Troy Murray

Good evening, everyone, and thank you, Dean Pirkul and Associate Dean Jacob, for your inspiring words of wisdom.

I’ll be completely honest when I say that it still hasn’t hit me yet. I don’t know about all of you, but even after putting on this cap and gown and walking in here to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” I cannot believe that this is the beginning of the end. Our time here has felt so long, and yet so short all at once.

We’ve overcome so much during our time together as Comets — from high school transitions to exam weeks, from snowstorms to electricity shutdowns, from virus outbreaks to Homecoming week being switched to the spring semester. All of this happened over the course of many years here at UT Dallas, and yet it feels like we only walked onto this campus yesterday, doesn’t it?

I’m sure we all still remember our first impressions of UTD, whether it was seeing our names on the Visitor Center TV during our campus tours, tuning into our first program webinars, making full transitions to the U.S. after traveling internationally or learning just how crazy our Orientation Leaders are at Comet Camp. I would know, trust me. I was one for two years.

Soon after those experiences, it wasn’t long before we grew accustomed to the University we have come to know and love. In fact, I still remember that first day, when I stood at the end of the reflection pools, heard the chirps of the birds in the magnolia trees and noticed the vast array of students walking by thinking, “This is home.”

I’m almost certain that when we all received our acceptance letters to UTD, none of us knew just how much this University would change our lives for the better. When we all chose to become Comets, we chose an institution with a welcoming campus environment, stupendous faculty in various fields of study, worthwhile opportunities for academic and career growth, and a student body that cannot be matched in terms of support and spirit.

Today is definitely a day worth celebrating, as the long road to get here was both challenging and character-defining. To think that everyone here went the distance and ran the academic triathlon of 36 to 150 credit hours, 100 volunteer hours and at least one internship absolutely blows my mind. I mean, just those achievements alone deserve a round of applause, don’t you think?

While many would hesitate to take on this kind of workload, all of us stepped up to the plate and truly knocked it out of the park. Even when the classroom setting drastically changed on us and the demand for mental endurance was heightened, none of us shied away from the task at hand. Instead, we overcame, we endured. We stand before you as soon-to-be graduates of The University of Texas at Dallas.

This is truly where our lives begin, fellow Comets. While most of us will leave this galaxy and venture forward to uncharted territories, some of us will remain and continue to glisten as we pursue master’s degrees, PhDs and other worthwhile opportunities.

Regardless of our paths, one thing is certain: we will all continue to burn bright as we shoot across the sky. Whether we see each other again tomorrow or in 75 years like Halley’s Comet, I’m certain none of us will forget how we formed and flourished during our time in the solar system known as UT Dallas. I just hope that we will all return from orbit somewhere along our paths, and maybe bring some up-and-rising Comets along on our next expeditions.

Before we all walk across the stage and get the recognition we rightfully deserve, I want to thank a few special people in attendance tonight. On behalf of my fellow graduates, I would like to thank Dean Pirkul, Dean Alborz, Dean Powell and all of the amazing staff and faculty who help to bring prestige to the Naveen Jindal School of Management. We take great pride in the fact that we got to study at one of the best public business schools the world has to offer, and it’s because of all of you that we will accept our degrees feeling proud and accomplished for our efforts.

I would also like to thank UTD’s President Benson for his outstanding leadership and for allowing me to be a part of the Student Ambassadors program. Without him, I would not have gotten the chance to create one of UTD’s newest traditions: Hallow-’Round-the-World. May this event flourish for years to come, and continue to give back to the international students who make this campus so special.

I also would like to thank my family members who flew in from Las Vegas, and have continuously done so for the past four years, to support me during big moments like these. Without their love and support, I would not be where I am today. I’m sure all of you on the floor want to thank your families, too, so by all means take the time now to give them some love.

And while he is not present with us in the auditorium tonight, I would like to extend a special thanks to my late grandfather. Before I came to college, he was my beacon of hope when the going got tough. He always told me that I should chase my dreams, no matter how ridiculous they may seem, and it’s because of his words of wisdom that I have created an everlasting legacy for myself at UT Dallas.

In conclusion, thank you all so much for your time, your support, and for helping me to become the person I am today. Congratulations, Class of 2023! You all deserve the world! It just hit me. Best Whooshes!

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Troy Murray came to The University of Texas at Dallas from Silverado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and minor in theater. During his undergraduate term, he served as the executive leader for the JSOM Undergraduate Dean’s Council, the traditions executive chair for the Student Ambassadors program, a team leader for the Orientation Leader program, a tour guide for the Visitor Center, and a Freshman Mentor. He also played Riff Raff in UTD’s 2019 production of The Rocky Horror Show and Saint Jimmy in the 2022 production of American Idiot. Troy has interned at AT&T Business and worked as an improvisation teaching specialist for the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. He will be interning at the Adobe Sales Academy in San Jose, California, this summer, after which he will return to UTD to complete his marketing fast-track path and obtain his master’s degree by spring 2024.