http://www.wdrb.com/story/29309941/boston-marathon-champion-meb-keflezighi-keynote-speaker-at-national-universitys-june-17-southern-california-commencement
Boston Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi Keynote Speaker at National
University’s June 17 Southern California Commencement
San Diegan shares his inspiring story of perseverance from refugee to
multi-award-winning athlete
Meb Keflezighi will be National University's 2015 Southern California
Commencement Speaker. Photo: courtesy of Meb Keflezighi.
(PRWEB) June 12, 2015
Boston and New York Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi - the only athlete
in history to win the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an
Olympic Medal - will be the keynote speaker at the June 17 Southern
California Commencement Ceremony for National University, the
second-largest, private nonprofit university in California.
Keflezighi, whose story of perseverance resonates with athletes and
non-athletes alike, grew up in San Diego after his family escaped war,
famine and drought in Eritrea. He started running in middle school and
went on to graduate from UCLA, where his track record includes four
NCAA championships, 23 National Championships and a place on three
United States Olympic teams.
This is Keflezighi’s first college commencement speaking engagement.
He will be addressing more than 1,600 National University graduates
representing 3,000 graduating students who have pursued their studies
online and/or at campus locations in San Diego, Orange County and Los
Angeles. His story and message of determination to excel resonates
with students at National University.
“It’s special because a lot of National University students are adult
learners and working professionals, and in some cases they are raising
families, so going back to school and earning a new degree takes a
commitment, a constant commitment,” he said. “I understand where they
are coming from and want to share with them the message that when you
persevere and do the best you can, good things happen.”
Keflezighi also serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to dream
big. Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon in 2014, just two weeks before
turning 39, becoming the oldest winner of one of the world’s premier
distance events in more than 80 years and the first American male to
do so since 1983. He also won a Silver Medal at the 2004 Olympic
Games.
“Meb is an inspiration to us all, and we are thrilled to have him as
our keynote speaker for this year’s commencement,” said Dr. Michael R.
Cunningham, National University President and Chancellor of the
National University System. “He reminds us every day that we all have
the ability to shape our future and achieve our dreams.”
Transcending his own athletic achievements, Keflezighi maintains an
unwavering commitment to helping others go the distance in their own
lives – physically, professionally, personally and spiritually. A
sought-after speaker and author, he emphasizes that real victory lies
in balancing a healthy, active life that emphasizes education,
community and a strong moral fabric. Today, Keflezighi resides in San
Diego with his wife, Yordanos and their three daughters. He also
oversees the MEB (Maintaining Excellent Balance) Foundation, which is
committed to promoting youth health, education and fitness.
National University’s Southern California Commencement Ceremony gets
underway at 2 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego.
About National University
Founded in 1971, National University is the second-largest private,
nonprofit institution of higher education in California. With 30,000
students and more than 140,000 alumni, National University is the
flagship institution of the National University System. National
University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities
accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of
students. Five schools and one college – the College of Letters and
Sciences; the School of Business and Management; the School of
Education; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of
Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies –
offer more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher
credentials. Programs are offered at locations throughout California
and across the nation, and are also available online. National
University is headquartered in La Jolla, California.
http://www.nu.edu/
Received on Fri Jun 12 2015 - 20:43:41 EDT