Graduation Speaker……Abby Wambach

Salt Lake Community College graduated the largest class in the institution’s history in a Commencement Ceremony held May 3, 2012 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team player Abby Wambach provided the keynote address to the College’s 4,185 graduates and their families.

“Graduation is a time to celebrate all that our students have accomplished. We were very careful in planning our graduation ceremony to make sure the timing and location of the event would enable as many students, and those who care about them, to come and enjoy the day,” said SLCC Vice President of Institution Advancement Tim Sheehan.

Wambach spoke to the graduates assembled on the theme of inspiration. Her remarks covered the opportunities she received—some as a result of Title IX—the obstacles she had to overcome, and the people and events that have inspired her as she has become one of the most successful and recognized soccer players in the world.

“No matter what happens, it’s about how you handle it,” Wambach said, referring to her experience breaking a leg in a match against Brazil just weeks before the U.S. Soccer team’s appearance in the 2008 Olympics. “Those are the moments when you can look into the mirror and find out who you are. If you don’t like what you see, you can change it.”

Wambach noted to the graduating students in attendance that they were ahead of her in at least one way—graduating from college. She was an All-American at the University of Florida, but did not graduate.
She stated one of the things she will soon change about herself is that she will follow through on the promise she made to her mother to earn her degree.