[emotional music fades in as blue text on a white screen appears, which reads: “The Volunteer Leadership Convocation honors the many ways in which our alumni volunteers give back to their alma mater.”]
[close-up of the Volunteer Leadership Convocation awards tracks across a table]
[Max Perlitsh, standing at a podium in front of a blue Brandeis banner, speaks to an audience at the VLC dinner.]
MAX:
My blessings started in 1947, and that has been so deeply impressed upon me that I have sought to give back in a meaningful way. Truly to look back to 1948, to 1952, is to see the future greatness of our Alma Mater beginning to unfold.
[photos and footage of Max talking with other alums and current students, and posing with other members of the community]
[slow-motion shot of Michael Clements accepting his award]
[Michael stands at the podium and addresses the audience]
MICHAEL:
I would not be standing here if it wasn't for all the people who are poured into me and who have supported me. My aunt would say to me, "Your mouth is gonna get you in trouble one day."
[laughter from the audience]
MICHAEL:
Brandeis showed me that it was okay to talk back. Sometimes this meant that we had to be part of the solution.
[shots of Michael shaking hands with other alums and speaking to the other attendees]
[shots of Cassidy Dadaos shaking hands with President Liebowitz]
CASSIDY:
Anything that I can contribute to this university is really just an attempt to mimic those who have given back before me and those who have inspired me to try and stay involved. And I can only hope that some of my service will help other students have the kind of rich experience that I had while I was here.
[Cassidy stands at the podium and addresses the audience]
[Max speaks at a dinner table with President Liebowitz and his family]
[photo of Max posing with a Brandeis Class of ‘52 banner]
MAX:
You must ask yourselves, if the class of '52 was able to fund a fully endowed scholarship with only 101 class members, what can classes of 800 accomplish? How many students, like Gus and myself, would be helped by this magnificent effort?
[photo of Cassidy posing with her teammates from Brandeis Athletics]
CASSIDY:
I've been engaged, I've been extremely privileged. I've been so grateful to be part of this community. But what I've done actually feels super trivial to what I have reaped and what I have gotten back from Brandeis, genuinely.
[shot pans across the audience to land on Michael as he addresses the room]
MICHAEL:
I am a product of what happens when you are supported and people feel you matter. Brandeis has an amazing history of BIPOC alumni carrying on the university's legacy.
[members of the BOLD 9 2022 cohort shake hands with President Liebowitz as he hands them their awards]
CASSIDY:
I will never regret spending a moment or a minute of my time serving this university and its community. And I'm really grateful for the opportunity to do so.
[photo of Cassidy, Michael, and Max posing with President Liebowitz in front of the Brandeis banner]
[shot of the audience smiling and applauding]
MAX:
To paraphrase the beautifully expressed closing lines of our Alma mater, "The deeds of thy children have in fact already made thee forever great."
[Max and his family pose with other alums in front of the Brandeis Class of ‘52 banner]
[blue text appears over a white background, which reads: “Brandeis recognizes and celebrates our outstanding alumni volunteers, whose inspiring work enriches our community,” followed by the Brandeis logo]