Michael Vick gave a commencement speech Friday to the students of the Camelot Alternative School at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. The Camelot School caters to at-risk youth who have made changes and turned their lives around, not unlike Vick, who spent 18 months in prison for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring.
Some of the graduates were expelled from other schools, involved in gang activity, and other dangerous behaviors before being given a second chance at the Camelot School.
While the students erupted into cheers and applause, Vick was slightly apprehensive about his role as commencement speaker.
“I’ve never done this before, I’m not going to lie,” Vick said. “I’m more nervous about this than I am for a football game.”
The commencement speech wasn’t all Michael Vick delivered. Two of the graduates were the recipients of $5000 dollars from the newly formed Michael Vick Comeback Student of the Year Scholarships, as reported by Keneth Moton, 6abc.com.
Vick met with several of the students prior to the graduation ceremony to listen to their experiences and how they managed to change their lives.
“Sometimes it takes certain things to happen to wake you up, and I totally understand what they’ve been through,” Vick said. But I’m more proud that they were able to come through the adversity.”
Vick also signed autographs and took pictures with the proud graduates.
