Besides his play on the basketball court, Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchellalso is known for being very well-spoken and for the importance he places on education.
Soon, Mitchell will be combining those latter two skills on a big stage, as he has been selected as the keynote speaker for the University of Utah’s general campus-wide commencement ceremony, which will be held virtually May 6.
“Donovan Mitchell is a favorite of basketball fans and our community because of his commitment to excellence, education and social justice,” outgoing university president Ruth Watkins said in a statement. “He shows by example what one person can do to influence the lives of countless others and how to step forward to advocate for change with grace and goodwill.”
I am delighted to announce that Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell will be our 2021 commencement speaker. His commitment to advancing education and social justice is exemplary and he is an inspiring role model for our students. Learn more: https://t.co/jondsIvm3a pic.twitter.com/HEu0v9MZfD
— Ruth V. Watkins (@RuthVWatkins) March 30, 2021
Last year, Mitchell and his family announced they were donating $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School, where he attended from third to ninth grade and his mother taught preschool for many years. He will also be donating to the family of Jacob Blake, a man shot last year by police in Wisconsin, to help with the educations of Blake’s children, and Mitchell has donated to preschool teachers in Connecticut and New York.