Tag: commencement speech

Russell Wilson delivers commencement speech at Dartmouth College

Russell Wilson received an honorary doctorate from Dartmouth College over the weekend.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson gave the commencement speech for Dartmouth College and was awarded an honorary doctorate on Sunday.

Wilson, who graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010, has a good chance of understanding the magnitude of this moment and academia. His father, Harrison Wilson III, was a graduate of Dartmouth, and as noted in his commencement, so were his three uncles. 

Wilson also had a grandfather, Harison Wilson Jr., who served as the president of Norfolk State, while his grandmother, Anna Wilson, served as a faculty member for Jackson State University. Perhaps it’s safe to say that he understood the occasion.

Wilson, in his speech, spoke to the graduating class of 2022 about overcoming obstacles, words of wisdom his late father taught him, and that it’s not about the year you are born or die but the dash in between the years.

Recently, Wilson surprised his wife, Ciara, with a bouquet while stating in his Instagram caption: “Stay Squared up my friends.” Previously, former NFL player Channing Crowder noted on his “I Am Athlete” podcast that Wilson was a “square,” so, of course, the caption was a shot at Crowder and anyone who believes that Wilson isn’t up to par as a man.

If being clean-cut, a loving father and husband, an excellent NFL quarterback, and becoming an honorary doctorate is square, Broncos Country has the best square possible to lead this team.

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Saints legend Marques Colston hired as UNO adjunct professor

New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston announced that he accepted a position with the University of New Orleans as an adjunct professor.

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Here’s some big news for a fan-favorite former member of the New Orleans Saints: retired wide receiver Marques Colston announced Tuesday evening that he has accepted a position with the University of New Orleans as an adjunct professor, and will begin teaching in their fall semester.

It’s a big career turn for Colston, who hung up his cleats after the 2016 season. He owned every receiving stat in the team record books after a prolific 146-game stint with the Saints. It was enough for him to earn the fifth-best spot in our list of the 100 best players in Saints history last summer. Oh, and the Saints also inducted him to their Ring of Honor in 2019.

Since retiring from the NFL, Colston has been an active entrepreneur with minority ownership stakes in several arena league football teams while partnering with his old teammate Thomas Morstead as partial owners of a New Orleans-based smoothie bar franchise. Colston pursued an MBA at George Washington University and worked with Columbia Business School in creating opportunities for professional athletes. He’s put together quite a diverse portfolio between those interests and his investments in healthcare and technology startups.

Colston also delivered the keynote speech to UNO graduates at their Dec. 2019 commencement, telling them, “Your work ethic, your ability to overcome obstacles and your willingness to persevere are the real keys to success. My journey has embodied that belief. There was no way that a skinny kid from Pennsylvania, who could barely get recruited out of high school, should be here today as the Saints all-time leading receiver.”

While he didn’t announce which course he’ll be teaching, Colston has plenty of experience to offer his students. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next.

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WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes delivers commencement speech for Texas Tech

You can watch Mahomes’ Texas Tech commencement speech here.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes delivered a commencement speech for Texas Tech’s graduating class on Saturday morning.

The president of Texas Tech University, Lawrence Schovanec, introduced Mahomes before his speech began. Schovanec seemed quite proud to note that Mahomes was the first quarterback from a university in the state of Texas to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. He also says that Mahomes exemplifies the tagline that Texas Tech uses: “From here, it’s possible.”

Mahomes’ comments appear to be prerecorded, and he kept things brief as to not take the spotlight away from the graduating class. He did have some powerful words, advising the graduating students to go out and win their own Super Bowl, whatever it might be. You can watch Mahomes full speech at the top of the page or read the transcription down below.

“Class of 2020, congratulations. You did it, you’ve made it, and I’m beyond excited that I get to share this celebration with my fellow Red Raiders. I know this isn’t the graduation ceremony that you and your families had envisioned, but that doesn’t change the outcome or all the hard work, long hours and sacrifices that you made to achieve this milestone. I know this is sure not how you imagined spending your last days as a student. I know this is surely not how you imagined spending your last days as a student. I’m sure you’d rather be hitting up Chimy’s or Broadway to celebrate this day. But the world is in a different place today than it was just a few weeks ago. And as Red Raiders, we’re built to persevere in difficult times. We’ve all had to take a moment and learn to adjust to these new challenges. And when the odds are stacked against us, we make a play — and I can tell you this is going to make us all more competitive and hungrier than ever. Remember, this is a day to celebrate, to look back on the friends you made, the professors who have changed your life and the memories that you will cherish forever. Whatever plans lie in front of you, I have no doubt you will go out there and show the world what it means to come from Lubbock, Texas. Go out and win your Super Bowl. Congrats, Class of 2020. I can’t wait to see what you do next.“

Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke on Mahomes’ opportunity to give the commencement address on Friday. You can read his comments here.

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