BRISTOL, RI — Roger Williams University graduated the class of 2026 Friday.
Alumnus and former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PGA TOUR Superstore Dick Sullivan spoke at the ceremony.
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Sullivan, class of 1979, "told the Class of 2026 that mentorship had been the defining thread through a career that spanned retail, sports, marketing, and entrepreneurship," according to a media release.
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Before delivering his keynote address, Sullivan received a Doctor of Humane Letters from the university, per the release.
"To me, mentorship is simple: Mentorship is trust, guidance, and belief – before you fully believe in yourself,” Sullivan said, according to the release. “And today, I want to share a few lessons – really, qualities – that mentorship helped build my career.”
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Sullivan's address focused on five lessons: work ethic, trust, the life-changing power of mentorship, core values and lifelong learning.
“Hard work gets you noticed,” he said. “But more importantly – mentors invest in people who invest in themselves.”
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The ceremony celebrated 1,127 graduates across undergraduate, graduate and law programs, with the university conferring 899 bachelor’s degrees, 140 master’s degrees, 149 law degrees, 76 associate degrees and 113 certificates, according to the release.
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