Ellen Rocco on Behalf of North Country Public Radio

Remarks to Graduates - May 20, 2018

Anyone who has children knows that successful parenting is about letting go—from the first day at nursery school to this moment of college graduation. We all try to give our children guidance and resources, but then, we must let them fly. We do not own our children.

Today is a day of flight for the students receiving their degrees. For North Country Public Radio, celebrating 50 years of providing a public media service to the region—fact-based news, in-depth features, content to engage our audiences’ curiosity—it is a day to take note of the arc of the station’s flight over the past 5 decades. To draw a loose analogy—SLU has been the wise parent—providing resources but always allowing the station to fly as an independent journalism entity. As it must be.

I am honored to accept this citation on behalf of all who work at the station, on behalf of our audience members and our supporters. Our success has been a collaborative effort. Today, I’m looking up—all of you are taking off, and if NCPR can be a model for your success, reach forward and fly high…ever higher.

Congratulations!