weather this past winter, the best of the Little 500 competitors clearly were out there working through rain and snow in pursuit of the margin for success.

The competition in these races is intense, but riders also show true sportsmanship. Racing flat out in a crowded pack requires everyone to look out for others.

This year, the race will be presented live on high-definition television (HDTV) for the first time by HDNet, a network co-founded by IU alumnus Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks. It will provide a great chance to highlight a truly exciting ritual of spring here at IU. (See story, page A1)

Of course, hard work being rewarded is a theme of another spring ritual at our university that comes right on the heels of the Little 500—commencement. As interim president this year, I will have the opportunity to address nearly 15,000 IU graduates, along with their friends and family members, during commencement ceremonies at our eight campuses.

Included are nearly 15,000 stories of individual achievement, hard work and looking out for one another. Graduates cover a wide range of ages; they come from all different backgrounds; they pursue the widest possible variety of academic interests. They are united, however, in their understanding of the importance of higher education, the importance of achieving their goals and pursuing excellence.

It is always exciting to see this kind of dedication rewarded. I’m sure each of those students will be proud to receive a degree. I know I’ll be honored to be on hand to cheer for them.

http://www.indiana.edu/~pres/