At Valediction, Jim Ryan shares a simple message: Do the right thing

“Do the right thing. Always.”

That was the message President Emeritus Jim Ryan shared Friday afternoon with the University of Virginia’s Class of 2026 at Valedictory Exercises, kicking off Finals Weekend.

Ryan, who resigned as president last summer and will return to the faculty after taking a sabbatical, told the class he understood speeches do not live on in people’s memories, so he would keep his message short. 

“My hope is that this simple message will stick with you and help strengthen your resolve whenever you face the question, as you have before and will again, of whether to do the right thing,” he said to a large audience at John Paul Jones Arena.

“If I had to boil it down to its essence, I believe that doing the right thing means living your values, even when it’s hard and even when no one is looking,” he said. “And it means making choices that are not about your personal gain, but instead about someone else or something bigger than yourself – a community, a cause, a principle.”

The law professor said one’s values might come from their family, faith, culture or UVA’s honor system.

“You might have a long list of values, or your values might be summed up by the Golden Rule,” Ryan said from the podium. “Regardless, doing the right thing means acting in ways consistent with those values. It also means making decisions that are not all about you and your personal welfare.”

President Scott Beardsley, at his first Valediction ceremony, congratulates the Class of 2026. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

The Class of 2026 invited Ryan to headline the event. The University’s ninth president praised them for leaving UVA better than they found it by volunteering in the community, supporting one another and speaking out when they saw injustice. 

“You have my deepest thanks,” he concluded. “Thank you for doing the right thing, over and again. Keep doing just that. Always.”

‘Make haste to be kind’

This year’s recipient of the Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience is McIntire School of Commerce professor Carrie M. Heilman, who died of cancer in February at age 54.

Matt Heilman presents this year’s Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience to his mother, Carrie M. Heilman, a commerce professor who died in February at age 54. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Her son, Matthew, a member of the Class of 2026, presented the award posthumously at Valediction, citing her many contributions to the University. He noted she was a friend, colleague, professor, wife and mother. “In each, she exuded grace, intelligence, steadfastness and humility, remaining authentically herself in her many vocations,” he said.

He closed by quoting a passage from French writer Henri-Frédéric Amiel. He read, “Life is short, and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh, be swift to love, make haste to be kind.”

Class gift

The Class of 2026 presented President Scott Beardsley a check for $58,714 at Valediction, a University tradition. “We are pleased to announce that this year, more than half of the class of 2026 participated in the class gift,” said Kailyn Dickerson, a co-chair of the Class Giving Committee. “These 2,372 students donated to 472 different allocations across Grounds.”

Class Giving Committee Co-Chairs Kailyn Dickerson and Wyatt Packer flank Beardsley after presenting the class gift. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Beardsley thanked the class for this gift. “I want to thank this year’s trustees for their leadership and to congratulate this year’s award winners. And ladies and gentlemen, please join me also in thanking and giving a huge round of applause to today’s speakers, including President Emeritus Jim Ryan,” he said to great applause.

Commissioning ceremony

Earlier Friday at Old Cabell Hall, a third generation of the de Marcellus family was commissioned into the U.S. Army. Robert L. de Marcellus joined more than two dozen ROTC classmates in a commissioning ceremony for Wahoos heading to service in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

Robert de Marcellus’ father, retired Col. Roland de Marcellus, and his grandfather, retired Col. Robert X. de Marcellus, both attended the ceremony in Army dress uniforms. The grandfather, a Korean War veteran and Silver Star recipient, administered the oath of office to his grandson just ahead of the formal ceremony.

Retired U.S. Army Col. Robert X. de Marcellus stands with his grandson, Robert L. de Marcellus. The elder de Marcellus administered the oath of office to his grandson, who is joining the Army, just ahead of the formal commissioning ceremony. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

The newly minted second lieutenant said his father and grandfather both motivated him to serve, particularly his grandfather. “He’s very inspiring,” the youngest de Marcellus said of his grandfather, who was commissioned in 1951. “He’s a great example and an outstanding person, both in the Army and out.”

Next up

Finals Weekend continues Saturday, when the students from the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the School of Education and Human Development walk the Lawn. 

On Sunday, graduates from the schools of Architecture, Continuing and Professional Studies, Data Science, Engineering and Applied Science, Law, Medicine, Nursing, the Darden School of Business and the McIntire School of Commerce will process.