This year’s graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University have redefined the American dream, university President Michael Rao told a packed audience in opening VCU’s commencement ceremony last Saturday.

“Your scholarship, discoveries, advocacy and volunteerism are all redefining the American dream to be more inclusive and cognizant that we live in a world that has changed dramatically since writer James Truslow Adams penned the phrase in 1931,” President Rao said.

“Proof of change taking place is in front of us and VCU is where the redefined American dream happens,” he said.

Nearly 5,000 graduates received professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates at the university-wide ceremony, bringing the number of VCU alumni to more than 200,000, according to the VCU public affairs office.

This year’s main ceremony took place for the first time at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The spring commencement had been conducted at the Richmond Coliseum since 1972. But with the future of the Coliseum now put on hold by the City of Richmond, events are no longer being scheduled there.

VCU officials initially announced in October that the university-wide ceremony would be canceled because the usual venue wouldn’t be available. But after student protests, the decision was reversed.

Saturday’s commencement had a different feel to it, with families and friends seated on the floor of the long, rectangular shaped Convention Center event space. But that didn’t deter graduates or attendees or dampen their spirit.

“It doesn’t matter to me where the venue is. I am just so happy to be graduating,” said Jamari Blackwell of Hanover County, who earned a degree in kinesiology and health sciences.

The keynote speaker, Andrew C. Florance, founder and chief executive officer of CoStar Group, urged graduates to turn adversity into strength.

CoStar Group is a leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and marketing services in the United States, Canada and several Western European nations. The company, headquartered in Washington, has its operations and global research headquarters in Richmond offices overlooking the James River in Downtown.

As CEO of the company, he leads a team of more than 3,700 employees in 100 offices operating 25 companies, including CoStar, Apartments.com, LoopNet, BizBuySell.com and Lands of America. 

Mr. Florance told the audience about the adversity and major challenges he faced as a youngster growing up in Richmond. He was homeless at age 7, missing more than two years of school. The Richmond Police took custody of him in 1971, one of the last times he would ever see his mother, he said.

At age 12, Mr. Florance was admitted to a music school in New York City, where he said he learned the invaluable lesson of striving for perfection and loathing mediocrity.

With the support of others, a little bit of luck, education and a lot of hard work, his life turned around and led him to where he is today.

He founded CoStar Group from his dorm room as an undergraduate student at Princeton University. Last year, half a billion people from 70 countries used CoStar Group’s websites to rent, buy, analyze or finance a trillion dollars of real estate.

“We all face adversity,” Mr. Florance said. “Adversity can set you back or it can be channeled as a source of strength and motivation. Your choice.”

He said one teacher in particular, Gordon H. Clem, the late headmaster of Saint Thomas Choir School, made all the difference in his life.

“Do not wait. Today is an exceptionally good day to thank someone who has changed the trajectory of your life,” he told the VCU graduates.

“The vast majority of great melodies are yet to be played, the majority of great paintings have yet to be painted, the majority of great companies have yet to be founded, and the most powerful ideas have yet to be imagined,” Mr. Florance told the graduates. “I captured a new idea that no one had thought of, and each of you still have exactly the same opportunity.”

Mr. Florance was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the ceremony, recognizing his contributions to society through scholarship, humanitarianism, science, art and public service.

Additionally, Sarah S. Izabel, a native of Brazil and member of the VCU Class of 2020, received the 2019 VCU Board of Visitors Award, which is given to an undergraduate student who represents academic achievement, leadership and service to the university and community.

Miss Izabel, who is pursuing a double major in biology and psychology with the intent of earning a Ph.D. in neuroscience, is the mother of a young son and has used the challenges she has faced as opportunities to demonstrate determination, officials said. The honors student has received a research award from the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program and serves as VCU’s representative to the State Council for Higher Education.

As this year’s recipient, Miss Izabel will receive a one-year scholarship in the amount equal to in-state tuition and fees.

The university’s Edward A. Wayne Medal, which honors those who have made outstanding contributions or provided exemplary services to VCU, was awarded to William “Bill” and Marsha C. Ginther and Paul A. Gross.

The Ginthers also serve on the steering committee for the university’s “Make It Real Campaign.”

Mr. Gross, a professor emeritus and former executive-in-residence in the VCU College of Health Professions, had a 30-year career in health administration that was capped by his work as president of the hospital division of Humana Inc. His philanthropic efforts for the university for more than 30 years include establishing the Paul A. Gross Distinguished Leadership Lecture series and the Paul A. and Veronica H. Gross Achievement in Nursing Award with his wife, Veronica.

The Presidential Medallion, which recognizes extraordinary achievement in learning and commitment to the mission of VCU, was awarded to Dr. Francis L. Macrina, whose career at VCU has spanned more than 45 years. He was founding director of the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research and a former interim director of the Massey Cancer Center. He also served as the university’s vice president for research and innovation from 2005 to 2018.