Welcome (2015)
CommunicationsEducationPublic InterestThe Event
Thank you. It is with an immense amount of pride and joy that I welcome you all to the second annual convening of Frank. And even though we’ve only hosted this gathering for two years, it feels like we’ve been at it a very long time. And that’s because of the amazing Ann Cristiano and her army of volunteers. We are so grateful to all of them. They’ve worked very, very hard, as you can tell. Now, most of you know that our program in Public Interest Communications was conceived by Frank Carell, who would qualify for Gator St. Hood if there were such a thing. Frank’s vision was to create a program around social advocacy that accomplished both education and community building. And he left us with a brilliant strategy for doing this. It’s one that continues to propel us forward five years later after Ann took the first Carell chair and still, of course, is in that position. And it’s what Frank may not have foreseen, or perhaps he did, but we didn’t foresee it, is how this program would be at the crossroads of so many priorities of this college and the professions that we serve. It is where crusading journalism meets social advocacy, where digital passes the baton or takes the baton from traditional media, and where a generation that desired to achieve hands down to a generation that wants to make the world a better place. Perhaps the real beauty of this program, though, is the fact that it brings all of us together to consider what possibilities lie ahead. And I think that’s the crux of it. We are so very proud to be the center of this movement, and we’re committed to continuing to invest in its growth and to try to realize all the possibilities that are in front of us. But the truth of the matter is the momentum is up to you. It is in your hands to determine how far this can go. And that’s why I’m so very, very happy that you’re here. We want to welcome you to Gainesville. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest while you’re here, and go, Cruz. Thank you. Thank you, Jason.