Shaquille O’Neal stepped out in style to make a difference. The Miami Country Day School is celebrating its 85th year with a series of events including a gala on March 2 with the theme, ‘Classy, Sparkling & Bold.’ A big personality in the city, Shaq was obviously there in his dapper suit. It turned into a reunion with the head of his alma mater, Barry University.

Mike Allen, the president of Barry University where the LSU product got his Ed.D in Human Resource Development in in 2012, shared his encounter with his ‘biggest’ alum, Dr. Shaquille O’Neal. “Fun to see Barry alum Doctor Shaquille O’Neal last night at @OfficialMCDS ’ 85th Anniversary Gala. Congratulations to MCDS President and Head of School Mariandl Hufford and her team. Scroll for the picture of Barry Trustee Emeritus Gerald Moore and @Shaq from our 2012 Commencement.”

It’s very rare for Shaq to be referred to with his academic title. Which makes this quite the refreshing encounter. Particularly with Dr. Allen also sharing a throwback to the day Dr Diesel received his degree.

Shaquille O’Neal has often narrated his parents’ insistence on him graduating from college even after his stacked NBA career. While pursuing NBA championships, he went back to LSU and got his bachelors and masters in business. His mother would then sneakily tell him there aren’t any ‘doctors’ in the family.

So Shaq enrolled in Barry to earn an Ed.D. He reportedly wrote his thesis on “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles” in a course focused on organizational learning and leadership. Now he’s also making sure he’s not the only academician in the family.

Shaquille O’Neal is pushing for the next Dr. O’Neal

Shaq returned the favor to his mom too. He later encouraged and paid for his mother to go back to school. She’s now referred to as Dr Lucille O’Neal. He’s hoping his kids take that example as well.

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He famously told his kids, “In order to touch daddy’s cheese, you gotta have three degrees.” He’s even offering his youngest daughters, Amirah and Me’Arah, “incentive packages” if they go to law school. Even without the degrees, Shaq is enforcing his “respectable nepotism” philosophy effectively.

His eldest son, Myles, presented a business plan to become a DJ. Hence, DJ Diesel got him the equipment. Now he’s jealous of Myles’ talent and how far he’s come in the EDM business all on his own.

Even Taahirah, his eldest daughter, is showing the most Shaq traits. She graduated Magna cum laude from Oglethorpe University. After working for PepsiCo., she has been working her way up in O’Neal’s Big Chicken empire.

Shaq’s probably still holding his breath for the next doctor in the fam. He’s supporting them regardless.

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