"Be proactive and persistent," said Huseyin Leblebici, professor and chairman of the Department of Business Administration. He told the freshmen that learning is a joint venture with the faculty, requiring collaboration and questioning. According to Leblebici, learning, by design, takes place outside the classroom as well as in class.

Hetal Patel, a sophomore in finance who only a year ago was sitting in the audience for her welcome ceremony, offered three Ps of her own: play, participate, and persist. "Attempt what you think you'll fail at," she advised. "Put yourself in the uncomfortable position to grow and succeed." As a freshman, Patel challenged herself by participating in the College's job shadow program, studying abroad in a honors class that visited the Far East, and having an internship over the summer.

Getting involved was a theme that ran through the remarks of all the speakers. "The more you get involved, the more you get out of the experience," said Dean Avijit Ghosh. "Become part of the Illinois legacy."

Jeff Golman is a part of that legacy. The 1977 graduate in accountancy, who is the vice chairman of Mesirow Financial in Chicago, told the freshmen that he worked hard and played hard while on campus. "Expect to make mistakes," he said. "Try, fail, and have the courage to try again." Among his recommendations: work for the best grades possible, spend some time abroad, and participate in extracurricular activities to gain leadership experience. Friendships he made on campus endure today and have provided the investment banker with significant business referrals over the years.

"Feel proud and secure in the decision you made to attend Illinois," advised Goldman, whose daughter is a member of the class of 2009. "My education gave me the skills and confidence to succeed."