BOULDER — University of Colorado at Boulder graduate Trevor Rehm said he feels “honored” to have a full-time, post-college job lined up.
“It’s a scary time,” acknowledged Rehm, who double-majored in economics and environmental studies and landed a job with a software firm.
A green cord over his gown signaled his pledge that he’ll be environmentally conscientious, and, for Rehm, that means eco-friendly habits like commuting to work by bike.
CU awarded 5,282 degrees Friday morning at its spring commencement. Graduates said they are braced for the uncertain economy, with many of them taking time off to go abroad, apply for graduate school or patiently search for jobs.
Kristen Jorgensen, who earned a communications degree, said she’ll spend the summer in Boulder before moving to San Francisco with friends and scouring for jobs.
“I’m going to take it slow,” she said. “I’m not in a rush in this kind of economy.”
Hannah Polow, an environmental studies and political studies graduate, said she is taking a year off to travel to Latin America. She will eventually pursue master’s and law degrees.
Polow said she feels like it is difficult to secure a good job with just a bachelor’s degree, but the recession makes it even tougher.
John Roberts, co-anchor of CNN’s “American Morning” program, began his commencement address by telling the graduates to congratulate themselves for their hard work.
“Give yourself an explosion of emotion,” he told them, setting off a roar of laughter and cheers.
Then, he moved to a more serious message: “Times are not just tough,” he said. “They are really tough.”
Roberts — who in the 1980s was a music journalist interviewing rock and pop stars — said it was his dream to be a correspondent for a big network. He joined CNN in 2006 after spending more than 14 years with CBS News, where he served as its chief White House and chief medical correspondent.
Roberts urged the graduates to be humble, have fun and learn something new every day — advice he borrowed from his co-worker Wolf Blitzer.
“Show us there is a different way to run the world,” Roberts said before graduates responded to him with a standing ovation.
The crowd honored 43 graduates in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, who were set to be commissioned after graduation.
The university also recognized six undergraduates — all young women from Colorado — who earned straight As throughout college.
CU graduated a half-dozen students at its first ceremony in 1882, and those graduates started the alumni association. There are now more than 250,000 alumni.
