Dwyane Wade gets warm welcome from Parkland high school students during visit

The Miami Heat guard has a connection to the school.

Dwyane Wade paid a surprise visit to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School to thank students for their inspiring response to last month’s mass shooting at their Parkland, Florida, campus.

Blue Telusma

Mar 7, 2018

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Wednesday, Dwyane Wade paid a surprise visit to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School to thank students for their inspiring response to last month’s mass shooting at their Parkland, Florida, campus.

Wade is just one of the many celebrities who has called for increased awareness around gun safety in the wake of the massacre. Excited students and faculty posted pictures and video all over social media when word got around that the Miami Heat basketball star had dropped by.

“I just wanted to come and say I’m inspired by all of you,” Wade told the students as they crowded around him.

“As someone out here in the public eye, I’m proud to say I’m from this state because of you guys, because of the future of this world because of you guys,” he continued.

Dwayne Wade showed up at Stoneman Douglas High School and was greeted warmly by the students.

(📷: @Ryan_Deitsch) pic.twitter.com/aBZGxiqv2p

— The Shadow League (@ShadowLeague) March 7, 2018

The NBA guard, who was coincidentally traded back to the Miami Heat just a week before a gunman killed 17 classmates and faculty members at the high school on Feb. 14, has vowed to use his platform to keep a spotlight on both the victims and the survivors.

Many of the students he spoke to were directly involved in organizing the upcoming March for Our Lives to demand stronger gun legislation.

I just had a great conversation with some of the students at Stoneman Douglas High School about some important/impactful things that they have planned. I’m looking forward to being more involved in the change that they WILL create. #MSDStrong 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 7, 2018

Wade’s Connection to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School

Wade was overcome with emotion last month when he learned that Joaquin Oliver—a 17-year-old boy killed during the tragic shooting—was buried in his jersey.

“This is Joaquin Oliver,” Wade wrote on Twitter accompanied with a picture of Oliver. “He was one of the 17 young lives that were lost tragically at Douglas HighSchool in Parkland. Joaquin was one of many that i heard was excited about my return to Miami and yesterday was buried in my jersey. This is why we will not just SHUT up and dribble!”

This is Joaquin Oliver. He was one of the 17 young lives that were lost tragically at Douglas HighSchool in Parkland. Joaquin was one of many that i heard was excited about my return to Miami and yesterday was buried in my jersey. This is why we will not just SHUT up and dribble! pic.twitter.com/X0tfTTao33

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 26, 2018