Watch Dwyane Wade And Willem Dafoe Address Grads In Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI —Two college commencement ceremonies in Milwaukee on Sunday featured celebrity speakers as former NBA star Dwyane Wade addressed graduates at his alma mater, Marquette University, and the Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe spoke to the graduates at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a school he attended in the 1970s.

Both Wade and Dafoe received honorary degrees.

The Journal Sentinel reported that Wade spoke to 1,942 Marquette graduates and their families at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on the Summerfest grounds.

Wade, who led Marquette to the NCAA 2003 Final Four before winning three NBA titles, spoke about the adversity he faced when poor standardized test scores meant he would not be eligible to play his first year of college.

According to People magazine, Wade recalled breaking the news to then-Marquette coach Tom Crean.

"With a tremble in his voice, (Crean) said, 'Dwyane, we will still proceed with our plan' and he told me I'll be attending Marquette University," Wade said. " In a couple of minutes, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions. From one of the loneliest, most terrifying moments of my life to one of the most exhilarating."

The moment was one step in Wade's journey, which no doubt will include his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible next year.

Wade later finished with an inspirational message before sending the graduates off on the next phase of their journeys.

"Today, we celebrate what you have accomplished as we should. Tomorrow, you will wake up to begin the next leg of your journey," Wade said. "Your passion — I repeat your passion — lies in the journey. So, to all of you, the graduating class of 2022, I just want to say congratulations. Thank you."

See Wade's entire speech here.

Dafoe, an Appleton native who attended UW-Milwaukee for two years, addressed over 3,500 graduates and their families at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

The four-time Oscar-nominated actor — for his roles in films "Platoon,""Shadow of a Vampire,"The Florida Project," and "At Eternity's Gate" — spoke to the crowd about the importance of doing something you love and serving others.

"Be at peace with yourself, find what you love and practice it any way you can. Serve others, make every step a pleasure, and trust it will take you where you need to be." Dafoe said, according to WMTV in Madison.

Dafoe added: "Serving something outside yourself is the key to freedom. I feel myself most creative when I go toward someone else's vision — usually the director. Instead, I try and understand, realize, and inhabit it."

See Dafoe's entire speech here.