The really important news is the appropriations received by the school two weeks ago. This includes $24.5 million for two new buildings -- a new central storage and police operations facility and a new animation, gaming and digital production design building, as well as money for the land acquisition for our Center for Design Innovation. This money, coupled with last year's $25 million for a new library, means the School of Arts has received almost $50 million for new buildings and programs from the state of North Carolina as a true vote of confidence in all we are doing.

This is a testament to every student, faculty, and staff member who participated in getting our story to our representatives and boards, by performing and creating works for them at every turn, whether it was for the Board of Governors at our school, the visits of various political leaders, or performing before the Legislature at the opening of the recent short session, as well as the brilliant season at Manteo this summer. The school and its students were heard and seen by 100 million people on the Grammys as well as audiences in Vienna, Venice, Tokyo, and in a few days, Beijing.

So, let us savor this moment and be grateful for taking part in this historic process. UNCSA is the same school today as it was yesterday. All the same requirements, all the same attitudes, the numbers of students, the ratio of faculty to students, the Fighting Pickle itself, are all intact. We are proud of our high school, which is now The High School of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and we are proud of our alumni, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout the world during the past two years.

What is different is perceptual as well as honorific, and that is crucial to taking the institution to its next level. As of an hour ago we learned that the school officially owns the name UNCSA.edu, and so, in a few months, when we get all this worked out and press the button, we will no longer have an e-mail address and a domain name that are different from the name of our school.

At this moment, I am filled with pride in being a part of our great school. I think of David Gordon Green and Danny McBride and a dozen other Film School alums who just released "Pineapple Express." I think of Music alum Felix Ventouras, whose music for America's synchronized swimmers will be heard by hundreds of millions when the Olympics are broadcast. I think of senior Ben Gunderson and alum Blaine Hoven, who just won Princess Grace Awards. I think of Dean Joe Tilford, whose designs for the Irish Rep's "Around the World in 80 Days" is playing in New York, and the revival of "Hair" in Central Park which was first co-created by Dean Freedman. I think of alums Anna Camp and Paul Story, who are in rehearsals with Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths for "Equus." I think of Dean Stiefel dancing tonight with the ABT in Orange County, to the choreography of Twyla Tharp and the music of Danny Elfman, two honorary doctorands. And I think of all the others I cannot mention here, for lack of space and time, but no lack of respect and affection.

I leave you with words to consider. UNCSA has been part of the University System since that system was created in the early 1970s. When North Carolina had the wisdom to create the world's first public performing arts conservatory in the 1960s it was mirroring the historic act taken in December of 1789, when it created the first public university in America. George Washington had just become our nation's first President. And here's what North Carolina wrote:

In all well regulated governments, it is the indispensable duty of every legislature to consult the happiness of a rising generation and endeavor to fit them for an honourable discharge of the social duties of life, by paying the strictest attention to their education.

This is the grand heritage of North Carolina, and with our new varsity letter, it is clearer than ever that we are a part of that tradition and part of that responsibility.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

John