CHRYSLER GROUP'S SERGIO MARCHIONNE ADDRESSES GRADUATES AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

May 13, 2014 by Chrysler

May 13, 2014 , Kokomo, Ind. - Chrysler Group LLC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne today addressed more than 300 students, faculty and family at Indiana University Kokomo's spring commencement ceremony at Havens Auditorium.

During the ceremony, Indiana University President Michael McRobbie conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Marchionne from Indiana University.

In his commencement address, Marchionne, first, recognized the men and women of Kokomo and the courage and determination they demonstrated after two tornadoes hit the community in 2013: 'The two tornadoes that struck this town last November damaged hundreds of homes and businesses in this city. But they could not destroy the resolute spirit of its residents, who have come together to rebuild the community with the goal of making it much better than it's ever been. Over the course of time, everybody gains strength from the experience of overcoming adversity.'

Chrysler Group has a significant presence in the Kokomo community with more than 7,000 people employed in the automaker's various transmission plants throughout the region.

Marchionne then told the group of 150-plus graduates: 'Your classes and your other experiences at IU Kokomo have provided you the tools to face up to the complexities of the world we live in. But the education you have earned doesn't just serve you or your family. It also has the power to serve the community as a whole.'

He continued, touching on personal aspiration: 'The real question is, what do you want to be remembered for? Making a difference is the best answer I have ever heard. Your outlook on life completely changes if you point your efforts to this very simple objective. Making a difference to the organization you work for, to the community that you live in, to the families that sustain you and the ones you will support as you go through life. Doing things for no purpose is a denial of our humanity.

'We need no magic to change the world. We already have all the power we need. It's inside us. It's the power to imagine things in a better way. It is up to you to write the story of your life. Nothing is guaranteed, but the possibilities are indeed endless.'

Marchionne also discussed the importance of contributing to something greater than oneself: 'If there is a piece of advice I can leave with you today: ask yourself, whatever you are pursuing, if there is a higher meaning in it, if you are contributing in any way to something that is much more than your personal interest. Ask yourself if you are really making a difference. And if the answer is yes, then it will be not just your family that will be thankful for your existence , but thousands of people whose lives you will have helped to turn into something better.'

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He concluded by reminding and encouraging the graduates: 'Every time you act with courage, every time you act with generosity and with concern for the generations to follow, you send out a ripple of hopefulness.

'My wish for you is that you find your passion, that you pursue your dream and that you make that difference.'

About Chrysler Group LLC

Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, SRT, FIAT and Mopar vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Dodge Viper SRT and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.