[applause] [cheers and applause] Sandra Cisneros. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to Sandra Cisneros for enriching the american narrative. Through her novels, short stories, and poetry, she explores issues of race, class, and gender through the lives of ordinary people straddling multiple cultures. As an educator, she has deepened our understanding of american identity. [applause] accepting on behalf of the Eugene OneillTheater Center, preston whiteway. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to Eugene OneillTheater Center for its unwavering support of american theater. For over 50 years, the Eugene OneillTheater Center has nurtured awardwinning playwrights, directors, and actors, enriched the craft of stage production, and delighted audiences with exceptional programs. [applause] philip glass. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to philip glass for his groundbreaking contributions to music and composition. One of the most prolific, inventive, and influential artists of our time, he has expanded musical possibility with his operas, symphonies, film scores, and wideranging collaborations. [applause] berry gordy. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to berry gordy for helping to create a trailblazing new sound in american music. As a record producer and songwriter, he helped build motown, launching the music careers of countless legendary artists. His unique sound helped shape our nations story. [applause] santiago jimenez, jr. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to santiago jimenez, jr. For expanding the horizon of american music. He has helped spread traditional conjunto music, blending the sounds and cultures of south texas and mexico. His lively melodies performed on the twobutton accordion have captivated audiences around the world. [applause] Moises Kaufman. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to Moises Kaufman for his powerful contributions to american theater. His work sensitively probes questions of culture and sexuality. His awardwinning tectonic Theater Project continues to move audiences with its bold portrayals of contemporary social issues. [applause] ralph lemon. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to ralph lemon for his contribution to dance and the visual arts. As a selfproclaimed conceptualist, he uses dance as a source of physical communication, and his complex works withstand examination from all angles, revealing intimate truths about human nature and offering broader insights into the american experience. [applause] luis valdez. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to luis valdez for bringing chicano culture to american drama. As a playwright, actor, writer, and director, he illuminates the human spirit in the face of social injustice through awardwinning stage, film, and television productions. [applause] jack whitten. [applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts to jack whitten for remaking the american canvas. As an abstract artist, he uses casting, acrylic paints, and compounds to create new surfaces and textures, challenging our perceptions of shape and color. His powerful works of art put the american story in a new light. [applause] [laughter] i can make up the citation. Lets do that. Lets do that, sir. You dont have it in there . No, sir. Here we go. [laughter] Audra Mcdonald. [cheers and applause] the 2015 National Medal of arts for Audra Mcdonald for lighting up broadway as one of its brightest stars. An unforgettable performer, she has won six tony awards. In musicals, concerts, operas, and the recording studio, her rich, soulful voice continues to take her audiences to new heights. [applause] National Humanities medal recipients. Rudolfo anaya. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to Rudolfo Anaya for his pioneering stories of the american southwest. His works of fiction and poetry celebrate the chicano experience and reveal universal truths about the human condition. And as an educator, he has spread a love of literature to new generations. [applause] jose andres. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to jose andres for cultivating our palates and shaping our culture. He has introduced new and vibrant ingredients to our nation, whether through his innovative techniques in the kitchen, his work on Clean Cooking technology and access to education, or the inspiration he provides to new americans. [applause] ron chernow. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to ron chernow for bringing our nations story to life. Through his examination of americas successful giants and titans, he also invites his readers to discover their failures and foibles, uncovering enduring lessons that inform our modern era. [applause] louise gluck. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to louise gluck for giving lyrical expression to our inner conflicts. Her use of verse connects us to the myths and the ancients, the magic of the natural world, and the essence of who we are. [applause] terry gross. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to terry gross for her artful probing of the human experience. Her patient, persistent questioning in thousands of interviews over four decades has pushed public figures to reveal personal motivations behind extraordinary lives, revealing Simple Truths that affirm our common humanity. [applause] James Mcbride. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to James Mcbride for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in america. Through writings about his own uniquely american story and his works of fiction informed by our shared history, his moving stories of love display the character of the american family. [applause] louis menand. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to louis menand for prose and essays that invite us to think in new ways about the forces shaping our society. His influential works of intellectual and cultural history probe the power of ideas from one era to the next as they ripple across politics and culture. [applause] Elaine Pagels. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to Elaine Pagels for her exploration of faith and its traditions. Through her study of ancient manuscripts and other scholarly work, she has generated new interest and dialogue about our contemporary search for knowledge and meaning. [applause] accepting on behalf of the Prison University project, jody lewen. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to the Prison University project for transforming the lives of currently incarcerated people through higher education. Its programs offer opportunity and inspiration to their students, providing an example for others to emulate. [applause] Abraham Verghese. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to Abraham Verghese for reminding us that the patient is the center of the medical enterprise. His range of proficiency embodies the diversity of the humanities, from his efforts to emphasize empathy in medicine, to his imaginative renderings of the human drama. [applause] Isabel Wilkerson. [applause] the 2015 National Humanities medal to Isabel Wilkerson for championing the stories of an unsung history. Her masterful combination of intimate human narratives with broader societal trends allows us to measure the epic migration of a people by its vast impact on our nation and on each individual life. [applause] those are our honorees. Lets give them a big round of applause again. [applause] once again, we thank them for their extraordinary contributions. We look forward to all the work they will be doing in the future. Just a couple of other comments. One, i think louise gluck has the coolest outfit. [laughter] especially those spiked sneakers. Im glad that audra is already a good friend of mine. So the fact that they kind of left out the citation, i think shell forgive me. And i do think mel brooks kind of set the tone for this thin because [laughter] historically this is but a much more state affair. But somehow, i think my quote of him in the beginning, it threw everything off. Everybody, have fun. Enjoy the reception. Thank you. God bless you. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] take you live now to north carolina. Hillary clinton expected to speak momentarily. My kids didnt think that work. It did youre welcome good afternoon. My name is christine. Im the proud parents of three wonderful children. And a gradually number of the Wake Technical CommunityCollege Class of 2016. I just graduated in may. [cheers and applause] so i just want to share a little bit of my story with you today. A couple of years back i underwent a very difficult stage of my life, not unlike many of you standing here today. I was newly divorced. Struggling to support my family. I continue to spiral deeper and deeper into place of depression. And in the summer of 2014 i tried not once but twice to take my own life. But i survived. [cheers and applause] and out of that dark place, i found a bright wilderness to keep moving forward. I decided that time i needed a change. I have interest in becoming a nurse for a few years, toyed with the back and forth, but i could not take any additional loans because i was still paying back loans from a first degree. Thankfully, i bumped into Wake Technical Community college, and institution thats right, give it up, give it up. [applause] wake technical is an institution to provide a variety of resources and Scholarship Opportunities to help students like me obtained her degree. A few months later with the help of a 1000 mature woman scholarship from the womens club, i was able to begin this new chapter in my life. [cheers and applause] now, 1000 does go a long way, but i still had to put in a lot of work to see this through. A typical day for me involved getting up about 7 00 in the morning, getting the kids ready for school, going to school myself, leaving class admin, doing a half day of subbing from 12 30 until about 4 00 and heading over to the restaurant by five to waitress until about nine, 9 30, maybe 10. Come home, see my kids, sleeping. Take a nap, wake up at three and study from three until seven when they woke up again. So that was my day. [applause] so of course i had to enlist the help of my two kids, my two brilliant daughters, and my son, okay, which wer were able to pl off as a family unit to get me to where i am today, okay . And them as well. And now i have the privilege and the joy of working as a cardiac nurse at duke regional hospital. [cheers and applause] every day, well, three days a week i should say, i touched the lives of those in need. Suffice it to say, that these past few years have not been easy, but with the Affordable College up in that wake tech had to offer through the strength of my friends and Family Network and the willingness to work hard, i was able to start over. While there is so much at stake in this election for americans across the country, for me its pretty simple. We need a leader who will stand up for families, like mine, and make it easier for people, like me, to achieve their professional aspiration. That leader is [applause] hillary clinton. [cheers and applause] throughout her career hillary has consistently put family first. As a working mother, i sincerely appreciate her strong efforts to fight for paid family leave and increased the minimum wage. In Affordable Housing cost and Reliable Transportation that families need to succeed across this great nation. Thats right. [applause]. Hillary is also committed to helping people from all walks of life realize their dreams of going to college. She knows the cost of education makes it difficult for many students, including myself, and soon my children who will go to college in the next few years to see a path to a better life for a new career. That is why im excited hillary has put forward plans to invest in our neighbor Community Colleges and breakdown the barriers by making college debtfree for those who cannot afford it. Everyone should be clapping right now. [applause]. Right now. [applause]. So, today, it is my great pleasure im going to say again. It is my great pleasure and i am so honored to welcome to the stage im going to cry, yall. Welcome to the stage a woman who knows that we are stronger and has the experience and the bold vision we need to affect a real, positive change in the Community Across the country. This is my last sentence. On going to say it without crying. Ladies and gentlemen, please, join me in giving a warm welcome to the next president of the united states, hillary clinton. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] chap. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] thank you. Wow. Thank you. Wow. [cheers and applause] did anyone see that debate last night . [cheers and applause] oh, yes. One down, two to go. I am so excited to be back here. I was here eight years ago, and i was so impressed and then with the kinds of the programs and opportunities that are offered here to people like christine. I wanted to come back to raleigh, but i wanted to come back here. When christine was talking, was backstage walking watching her on the screen and she kept saying about how she was about to cry. I was about to cry. You know, her story says so much, i just about her, but about our country. We are a country of Second Chances and a third and fourth chances for people willing to work for them, get up every day, do their best. Thats the basic bargain of america, and i was really proud of christine. Thank you. [cheers and applause] and i think her patients at duke regional print for a a treat, but not only the skill that she learned here at wake tech with a personality that get up and go personality will mean a lot to the people she is taking care of, so christine, thank you and god speed. Now, i have to thank doctor stephen scott, president of Wake Tech Community college. All of the administrators, the faculty and the students of wake tech. [cheers and applause] doctor scott told me that the enrollment is about 73000, and what a tribute to watch at this institution represents. And im huge supporter. [applause]. You know, i just see america differently. I think there is nothing we cant do if we make our minds up, roll up our sleeves, get it working together, support institutions like wake tech, support people like christine and thats what i intended to do. I want to thank your mayor, mayor mcfarland. Thank you so much for being here [cheers and applause] state senator dan blue junior [cheers and applause] i also want to recognize linda coleman, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of north carolina. Linda came so close last time and this time are you going to bring her over the finish line . [cheers and applause] i will tell you someone else i am excited about, that is the democratic candidate for the senate, former state representative debra ross. [cheers and applause] i have watched the campaign she has run and the intensity and the incredible passion that she brings to it. I will tell you what, we sure could use her in washington representing north carolina. [cheers and applause] i want to take all of like all of the elected officials that are here and eight special shout out to a longtime friend of my husbands and mine, someone who we admire so much and did really transform this state during his governorship, former governor jim hunts. Chit [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] there is a lot that i want to talk about today, but let me start with this because you may or may not know that today is National Voter registration. And you see some signs people are holding i will vote. Now, that is not only a great sign that shows you are committed to vote, but its a website and you can go to, i will vote. Com. To make sure youre registered and i hope you all will and i hope you will tell everyone that you know to do the same because we want to make sure people are registered and if there is still time to get registered here in north carolina. And i hope that you will because think about everything that is at stake in this election greater north carolina. The very meanspirited wrongheaded decision by a legislature and governor to