Commencement speaker Congressman Tim Ryan
MUM President John Hagelin
Carl Stone
Valedictorian Tal Ron, BA in business
Salutatorian Kennidy Stood, BA in Consciousness-Based community development
Maharishi University of Management celebrated its 42nd commencement on June 24, graduating 579 students, including 460 graduate students and 119 undergraduate students (48 from Maharishi Invincibility Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa)—the most in MUM’s history.
U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio’s 13th District delivered the commencement address. Congressman Ryan has served eight consecutive terms in the House of Representatives since 2003 and has taken a national leadership role in improving access to healthcare, promoting ways to make college more affordable, and expanding renewable energy. He has also raised awareness about the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique® and is working to make it accessible to hundreds of thousands of veterans.
In his speech, Congressman Ryan challenged the graduates to find innovative solutions to the seemingly intractable problems facing the world by first developing the full creative potential of their consciousness. He then encouraged them to become leaders in creating an equitable economy, a prevention-based health care system, a sustainable environment, and to become promoters of peace.
“Graduates, we are living in a moment that calls out for you, because you are those rare positive disruptors—creative, open, smart, self-driven, resilient, fearless,” Congressman Ryan said. “You are the modern-day explorers. Your meditation practice will assist you in navigating the turbulent waters of modern society. Your Consciousness-Based education has prepared you to take your place among those leaders who are redefining the rules and changing the way we all see things. Our nation and the world desperately need you now.”
Congressman Ryan also urged graduates not to get distracted by the perpetual, and often divisive, noise of the media that can disconnect them from their environment, their neighbors, and themselves. ”We’ve become so in love with our distractions that we’ve forgotten one simple, important truth: underneath all the noise, we’re all the same.”
Following Congressman Ryan’s speech, MUM president Dr. John Hagelin presented him with the University’s Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree.
“On behalf of the entire Maharishi University of Management community, we are honored to celebrate your great achievements in government and your wise leadership in helping to create a healthier, happier, more peaceful and prosperous nation and world,” Dr. Hagelin said. “We know that you are at the beginning of a brilliant career of impactful leadership, with many far greater national and global achievements yet to come.”
In addition, Dr. Hagelin presented Carl Stone with an Honorary Doctorate in Maharishi Vedic ScienceSM for his work over the past 25 years helping to revive the knowledge of the Maharishi Vedic Observatory, including the design, construction, and funding of a Maharishi Vedic Observatory on the Maharishi University of Management campus.
Dr. Hagelin also announced MUM’s decision to join the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment, which he signed on stage during the Commencement ceremonies. In addition to energy conservation and transition to a solar-powered campus, MUM is now prepared to offer its new Regenerative Organic Agriculture Program to farmers in the Midwest and throughout America, to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through cutting edge soil and agricultural science.