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Jan. 26, 2004
Charlottesville, Va. – Tiki Barber, a professional football player and a 1997 graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, will address the Class of 2004 at Valediction Exercises May 15 on the Lawn at U.Va.
Selected by the class to be its Valediction speaker, Barber is a star running back for the NFL’s New York Giants, who played in Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001.
Barber graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce, where he concentrated in management information systems and earned ACC Honor Roll recognition.
In 1996, he was voted the ACC Player of the Year and a first-team academic All-American after setting UVa’s all-time career rushing record (since broken by Thomas Jones). He was twice selected to both the All-ACC and Academic All-ACC teams.
Barber, a native of Roanoke, garnered many athletic and academic honors in college and in high school. In high school Barber was the three-time Roanoke Times and World News All-District and All-Timesland pick, two-time All-Region and Male Athlete of the Year, two-time Roanoke Valley Offensive Player of the Year and winner of state titles in the triple jump and long jump. The talented athlete also received the Top 10 Percent Award, given for academic excellence, and the Knight Award, given for athletic, academic and extracurricular activities.
After graduating from U.Va. Barber was drafted in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Giants. In addition to his playing career, Barber has acted in the off-Broadway play, “Seeing Double,” and in the off season works as the morning sports anchor for WCBS-TV in New York. During the football season, he has co-hosted a Monday evening show on WFAN radio.
The affable Barber lives on the upper east side of Manhattan, where he is active in many charitable activities. He participates in the local D.A.R.E. program, the Starlight Children’sFoundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the United Hospital Fund. He also serves on the New York board of the Boy Scouts of America.
Valediction Exercises are a part of graduation weekend activities at the University. Finals Exercises will be held on Sunday, and the commencement speaker will be announced at a later date.