Dillard University 2015 Commencement Address | Denzel Washington

good morning classmates faculty and staff family friends loved ones my name is joy simeon and it has been an honor to serve as the vice president of the senior class of 2015. i am here today to introduce a very important person our 2015 commencement speaker it would be an understatement to say that many of us are enthralled and yes even enamored with our speaker today a native of mount vernon new york denzel washington is one of the most versatile actors in the industry the eldest of three children born to a pentecostal minister and beauty shop owner washington had his career sites set on medicine when he attended fordham university after appearing in a theater production in a summer camp he became hooked on acting upon graduation from fordham washington was accepted into san francisco's prestigious american conservatory theater he began his professional theater career in new york and was discovered by hollywood in 1979. our speaker today has appeared in more than 42 movies and theatrical productions and has been nominated for 91 awards he has won 39 including two academy awards he won academy awards for glory for best supporting actor in 1989.

and best actor in 2001 for training day mr washington has also won two golden globe awards five black real awards 13 naacp image awards 12 tony awards and 11 film critic awards among many others in addition to his accomplishments on screen mr washington produced the hbo documentary half past autumn the life and works of gordon parks which was subsequently nominated for two emmy awards he also served as executive producer on hank aaron chasing the dream a biographical documentary for tbs which was nominated for an emmy award although we insist on pouring on the accolades for all of his achievements mr washington is actually a modest faith-filled family-oriented and generous man his response to all his awards has been something he was taught by his mother and i quote man gives the award and god gives the reward end quote another attribute of today's speaker that some of you may not know is that he relies on his faith to deal with circumstances in his life we and dillard know a lot about faith in the nearly 10 years since hurricane katrina devastated our campus we relied heavily on our faith and we have come a long way since then look around you and see how beautiful we are we have also relied on the generosity of others including that of our speaker today mr washington has not only made a difference in the world of film but he has made a difference right here on our campus and the lives of diller students by providing many scholarships to nearly a dozen students studying the humanities will the denzel washington scholars present today please stand [Music] [Applause] you may be seated please join me and the class of 2015 in welcoming our commencement speaker for today actor producer and philanthropist doc mr denzel hey it's washington jr [Applause] thank you thank you thank you very much thank you thank you thank you uh [Laughter] thank you joy and thank you to the choir for their beautiful selections thank you bishop for your prayer mr jones thank you and thank you for inviting me mr president hip-hop president can you spin can you spit you need a little bit a little bit a little nods a little oh no we we're in louisiana that's right what does the cash money all-star little wheezy not lollipop though not lollipop but thank you for having me [Laughter] um let me take this moment to uh first of all wholeheartedly i guess i can do this without my glasses i can see maybe let me uh take this moment to wholeheartedly congratulate each and every one of you today you graduated you did it you made it congratulations to you and you did it all by yourselves nobody helped you no that's dutch that's what you know that's what i thought when i was uh when i was young i uh started to really make it as an actor i came in i talked to my mother i said mom did you think that this was gonna happen i'd be so big and i'll be able to take care of everybody and i can do this and i can do that and i can she said boy stop it right there stop it right there stop it right there he said if you only knew how many people that have been praying for you how many prayer groups she put together how many prayer claws she gave me how many times she splashed me with holy water to save my sorry behind her she said it she said oh you did it by yourself i tell you what you can do by yourself you can go outside get a mop and bucket and wash them windows you can do that by yourself superstar so i'm saying that to say i want to congratulate all the parents and friends and family and aunties and uncles and grandmothers and grandfathers and teachers and friends and and enemies all the people that helped you to get where you are today congratulations to to you all i'm gonna tell about two three stories i'm gonna keep it real short uh i remember my graduation speaker got up there went on forever blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah so i'm gonna keep it short number one put god first put god first in everything you do everything that you think you see in me everything that i've accomplished everything that you think i have and i have a few things everything that i have is by the grace of god understand that it's a gift 40 years ago march 27 1975 it was 40 years ago uh just this past march i was flunking out of college i had a 1. 7 grade point average i hope none of you can relate at a 1.