Kareem AbdulJabbar,
basketball legend and philanthropist, offers some life lessons at UCF’s graduation.
NBA legend and philanthropist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told graduates of four University of Central Florida schools that their educational journey, no matter how difficult, has come to an end.
“Congratulations on reaching the finish line of a grueling race you started four years ago,” the NBA Hall of Famer said Saturday, noting that while some finished strong, perhaps with a victory dance, others “crawled on skinned hands and knees.” “All that matters is that you crossed the line.”
The 7-foot-2 former ballplayer towered over Dean of College Graduate Studies Elizabeth Klonoff and Provost Dale Whittaker, who needed Abdul-Jabbar to squat low to receive a hood for an honorary doctoral degree in public service.
Nearly 4,000 students walked across the stage at CFE Arena on Friday and Saturday as part of three graduation ceremonies.
On Saturday, it was the turn of graduates from the colleges of business administration, engineering and computer science, medicine and optics and photonics. The two-hour ceremony included typical features of a graduation.
Camera lights flashed. Parents took video with their cellphones.
Every few names that were read would bring with them loud cheers from different parts of the arena.
Student Body Vice President Cristina Barreto implored the graduates to become mentors for those who follow.
Antwan Smith, 28, who received a bachelor’s degree in accounting Saturday, said Abdul-Jabbar’s message about failure — that it’s part of human growth — resonated with him.
“Nobody wants to fail, of course,” Smith said. “But when you embrace it and take it as an actual learning experience, it can be a good thing.”
Smith said the graduation made him feel that he completed a goal he had set for himself.
“It’s a good feeling to cross off another milestone of life,”
he said.
For Nicholas Shepherd, walking across the stage was another step toward redefining his life.
The 35-year-old longtime Orlando resident stood alongside family at a Starbucks near the arena, saying he was half-dazed from the excitement of the graduation about 20 minutes after the ceremony ended.
“It was surreal and I don’t really remember anything,” he said. “This has always been my backyard. This place has always been a part of my life.”
Abdul-Jabbar has been involved with several charitable causes, including his Skyhook Foundation, named after the 70-year-old’s signature scoring move.
That organization brings STEM-based education into underserved communities.
Abdul-Jabbar the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, shared lessons he has learned from and his English professor, John Lindstrom, and two fellow sports icons — legendary basketball coach John Wooden and boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Lindstrom, he said, was one of the first to see him as a skilled writer rather than “seeing me as a jock,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
Wooden, who coached Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA, stressed the process of improvement over winning. And Ali showed him how to stand up for what he believed in.
Abdul-Jabbar ended his roughly 10-minute speech with a lesson of his own.
“It’s not enough to have a successful career,” he said. “Success should be defined in terms of doing everything you can so everyone in your community has the same opportunities.”