James's message focuses on the fact that graduates'  journeys through Georgia Tech signifiy excellence and high achievement.  Explaining that he wanted to delineate that everyone who walks across the stage has achieved something truly monumental and will go on to do great things in the future, James's message applied "helluva engineer" to all the grads in the audience.

Getting to deliver that speech demanded quite an effort on James's part. First he had to submit an application with his major, GPA, involvement, and the message he wanted to present to the Spring 2015 graduating class.  President Peterson told James there were over 400 applications for the honor.  The 50 finalists that were selected had to audition with a copy of their speech, and James was chosen from these finalists. A "helluva" achievement.