Author: Sydney Reade

Gabrielle Giffords ‘96 and her husband Mark Kelly will speak at Cornell’s 30^th Convocation Ceremony.

“I am thrilled and excited to announce that Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly will be our Convocation speakers for 2015,” Rachel Gerber ‘15, Convocation Chair, said. “Since this is Cornell’s sesquicentennial year, the Committee — a compilation of Student Assembly representatives, Class Council members and At-Large delegates — has found it fitting to chose [sic] an alumna of this University that not only embodies the Big Red spirit, but also a passion and determination that is unmatched. In their TED talk, Giffords said, ‘Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best’ and I believe that sentiment is in harmony with this year’s celebration.”

 

 

Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords earned a Masters Degree in Regional Planning at Cornell. The former Arizona senator and congresswoman was shot in the head in 2011 in Tucson, Arizona in an assassination attempt while meeting publicly with constituents. She resigned from Congress a year later despite a remarkable recovery through which she gained back most of her motor and speech functions. Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut, commanded the Space Shuttle Endeavour in May 2011 for its final flight. Kelly and Giffords penned a memoir together entitled Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope about her struggle and recovery, which became a national bestseller. The two remain active in politics as gun control advocates through their organization Americans for Responsible Solutions. 

 

 

A departure from last year’s speaker, actor and comedian Ed Helms, Giffords joins a long line of politicians that have spoken at Convocation including Bill Clinton in 2004, Nancy Pelosi in 2010, and Corey Booker in 2012. This will mark the first time Cornell has hosted two simultaneous speakers for Convocation. Giffords has touched many facets of American life, from working in regional planning, to heading her family’s business as CEO, to becoming the youngest female senator elected in Arizona.

Cornell University will hold the Senior Class Convocation on May 23, 2015 in Schoellkopf Stadium at 12:00 p.m., beginning Cornell’s Sesquicentennial commencement weekend.