WILMINGTON — Former National Basketball Association star Magic Johnson will headline a lecture at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington next month.
UNCW officials say Johnson’s appearance is a gift from UNCW Trustee Wilma Daniels as part of the Wilma Daniels Distinguished Lecture Promoting Diversity and Tolerance.
Johnson is slated to speak at 7 p.m. October 11 at Trask Coliseum. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required.
According to event organizers, Johnson, now an entrepreneur and philanthropist, will focus his lecture on overcoming challenges, achieving personal goals and building a successful life.
UNCW officials are working with local schools and youth groups to bring in area middle school students to hear Johnson’s lecture.
“UNCW has excellent initiatives related to diversity and tolerance, which this new lecture will build upon and strengthen. I wanted to work with the university to bring someone to campus to inspire young people, and to forge deeper relationships between the local African American community and the campus,” Daniels said.
UNCW Chancellor Gary Miller said the lecture reflects the university’s values.
“As an institution, UNCW is dedicated to the journey of learning, including the great diversity of culture and ethnicities of humankind, a love of place—especially this community, and a commitment to ideas and innovation. These values are supported when we bring in guest speakers to share their ideas and perspectives with the community,” Miller said.
Tickets to Johnson’s lecture will be available beginning September 24 from the UNCW ticket office in Trask Coliseum.
For more information about the Daniels Lecture and Magic Johnson, go to www.uncw.edu/daniels or call (910) 962-3233.
