Invoking Winston Churchill, he reminded students that success is built \u201cbrick by brick.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you persist, use grit and determination, and never, never, never give up, you will find success,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
McClure concluded by reminding the class of 2025 that they are the next generation of leaders. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can outwork and outperform your contemporaries and achieve real success,\u201d he said. \u201cI still believe the sky\u2019s the limit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 7 p.m. ceremony featured Hamilton, who led the FSU men\u2019s basketball team for 23 seasons and became the winningest coach in program history. He guided the Seminoles to an ACC Championship in 2012, an ACC regular-season title in 2020 and three Sweet 16 appearances, while ensuring that 97 percent of his seniors earned their degrees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHis legacy goes deeper than wins,\u201d McCullough said. \u201cNinety-seven percent of the seniors who played for him earned their degrees. He taught discipline. He taught patience. He taught his players how to handle success and how to handle setbacks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hamilton, who was the first in his family to attend college, shared that his own education paved the way for the next generation of his family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMe getting my education changed the whole culture of our family,\u201d Hamilton said, noting that his parents, who left school in the seventh and ninth grades, continually emphasized education.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hamilton, a mentor to countless young people, distilled his decades of coaching wisdom into key life lessons. He advised graduates to find trusted mentors to help navigate challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are where you are in life because of your mentors,\u201d he said. \u201cTalking to people who had \u2018been there and done that\u2019 kept me from making a lot of mistakes.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
He challenged graduates: \u201cIf you feel like you need help, you can listen to someone who is wise, someone with experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
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