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Campus Review
January 10, 2012
Page 6
Mayor Shirley Franklin in the second cer-
emony.
Benham based his address on poetry;
specifically, “A Bag of Tools,” by R.L.
Sharpe, a poem about contributions to
society by all levels of society. Benham
noted that the tools that Clayton State
graduates were bringing to society, in
addition to their education, should include
sharing, caring and sacrifice.
“Clayton State University has prepared
you well, you will have the tools for suc-
cess,” he said, after noting that he person-
ally knows something about that path,
since he started out shining shoes in an
Atlanta barber shop, and ended up, “shin-
ing in the halls of justice.”
Franklin showed that, although she may
be the former mayor of Atlanta, she still
knows how to work a crowd, charging the
graduates in a dynamic address to seize
both opportunities and challenges.
“The world needs you seizing the oppor-
tunities of the day,” she exhorted. “You,
the graduates of Clayton State University
are the ones to take on the challenges and
seize them.
“Never doubt the impact you will have.
What you decide, counts. What you will do
will make a difference in the world. Create
that future outside of the academy.”
Franklin also spoke on the value of educa-
tion, noting that, as young girl, she was
shy and sat in the back of the class, keep-
ing her opinions to herself.
“My…” she commented with a sense of
timing honed from eight years in the
mayor’s office. “What an education can
do!”
Vigil has been affiliated with the Ford
Motor Company since 1971, when he
Commencement, cont’d. from p. 1
Commencement, cont’d., p. 7