McConaughey Headed To UH
Surprise! Matthew McConaughey headed to University of Houston to wow students, UT ties no matter
"Alright, alright, alright!"
The University of Houston has announced a commencement speaker who is sure to draw a lot of attention. Texas native and Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey will address graduating students at TDEDU Stadium during spring commencement ceremonies on May 15, UH officials revealed on Thursday.
While McConaughey is more associated with his alma mater, the University of Texas, where he prowls the sidelines at football games in Austin and gave the team a pep talk before an important game last fall, he has a Houston tie, since his father, "Big Jim" McConaughey, once played college football at the University of Houston.
“He has captured the imagination of our students, and they will benefit greatly, as they head out into the world, from hearing his perspective."
In 2008, the actor established the jk livin Foundation in tribute to his father, whose personal mantra was "Just keep living." The elder McConaughey died in 1993, just as his son received attention for his role in Dazed and Confused.
“He has captured the imagination of our students, and they will benefit greatly, as they head out into the world, from hearing his perspective as a highly successful actor, producer, director and philanthropist," University of Houston president Renu Khator said in a statement.
McConaughey will be speaking at the first commencement ever held at Houston's new $120 million football stadium. School officials actively sought a big name for the event as part of its "Welcome to the Powerhouse" campaign.
Last year was a game-changing year for McConaughey, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club and received accolades for the HBO dramatic series True Detective, along with widespread parody for a series of Lincoln car ads.