President Obama give UCI graduates their final words of advice before entering the real world

Ballpark lemonade salesmen streamed the aisles, spectators filled the seats and the stage was set for an epic performance at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Not for a regular season baseball game, mind you—the Angels are playing in Atlanta—but rather the 2014 commencement ceremony for graduates of the University of California, Irvine.

And while the baseball diamond might have been bereft of all-stars for one afternoon, the stadium hosted the biggest marquee star in all of politics: President Barack Obama.

Graduates, spectators and members of the media arrived well before 8 a.m. for the ceremony, which did not officially start until 10:34 a.m. Before actually getting into seats, graduates, spectators and members of the media had to go through airport-style security.

There was a sea of plastic white chairs throughout the field. White tents erected behind the stage seemed to form a tunnel toward the back of the stadium. There was a podium in the center of the stage with two teleprompters—one on each side. Two flags, one with the American colors and another with the Seal of the President of the United States, sat behind the podium.

Front and center would stand the leader of the free world, set to deliver remarks nearly 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson gave an address at a land dedication ceremony in June of 1964 that eventually led to the university's creation.

Streams of tweets and instructions on how to properly form the anteater hand signal played on video screens before the start of the ceremony. Two UCI a cappella groups – Vermillion Vocalists and Circle of Fifths – performed songs. It was an atmosphere befitting a baseball park. 

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According to the university, there were 8,599 total graduates – 6,614 of which were baccalaureate candidates. The top three undergraduate degrees earned were: the social sciences, social ecology and biological sciences.

Students were understandably excited, the energy palpable throughout the crowd. “President Obama’s presence on the UCI campus solidifies the University’s influence and prominence at the national level,” sad Cynthia Flores, a student at the university's law school.

The public address announcer’s voice came over the speakers at 10:34 and graduate students started to walk onto the field at 10:35 a.m. Pomp and Circumstance played as the female announcer walked the audience through famous graduates and faculty members.

What looked like a police helicopter flew overhead near the entrance. Anaheim police officers, private security guards, UCI graduation officials and Secret Service agents stood on the field during the procession. After Pomp and Circumstance finished, another song started. When that song finished, Prop and Circumstance started again – this time for the entering undergraduates.

Marine helicopters came into view during their descent at 11:09 a.m. Marine One appeared during its descent at 11:13 a.m. The undergraduates followed suit and started to pour on the field shortly thereafter.  

As school official began to introduce individuals who would be sitting on the graduation stage, the president's name was suspiciously absent. In a humorous error, Chancellor Michael Drake was called to the podium before UC President Janet Napolitano, former Secret of Homeland Security.

After the pecking order was rectified, applause filled the arena as President Obama made his walk to the platform sometime around 11:45 a.m. The podium was adorned with the seal of his office.  

After Drake and other school officials made their opening remarks—often referencing President Johnson and his impact on civil rights—the chancellor introduced the ceremony's keynote speaker. Drake awarded President Obama the UCI Medal, the university’s highest honor, to the president. It was time for the man of the hour to finally make his way to the podium and collect his prize.

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Obama congratulated the graduates, explaining that alumni had an “inside track” in getting him to come to this commencement, as his personal assistant is a UCI graduate.

“I’m here for a simple reason: you asked,” the president said. He explained the White House received 10,000 letters asking him to come, including one that read, “We are extremely underrated.” 

Obama explained that we have gone through tough times, but that this year’s graduates are stepping into a recovering job market.

“Don’t believe the cynicism,” said the president. Instead he advised graduates to embrace their legacy as the most digital savvy graduating class with the most optimistic view for the country’s future. 

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Obama then shifted the conversation towards climate change. He explained that people are worried about the effects of the changing climate, but that the main question remains “whether we have the will to act before it’s to late.” 

The president called UCI “ahead of the curve,” having reduced its energy use by 20 percent thanks to the work of the university's faculty and students.

He continued to explain that the graduates should be optimistic because California is using more and more solar power, and the United States has reduced its dependency on foreign oil. 

But, he said, there is still more that needs to be done.

Obama announced a “one billion dollar competitive fund,” which will be used "to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change and build more resilient infrastructure across the country." He went on to say this is difficult because there are people who still believe climate change is not real – including some Congress members.

“What’s the point of public office, if you’re not going to use your power to help solve problems?” asked the president, questioning those who hold office but are not helping. He also criticized the media for not trying to help solve the problem of climate change. TV news outlets, he said, discussed how certain issues would affect the election, rather than how to help solve the problems.

“When America proves what’s possible, then [developing countries are] going to join us,” said Obama, addressing the connection between economic and environmental issues. He said that the United States needs workers, “or in other words, we need you,” to help come up with solutions – from educating others to creating more efficient buildings and cars.

He asked the graduates to “believe in yourselves and believe in one another.”

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Obama drew attention to some of the graduates – a biomedical engineer who will be going to Cal Tech, a woman who worked as a seamstress who is now graduating from law school and a December alumnus who served in the Special Forces.

“Cynicism is a choice,” said President Obama. “Hope is a better choice.” 

He said that there are more 22-years-old than any other age group in the U.S. and he “cannot wait to see what you do.” 

The moment warranted the largest round of applause of the entire speech.

Because the president said “zot, zot, zot” wrong at the beginning, Drake, the chancellor, along with the graduates and members of the audience showed him how it do it properly. Nevertheless, the chancellor conceded Obama made this a “historic day” for the university. 

The president succeeded in sending his message of taking action, as he has emphasized from D.C. The question now is how much did the graduates and their families actually retain on this day of flowing adrenaline. We will know that in the future, when these young, educated minds enter the work force.

Contact Editor-at-Large Max Schwartz here.