Queen Latifah and Tina Knowles deliver inspirational words to college grads

Queen Latifah also received an honorary doctorate from Rutgers University.

May 15, 2018

It’s graduation season and so far several stars have turned up to inspire grads across the country. Queen Latifah and Tina Knowles were on deck to deliver some inspirational words to the youth and we’ve got the scoop on what they said.

Queen Latifah received an honorary doctorate from Rutgers University and she shared her excitement on social media. “Say hello to the Honorary Dr. Dana Owens. Thank you Rutgers University and congratulations to all of the graduates of the class of 2018!,” she posted.

Say hello to the Honorary Dr. Dana Owens 🎓 Thank you Rutgers University and congratulations to all of the graduates of the class of 2018! pic.twitter.com/PZ6XPyECey

— Queen Latifah (@IAMQUEENLATIFAH) May 14, 2018

During her speech at the university’s commencement ceremony, the New Jersey-native explained how her roots shaped her future.

“This place has shaped me. Whether its been your home for 4 years or 40 years or something in between, you carry it with you just as I have. Long before ‘Living Single’ and ‘Set It Off’ and ‘Chicago,’ it’s lessons that I learned here at home that made me who I am. You may not realize it today, but you will over time that the love you find in family in every size, shape and makeup is a powerful teacher,” she said.

Check out her whole speech below:

Meanwhile, Tina Knowles addressed USC graduates as the keynote speaker at the university’s Baccaulaureate Ceremony even though she initially didn’t want to accept the gig because she didn’t graduate form college.

She explained her initial hesitation on social media.

“When I told my husband I don’t want to speak there I didn’t even go to college why would they want to hear what I have to say,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “My husband said to me, no you don’t have a college degree but you certainly have a doctorates degree in life, or you might just inspire someone who has shared the same challenges as you. So as always when there is something in my life that I am afraid of, and that I feel that I need to conquer, I got along with the business of doing the darn thing,” she posted.