Meet The Commencement Speaker: Glenn Youngkin

Liberty University welcomes Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to address the class of 2025 as keynote speaker at this year’s Commencement Ceremony May 9.  

“There’s only one Liberty, and the students are amazing. Not only because of your academic accomplishments, but you’re getting ready to head into the world as Champions for Christ,” Youngkin said. 

The Virginia governor said that he has been praying that the Lord would inspire his words; his advice to graduating students is simple, practical and delivered in three parts.  

“First, get there first. Be the first one in the office,” Youngkin said. “Second of all, meet your colleagues and ask them what they do. … And third, find feedback. Ask for it.” 

Youngkin believes that these steps will allow new graduates to have a leg up in understanding how their workplace operates so they can stand out as an effective employee.   

“I start every morning in prayer, and I encourage everybody to just start there, and everything else will work out,” Youngkin said. “Second of all, greet people with love in your heart, and if we start there, we are answering the second great commandments, … and then finally listen more than you talk, and that to me is one of the hardest things today because God gave us two ears and one mouth, and my mother always said, ‘Use them proportionally.’”  

Youngkin said that in addition to speaking to the new graduates, he also looks forward to the “T-Room” to eat a cheesy western sandwich upon his arrival in Lynchburg.  

Mullet is a staff writer for the Liberty Champion.