Hank Aaron addresses graduates at Marquette commencement

MILWAUKEE -- A common sight Sunday, May 20th in downtown Milwaukee was people clad in caps and gowns. Graduates and their families filled the streets after grabbing their diplomas, and some left with advice from a true Milwaukee legend! Hank Aaron addressed the Marquette University commencement ceremony Sunday at the Bradley Center.

Hall of Famer Hank Aaron spoke to Marquette grads about how to succeed the right way. "Cheating, for whatever reason, and in any field is wrong, and is at best a temporary solution to a real problem," Aaron said.

One Marquette graduate said hearing Aaron speak "gave him chills."

"I've been a big baseball fan my entire life, to hear he was speaking and then to see him come -- it's an amazing speech and it was really an honor," Joseph Godziszewski said.

Aaron spoke with reporters Saturday at the same downtown Milwaukee hotel he lived in as a rookie in 1954. The legendary slugger overcame adversity when chasing Babe Ruth's home run record.

On Sunday, Aaron gave graduates advice about how to overcome their own struggles. "It's part of life. You have to grow up and to have a little adversity never hurt anybody. In good times and in bad times, you will be expected to make the best of the education opportunity you have been given. I challenge you to hold fast to your dreams," Aaron said.

Aaron said graduation marks the completion of one set of goals, and urged the graduates to now set higher goals, and reach for those.

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