Commencement 2004 at Portland State University

U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a celebrated civil rights leader, addressed the nearly 2,000 Portland State University graduates attending the University's spring commencement ceremony in the Rose Garden Arena on Saturday, June 12. Lewis urged graduates to "roll up your sleeves...now is your time to make your contribution to humanity. You have a mandate...to follow in the footsteps of those brave and courageous men and women who fought to make a difference." Read the full text of Lewis's address.

The 2004 graduating class of nearly 4,300 is the largest in the University's history. See pictures from the ceremony at the Rose Garden.

PSU President Daniel O. Bernstine challenged graduates to use "the knowledge you possess to make a difference—to yourself, to your family, to your communities...[y]ou embraced the PSU motto Let Knowledge Serve the City...and now you fulfill that mission through civic engagement."

Additional addresses were made by two students: Melissa Earll (B.S., Business) and Craig Riley (B.S., Biochemistry).