[Ceremonial Speech written and given by Patrick for his Public Speaking class and Prof. Crazy Bitch]

Good Morning 

Stephen Hawking was born January 8, 1942, in Oxford England.  Although he wanted to study mathematics, he ended up studying physics at Oxford University.  He then went to Cambridge to study Cosmology.  While at Cambridge, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Even though he was told he would not survive to finish his doctorate, he did finish, and went on to continue his research in physics and cosmology in the 70s and 80s.  In 1985, the already wheelchair bound Hawking had another personal setback.  A bout of pneumonia required a tracheotomy to save Hawking's life, and now he could no longer speak.  Even with this setback, Hawking continued to publish books, travel, give lectures and remain what some consider the top living physicist in the world.  His ability to translate the mysteries of the universe remains an inspiration to us all, whether disabled or fully abled.