To be brave and strong and true
And to fill the world with love my whole life through
These lyrics, sung by several family members of outgoing President Eric B. Shumway, expressed the overall message delivered at Thursday's Graduation Banquet held in the Cannon Activities Center.
"This will be my last opportunity to speak to you graduates," said President Shumway, who is retiring with his wife, Carolyn, to serve as president and matron of the Latter-day Saint Temple in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. "Every time I have addressed a graduating class over the last 13 years, I've had only one great desire, namely that somehow in the relief or joy of actually graduating, the rejoicing with friends and loved ones, that every graduate can feel deeply – like fire in your bones – your sacred responsibility to leave this campus and serve with all your hearts in the world, in your families, and in your Church."
These words were warmly received by the many soon-to-be graduates, alumni, and university ohana who were present to hear not only from the head of the university, but also from five of the Shumway's seven children who were in attendance; all seven of which are graduates of BYU-Hawaii.
The program became almost like a Shumway family home evening as many of the children, who now all have families of their own, reflected on their experiences in Laie and their education at the university.
One of the children, Aaron, recalled a time when a "certain unnamed professor" taught him a valuable lesson in an English class.
"I thought I was a pretty good writer…and I remember staring at the back page of my first paper that I had turned into that professor. The grade was a B--. That's right, there were two minuses! When I asked that professor what that grade was he smiled and replied, 'Generous.'"
Following several talks and a musical number from members of the family, President and Sister Shumway delivered their final messages to the graduates.
"As my last address to you graduates I would like to offer what some of you know as my favorite symbol for higher education," he said. "That is the breadfruit and the breadfruit tree. It is the staff of life, the original Polynesian "giving tree."
He continued, "The breadfruit tree is the perfect icon for continuous education because like the tree, education is what nourishes our society, especially spiritually. I love the breadfruit tree because of its conceptual capturing of what education is supposed to do for us…It reflects the feeding of thousands...
"Like education, because it has such a powerful life force in itself, it springs spontaneously and produces abundantly without external management. It shows the stamina and a deep intrinsic desire to spread fruit to anyone who is in need."
The Shumway's then presented a beautiful quilted breadfruit to the incoming president and his wife, Steven and Margaret Wheelwright.
"Carolyn and I have pondered what we would like to give personally to the Wheelwrights that would capture the transfer of stewardship as well as our love. We would like to give them the emblem of the breadfruit tree and its fruit. May your presidency and the university be blessed during your tenure with the spirit of President McKay's founding prophecy," he concluded.
Margaret Wheelwright, now one of the newest members in the university ohana, was in high spirits. "It was so good to see the love that the Shumway's have for one another and see what a good family they are. They are great examples of what this university stands for and emulate what this school has been able to produce."
President Wheelwright added, "Being here tonight makes me that much more excited to be coming to this university."
