Corbin Klett's Student Address At Georgia Tech's Commencement: We Are The Hero Generation (VIDEO)

Georgia Tech's Corbin Klett delivers a short, sweet and stellar address to his graduating classmates just before receiving his degree in aerospace engineering.

He balks at common and hasty views of his generation's activism to lead the charge from the hall towards a future he says will be defined by his generation and him. He cites the Strauss-Howe generational theory and declares his generation to be the hero generation -- the next Great Generation.

Don't freak out when the video doesn't play immediately. It needs about 10 seconds to boot up.

Take a look at a list of 2012 commencement speakers. Which speeches would you most want to hear?

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• Walter Isaacson

  Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson will speak at<a href="http://cooper.edu/about/news/2012-commencement-speakers-announced" target="_hplink"> Cooper Union's </a> commencement.

• Ira Glass

  The producer and host of This American Life will be the commencement speaker at <a href="http://towson.patch.com/articles/radio-host-baltimore-native-ira-glass-to-deliver-goucher-commencement" target="_hplink">Goucher College</a>.

• Steve Carell

  Steve Carell will speak at <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/commencement/" target="_hplink">Princeton University</a>'s commencement. We're really hoping he'll say "<a href="http://www.theofficequotes.com/season-3/business-school" target="_hplink">May your hats fly</a> as high as your dreams." I don't know if you can tell we are excited about this.

• Condoleezza Rice

  Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak at<a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/condoleezza-rice-will-speak-at.html" target="_hplink"> Southern Methodist University</a>, where the George W. Bush library is being built.

• Cory Booker

  Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, will give commencement addresses at both Hampton University in Hampton, Virg. (May 13) and Stanford University, in Palo Alto, Calif. (June 16-17).

• Soledad O'Brien

  CNN's Soledad O'Brien will speak at the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/mar/Commencement031312.html" target="_hplink">University of Delaware</a>.

• Geoffrey Canada

  Geoffrey Canada will speak at the <a href="http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2012/03/geoffrey_canada_chosen_as_commencement_speaker" target="_hplink">University of Pennsylvania</a>. Canada is the founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, a comprehensive education and health program that aims to end the cycle of poverty for families in Central Harlem.

• Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

  U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will speak at <a href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/first-lady-michelle-obama-address-2012-graduating-seniors" target="_hplink">Virginia Tech University</a>.

• Barbara Walters

  TV personality and journalist Barbara Walters will speak at <a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/02/barbara-walters-speak-class-day/" target="_hplink">Yale University.</a>

• Lisa Jackson

  Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will speak at <a href="http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/03/epa_administrator_lisa_jackson.html" target="_hplink">Tulane University</a> and the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/graduation/" target="_hplink">University of Washington</a>.

• Jamaica Kincaid

  Novelist Jamaica Kincaid will speak at <a href="http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/confops/commencement/speaker" target="_hplink">Grinnell College</a>.

• Athol Fugard

  Playwright Athol Fugard will receive an honorary degree at <a href="http://www.juilliard.edu/newsroom/releases/current/2012-May_Commencement.php" target="_hplink">The Juilliard School's commencement</a>.

• James Earl Jones

  James Earl Jones will also receive an honorary degree at <a href="http://www.juilliard.edu/newsroom/releases/current/2012-May_Commencement.php" target="_hplink">The Juilliard School's commencement.</a>

• Adam Savage

  Mythbuster Adam Savage will speak at <a href="http://www.slc.edu/news-events/news/2012-03-14-commencement-speaker-adam-savage-nr.html" target="_hplink">Sarah Lawrence College.</a>

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

  U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal will speak at the <a href="http://www.hartford.edu/arts-events/commencement/" target="_hplink">University of Hartford.</a>

• Soledad O'Brien

  CNN's Starting Point anchor will speak at the University of Delaware.

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Comments

[Wrench Turner]

02:48 AM on 05/25/2012

To me the hero generation is that of my grandfather, they liberated Europe, nbd...

[Gina Wild Eddy]

11:45 PM on 05/23/2012

I've known this young man since he was born (we're not related). He's a sincere, genuine, postitive young man. After returning from a trip to the Middle East he'll be residing in one of the more dangerous parts of the city of Atlanta area continuing to work with people in need. He's been active in that regard even while earning a degree.

Yes, he's young and idealistic, but he's been putting his money where his mouth is (so to speak). None of us can predict the future, and admittedly the issues we face as a society are many. But, kudos to those who are willing to get their hands dirty in hopes of making a difference. Even if you see no improvement, there is satisfaction in knowing you tried. (Well, at least that's how I see it).

Corbin's just calling out his classmates. He is challenging them to go beyond using what they've gained simply for monetary reward. Winston Churchill said, "we make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give." I think that's the point he's trying to make.

BTW, he has not mentioned any political aspirations. Coming from a long line of well-spoken, positive, action-oriented people he is very much a Klett. I'm not surprised he was chosen to give the address, nor the content. I hope & pray he and his classmates do well.

[carolinacookie4]

11:29 PM on 05/23/2012

Talk is cheap.

[Erica McClellan]

10:18 PM on 05/23/2012

In general, I'd call it the "superhero" generation. Superhero comics, superhero movies, superhero dressed neighborhood vigilantes.... The young men and women at this school are some of the best and brightest, but there are many more out there who are decidedly not.

[ellenthered]

09:55 PM on 05/23/2012

They can be labeled the "hero generation" after they have proven themselves to be heroes. Not before.

[tmf24556]

08:08 PM on 05/23/2012

This fellow had the words and body motions of an up coming politician, but for his sake I hope he chooses a different field. I think he would do better as a CEO.

[iphanie]

08:02 PM on 05/23/2012

This kid will be big!

[texasdon]

08:00 PM on 05/23/2012

Today's students--"the hero generation" ??? What a joke. Most are just lazy bums who want to smoke pot--have kids out of wedlock--and vote for traitor,liberal,socialists --like Obama. The hero generation to me was the young soldiers in world war 2 who defeated Germany and Japan and saved this nation.

[whatfreshhellisthis]

09:18 PM on 05/23/2012

There are many people (including me) who would say that Great Britain, France, China, Canada, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechslovakia, Denmark, France, and Norway played major roles in winning WW 2. Many of them had already been at war for two years before the US got involved.

Hitler chose to attack the USSR in spite of a mutual non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. The WW 2 death toll for Russia alone was about 25 million, civilians as well as soldiers. By 1945, almost the whole world was at war with the Axis. In all, there were 51 Allied nations by the end of the war. Yes, I also admire the young US servicemen who fought and died in WW 2---my father and uncles among them---but I believe that we should never downplay the service and sacrifice of the soldiers and sailors of so many other countries.

Having said that, I agree with you that many of today's graduates are lazy, stoned, and quite likely to have children out of wedlock. And, having said THAT, I will say that I will vote for liberal candidates again, as I have for many decades. I am not a traitor, but rather a veteran of the US Marine Corps. And as for socialism, we have very little of that in our country.

[ellenthered]

10:01 PM on 05/23/2012

Actually, we have lots of socialism in our country, it just benefits corporations and the wealthy rather than regular average Americans. Every time a corporation pays little taxes, WE have subsidized them and that is socialism. Agricultural conglomerates, big banks, insurers, car makers, financial institutions, big oil, big pharma, and all sorts of corporations receive subsidies in the form of tax breaks, loop holes, moving money overseas, all on the backs of average Americans and that is socialism. Every time a millionaire pays less taxes than his employees because of tax loop holes, they are receiving subsidies in the form of tax breaks on the backs of average Americans and that is socialism. So, we do have socialism ... its just GOP socialism and it only benefits the rich, the powerful and the corporations.

By the way, thank you for your service. Semper Fi!

[Erica McClellan]

10:15 PM on 05/23/2012

I'll argue with your bias about being stoned, but not any of the rest.

[Malcontent21]

11:54 PM on 05/23/2012

That is why we need you to pay more taxes so we can finance our smoking habits and our out of wedlock babies.

[zrh115]

06:18 PM on 05/23/2012

wow!

[damtaxes7]

05:51 PM on 05/23/2012

Great graduation speech! Dreams and goals are what make this country great. My hat is off to this generation (including my 2 children) that they set the world on fire with their determination to achieve both their dreams and their goals!

[boparenti]

02:54 PM on 05/23/2012

If they are coming out as Conservatives, he may be right. This mess we are in will take a long time to fix. Family values, upholding the Constitution and Fiscal Responsibility will be a challenge for this and the next generation. We were handed the paton from the greatest generation and we are faultering. Good luck kids, you will need it.

[rbrady6925]

04:24 PM on 05/23/2012

I couldn't say it better. I'm not an Obama fan, but the corruption we see in the White House and all of Congress today has been brewing for 50 years. Obama has done nothing to clean up the mess, and in fact, has tripled the debt that will strangle these great graduating kids. Go for it no matter how it hurts to make sense of this mess we are in.

[centerdemocrat]

05:59 PM on 05/23/2012

"Conservatives" got us into this mess, and Democrats are busy digging us out of it without an ounce of help from filibustering "Conservatives" who think recycling their sorry solution of lower taxes for the absurdly wealthy and less regulation of financial markets is a prescription for prosperity. Conservatives just prattle on about values and responsibility without practicing what they preach. "Conservatives" talk, Democrats walk.

[JustinP213]

11:52 AM on 05/22/2012

Haha, the hero generation? That's hilarious.

[bookishtrombone]

01:22 PM on 05/22/2012

The students at Tech do some amazing things. If you want to write off this generation as one of entitlement and laziness go right ahead, but please know that the students and alumni of Georgia Tech do some crazy awesome things every day that do make the world (and our economy) better.

[gerald4]

07:42 PM on 05/22/2012

Really?

[GrandGran]

03:28 PM on 05/23/2012

Negativity gets you nowhere. I think this young man was very inspiring with his outlook on the future. I hope he gets a job.

[JustinP213]

06:41 PM on 05/23/2012

I'm not being negative. I'm being realistic. Calling our generation the hero generation is the epitome of hubris.

[Erica McClellan]

10:16 PM on 05/23/2012

I hope there are any for him to get.

[willkinton247]

10:06 AM on 05/22/2012

Sen. Mark Warner will speak at Virginia Tech University? Take palm, and apply directly to face.

Its just Virginia Tech, Huffpost.

[pepper1311]

07:36 AM on 05/22/2012

I hope he's correct. After receiving trophies for last place and the new BMW for the sweet sixteen, big vacations anywhere,also the six bedroom big box to grow in. This a hard cycle to break, I hope he's correct.

[ZHOLLYWOODZ]

04:02 PM on 05/23/2012

If I may interject, that is not the majority, rather a stereotype. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far back as the baby boomers participants in activities have received ribbons/medals for just participating. This isn't anything new.

[Comfy]

05:36 PM on 05/23/2012

I'm a baby boomer that never received accolades for just showing up. My daughter did and she's 30

[pepper1311]

07:03 PM on 05/23/2012

I can say at 64 if we finished second, no accolades of any kind! There was no graduating with a 5.0 GPA. My high school grauated 700, now about the same. We had 50 parking places ( not many had cars,used families) same school has 400 places for students alone. Sorry read the book ' Generation Me'