Marquette University today congratulated former Golden Eagles star and NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade with a half-page, color ad in the print edition of USA Today. Wade helped the Miami Heat clinch its first NBA championship with a victory in Game 6 Tuesday night in Dallas.

"Thousands of Marquette alumni across the country share our pride in Dwyane Wade. Through his excellence both on and off the court, he has shown the world what it means to be from Marquette," Brigid O'Brien Miller, Director of University Communications told us.

The ad features Wade in his MU uniform with the following text:

"The World is watching your game. We're watching you, and have never been more proud."
"Dwyane Wade. 2006 NBA Finals MVP -- Miami Heat NBA Champions.

"Excellence. Faith. Leadership. Service. These are the pillars of the Marquette Mission, we see them shining in you."

The University's logo, Web site and tagline "Be the Difference," close the ad.

Wade is alum of Marquette based upon total undergraduate credits, but he has yet to fulfill requirements to receive his degree. There is talk in the campus community that Marquette will retire Wade's jersey No. 3 after he earns his degree.

The open rate for a one-time, half-page, national ad in USA Today is $108,070. University officials negotiated a substantially discounted rate by working directly with the publication. USA Today claims an audience of over 5.2 million readers.

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