Former NBA athlete Bryce Drew urged Valparaiso University graduates Saturday to make a difference.
“You are equipped to go out into this world and to change this world one person at a time,” he said. “Shine your light to everybody in this world.”
Drew became famous at VU for The Shot, a 1998 buzzer-beater that still airs periodically on ESPN when recapping great moments in NCAA history.
The 23-foot three-pointer allowed Valpo to defeat Ole Miss 70-69, allowing the No. 13 seed Valpo team to knock out the No. 4 seed Rebels.
Drew scored over 1,000 points in the NBA before returning to VU as assistant coach, ultimately becoming head coach in 2011. As head coach for five seasons, he had a 124-49 record. Drew was head coach at Vanderbilt University three seasons and recently completed his sixth season as head coach at Grand Canyon University.
Drew encouraged Valpo grads to take their shot at improving not only their own lives, but also the lives of those around them.
“My charge to you is enjoy your journey. Everybody’s journey is going to be different,” he said. Along the way, “make a difference where you are, wherever you are.”
“If you don’t have the job that you don’t even care about right now, make a difference where you are,” he said.
Drew cited scripture in Matthew 5, from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, to encourage people to let their lives shine.
“You are equipped to go out into this world and to change this world one person at a time,” he said. “Shine your light to everybody in this world.”
At Valpo, Drew said, his biggest dream was to play in the NBA. “I was very blessed to put on a Houston Rockets jersey, a Charlotte Hornets jersey and Chicago Bulls, which is my favorite NBA jersey.”
“But I’m most proud, and the jersey that I’ll always have with me, wherever I go, in my house will be my Valpo jersey,” he said.
“The community here is sensational,” Drew said. “Friends that you are sitting next to, your friends at this graduation, friends that are still going to be in school next year, coaches that have encouraged you, that have seen the best in you. Professors that have spent extra time with you, have done one-on-ones with you, to help you persevere.”
Drew encouraged the nearly 800 grads to also take with them that sense of integrity drilled into them at Valpo. “Hopefully, integrity is something that’s written on your heart right now.”
“When you leave this place, you just do the right thing because you’re supposed to do the right thing, and that’s how you live your life,” he said.
Valpo is also known for its focus on faith as well as academics.
“Hopefully, your faith has continued to grow here,” he said.
Newly minted graduate David Ankerberg also spoke about faith.
“We are continuously shaped by our faith, values, experiences and community,” he said.
“Because of transformative experiences of our Valpo education, we see that things have changed how we’ll see ourselves, how we appreciate the education we received. And now we plan to take that knowledge into the world to serve others,” Ankenberg said.
Ankenberg spoke of trying multiple musical instruments before “creating a sound that somewhat sounded like a musical tone.”
‘I didn’t choose the tuba; the tuba chose me.”
With lots of practice, Ankenberg was able to play in multiple musical ensembles, including TubaChristmas, directed by Professor Jeff Doebler.
“I began to realize that I was capable of success. I was no longer who I thought I was,” Ankenberg said.
“Many of us came to Valpo thinking that college was only a pathway to a job,” but he finally saw himself in a different light.
“Our time at Valpo has prepared us not only for who we are and what we know, but has prepared us for future transformation,” he said.
“We are something both different and beyond what we thought we were when we arrived on campus four years ago.”
New graduate Molly O’Rear, of Naperville, Illinois, was a member of the women’s soccer team.
Her memories include hearing her name announced at Brown Field for the first time as a member of the starting lineup. She also cited being a frequent customer at Uptown Café.
O’Rear thanked her parents for taking late-night phone calls “when I needed to just rant, cry or hear a familiar voice.”
A guiding scripture for VU is Psalm 36:9, “In your light, we see light.”
“I think it’s the single greatest lesson they wanted to teach us,” O’Rear said.
The women’s soccer team’s locker room walls have words of wisdom added over the years. Her contribution is, “Take the chance and go for it.”
“Everywhere you look, the people who make up Valpo are dedicated to looking beyond themselves,” she said.
“We are able to strive for greatness because we are focused on something bigger than ourselves,” O’Rear said.
Julia Sullivan, of Fort Wayne, received her bachelor of science in business administration. “I’ve changed it a couple of different times,” she said.
“I fell in love with the Christ College program,” for honors students. “It’s amazing.”
“Some of my best classes are in there,” as well as some of her best friends.
She’s got a job lined up as a customer account representative for Cleveland-Cliffs. “I’m excited to see where life takes me,” Sullivan said.
Adam Reinsma, of Valparaiso, earned his master’s degree in international economics and finance.
Reinsma came to VU to work part-time in the international office, helping students from other countries assimilate. “I love being in class with the international students I’m helping,” he said.
“They were nervous about immigration rules,” integrating with American culture and on campus, he said.
Reinsma plans to continue working in the international office and advancing his career.
Damon Virgo, of Valparaiso, was weighed down by several cords representing various honors he’s earned, including chemistry, math, biology, leadership and his fraternity.
He chose Valparaiso for its chemistry department.
“I went on a visit here, and I really loved it,” he said.
Aidan Vazquez, of Homewood, Illinois, received a bachelor of science in computer science.
“I really like the community feel of the campus,” he said.
“I met a lot of new, great people,” he said, overcoming his shyness.
Vazquez is still looking for a job but is looking forward to spending time with family in the meantime.
Among the graduates were the first two students from VU’s entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program, Peyton Throw and Maria Camacho.
Throw said in a news release she is proud to work with the university’s GoBabyGo program, which builds modified, miniature cars to provide mobility to students with physical disabilities.
Camacho has been working at Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics in Merrillville to create educational materials for patients receiving new devices.
Lori Miltenberg, representing the Valparaiso University Alumni Association and nearly 70,000 alumni around the world, urged the grads to continue to allow VU alumni to guide them.
“Wear your Valpo swag, and proudly fly your Valpo flag,” she said.
“We look forward to hearing what you’re up to in the world,” Miltenberg said. “Your stories are our stories.”
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
