We're not sure we've ever seen a welcome speech quite like this one before.
In a video that has now gone viral, Georgia Institute of Technology student Nicholas Selby delivers a particularly, er, passionate speech to usher in this year's freshman class.
The sophomore Mechanical Engineering major who co-leads Team Solar Jackets-a team that, according to CNN, built and raced a solar-powered vehicle in the Formula Sun Grand Prix-got up in front of the crowd to make his speech on Sunday.
Clad in the usual black robe that faculty and staff don during convocation ceremonies, Selby started by saying, "We chose Georgia Tech because we want to do the impossible."
Suddenly, the song from "2001: A Space Odyssey" plunged into McCammish Pavilion, where the event was being held.
"In the words of Sir Isaac Newton, 'If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.'"
Selby's voice rose to a swelling crescendo with the music, his voice cracking slightly as the sound of trumpets filled the hall.
"Crush the shoulders of the giants upon whom we stand! We here are all such innovative people! So I am telling you: if you want to change the world, you're at Georgia Tech! You can do that! If you want to build the Iron Man suit, you're at Georgia Tech! You can do that! And if you want to play theme music during your convocation speech like a bad ass, we're at Georgia Tech! We can do that! I am doing that!" he screamed into the microphone, his face reddening slightly as he spit his fiery words with an emotional breathlessness.
He paused, then finished: "Congratulations on your acceptance and brace yourselves for a hell of a ride on your way to becoming a hell of an engineer."
The crowd of 4,000 incoming freshman clapped, whooped and cheered. Some didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe some did cry from laughter. In any case, this speech is not one to be missed-check it out below.
