ARLINGTON -- Actor James Franco told the University of Texas at Arlington Maverick Class of 2012 that for him, education is like an addiction.
"It's such a good feeling that I have been chasing it for the past six years," he said.Franco, 34, was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal in 127 Hours of a trapped rock climber who cuts off his arm off to survive. He's played Harry Osborn/New Goblin in the Spider-Man trilogy and was the conniving Franco on the soap opera General Hospital.He is also pursuing a doctorate at Yale.Franco was greeted with cheers when he took the stage Friday night for UTA's Graduation Celebration at the new College Park Center.Franco told the audience of about 2,000 that he dropped out of the University of California Los Angeles to focus on acting but later yearned for something more."I felt like I was stuck," he said.So in 2006 at age 28, Franco said, he returned to UCLA earn his bachelor's degree in English.Later, while living in New York, he studied at Columbia University's MFA writing program, Brooklyn College for creative writing and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for directing.Education has made him a better actor, listener and communicator, Franco said."Education, more than anything else, gives you an opportunity of choice," Franco said.Melissa Sepulveda Tran, a nursing graduate student who represented the Class of 2012, also spoke."Be proud of the path you took to get here regardless of the twists and turns," she said.Record numberThe event highlighted UTA's Commencement Week 2012. The celebration was originally planned for Arlington's Levitt Pavilion but was moved because of rain.UTA is conferring a record number of degrees this year -- 4,406. That's an increase of about 700 from May 2011. Much of the growth was in the College of Nursing and College of Education and Health Professions. Conferred were 3,000 undergraduate degrees, 1,309 master's degrees and 97 doctorates.Other area institutions also have commencement ceremonies this weekend, including Texas Christian University, the University of North Texas, Tarrant County College and Texas Wesleyan University.Diane Smith, 817-390-7675Twitter: @dianestarHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
