By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published May 16, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has long talked about his desire to teach at a university.

He got some practice in front of students on Saturday.

Selig was the commencement speaker at the University of Wisconsin, his alma mater, and addressed students at the Kohl Center, which is named after his former roommate, Sen. Herb Kohl.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become baseball Commissioner," said Selig, a 1956 graduate who recalled reading up on past commissioners at the school's library.

"I dared to live my dream."

According to the Associated Press, Selig talked about two of his favorite terms -- hope and faith.

"In baseball, as in life ... hope and faith are critical to success," he said. "Take advantage of these difficult times because if you have hope and faith, if you are smart and tenacious and dedicated and willing to sacrifice, you can make a difference and make this a better world. And don't be afraid of failure.

"[Baseball] provides a window to escape from the tedium and difficulty of ordinary life. It gives people hope and faith, an opportunity to live vicariously through the boys of summer."

Here is a look at other graduation ceremonies slated for the area:

Beloit College
11 a.m. Sunday
Featured speaker: Gov. Jim Doyle

Cardinal Stritch University
3 pm. Sunday, Bradley Center
Featured speaker: Real estate developer / philanthropist Joseph Zilber

Marquette University
9:30 a.m. Sunday, Bradley Center
Featured speaker: Broadcaster Dick Enberg

Milwaukee Area Technical College
6 p.m. Sunday, May 21, Bradley Center
Featured speaker: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Milwaukee School of Engineering
10 a.m. May 23, Kern Center
Featured speaker: Gary A. Stimac, alum, regent and co-founder of Compaq Computer Corp.

UW-Milwaukee
9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Cellular Arena
Featured speaker: Branko Terzic, alum and Global and U.S. Regulatory Policy Leader in Energy and Resources for Deloitte Services