Daytona International Speedway President John Graham to Speak at Embry-Riddle Commencement
Daytona Beach, Fla., Aug. 4, 2000 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will hold its summer graduation ceremony for 288 students on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. in the University Fieldhouse. The ceremony will include the hooding of 36 master's candidates.
 John E. Graham Jr., president of Daytona International Speedway, will be the commencement speaker. Graham is also a vice president of International Speedway Corporation, the Speedway's parent company.
Although the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway attracts the largest audience in motorsports and therefore most of the attention, the 480-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe -- earning it the title of the World Center of Racing. In addition to 10 major weekends of racing activity, featuring everything from 190 mph NASCAR Winston Cup stock cars to 170 mph American Motorcycle Association superbikes to 125 mph World Karting Association go-karts, the Speedway is booked for more than two solid months each year for the testing and development of various race vehicles. The Speedway also hosts the largest nighttime sporting event in the nation, the Pepsi 400.
Under Graham's leadership the Speedway has expanded its schedule of events and seating capacity, bringing an annual economic impact of more than $812 million to the Volusia County area.
In previous experience, Graham spent 26 years in the banking industry in Florida, most recently as president of First Union National Bank, Volusia and Flagler counties.
Graham has taken leadership roles in numerous civic organizations, including the Civic League; The Chamber, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area; Easter Seal Society; Florida International Festival; and United Way.
Graham is a past president of Halifax Medical Center Foundation Inc. and serves in an advisory capacity to Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach Community College, First Union National Bank, Florida Council on Economic Education, and University of Central Florida.
He holds a B.A. in American History from Clearwater Christian College, Fla.; completed the graduate program in commercial banking at the University of Oklahoma, Norman; and served in the U.S. Army.
Graham will receive Embry-Riddle's Distinguished Speaker Award, which recognizes individuals for their professional accomplishments, national or international stature, or exceptional contributions to society. The award is bestowed on an individual at the conclusion of a special presentation or lecture delivered at a major university function such as commencement, and is used to honor speakers for sharing their special insights with the university community, especially its students and faculty.
Embry-Riddle, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of students and industry through its educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates 22,000 students through the master's level at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., at more than 100 teaching sites in the United States and Europe, and through distance learning.
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