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Embrace technology. But don’t forget to connect with those around you on a personal level.

That was the message delivered by William Taubman Saturday, December 13, at University of Michigan-Dearborn. Taubman, chief operating officer of Taubman Centers Inc., spoke with graduates of the university’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters during one of two fall commencement ceremonies.

“Good things happen on this campus, magical things, because of the interactions of smart, curious people. When you think about the land on which this campus was developed, it has a distinguished history of innovation and human interaction,” he said, referring to the campus’ history as the home of Henry Ford.

“If you put smart people together in close proximity, great things happen. They need the tools and the resources to help do their work but at the end of the day it’s human capital—that’s all of you—that makes the difference.”

Taubman told graduates that thriving in a digital world would require creativity and a willingness to embrace the urgency of human nature.

In the morning ceremony, Andra Rush addressed graduates of the College of Business, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Education, Health, and Human Services. Rush, the founder and chairperson of the Rush Group family of companies grew her business from three trucks to one of the largest Native American-owned businesses in the U.S. She encouraged graduates to choose a path that makes them leap out of bed each morning and take action.

“Life is about doing something. We are all defined by what we do—not by what we say, not by what we say we’re going to do, not by what we hope to do,” she said.

The university conferred nearly 800 degrees Saturday, including 561 bachelor’s, 207 master’s and four doctoral degrees.

Five students also received the Chancellor’s Medallion Award Saturday in recognition of their strong academic record, quality of character, intellect and integrity:

• Livonia resident Roxana Laslau, College of Business
• Dearborn resident Ronnie Tront, College of Education, Health, and Human Services
• Novi resident Joseph Zywiol, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Redford resident Larry Lehna, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letter
• Redford resident Joseph Maurer, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

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