Denzel Washington gives Dillard University students four life goals in commencement speech

NEW ORLEANS -- Denzel and Dillard: A successful partnership that on Saturday (May 9) made for a special commencement for Dillard University's Class of 2015.

The commencement took place at the university's Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of the Oaks, where 218 students received diplomas for their degrees from the College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, and Nursing. The highlight of the ceremony featured Academy and Tony award-winning actor Denzel Washington as the keynote speaker.

Introduced by senior class vice president Joy Semien, Washington took to the podium to impart four goals for graduating seniors, and for the audience, as well: "Congratulations to all of you... First: Put God first ... Second: Fail big ... a dream without goals, is just a dream ... Third: You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse ... and Four: Say thank-you in advance for what is already yours." He concluded with, "Don't aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference." (Also during the speech, Washington very candidly said he once had a 1.7 grade point average in college.)

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