ASU President Michael Crow urged the new graduate professionals at Desert Financial Arena on December 11 to counteract negative social media and news by doing something meaningful and broadening their perspectives.

More than 11,000 ASU students earned degrees during fall 2023. Two-thirds of that total were undergraduates and the remainder earned graduate degrees. Of that total, nearly 1,500 are international students, an 11% increase over last fall, and 4,600 are Arizona residents. About 5,800 took classes through ASU Online, including the almost 1,000 Starbucks College Achievement Plan graduates.

In his commencement address, Crow also told the graduating class, “We are here to recognize your focus on the future. We are here to protect and defend the future.”

Optimism radiated throughout the arena as Crow encouraged the new graduates, “You wouldn’t be sitting here today if you didn’t believe in the future and in all that it has to offer.”

“You can’t be discouraged…You can’t be beaten down.”

🔔 Subscribe:    / asu  

About ASU:
Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the country’s most innovative school, Arizona State University is where students and faculty work with NASA to develop, advance and lead innovations in space exploration. ASU graduates more than 20,000 thinkers, innovators and master learners every year. Take a deeper look at how ASU is building the next generation of leaders at https://www.asu.edu/about.

Connect with Arizona State University:
Visit ASU's website: https://www.asu.edu/
Follow ASU on Facebook:   / arizonastateuniversity  
Follow ASU on Twitter:   / asu  
Follow ASU on Instagram:   / arizonastateuniversity  
Connect with ASU on LinkedIn:   / arizona-state-university