ORANGEBURG - Gov. Mark Sanford touched on a familiar subject Saturday, calling on some 500 graduates at S.C. State University to meet a "crisis in leadership."

"I came here to ask you, to implore each one of you, to take the education you received during these four years and leverage them and become leaders," Sanford said.

The Republican governor steered clear of any controversy in his first speech at the historically black university.

On Feb. 8, Sanford caught civil rights leaders, as well as members of his own party, off guard when he became the first governor to apologize for the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre.

The remarks weren't forgotten by the school's board. Sanford was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws, recognizing his fiscal conservatism and efforts to make S.C. government more inclusive.

The school also awarded bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to 493 graduates.

In his speech, Sanford hammered at leadership, a theme during his campaign for governor last year. He urged the graduates during the two-hour program at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium to live their dreams, stay focused, be persistent and serve others.

His remarks struck a chord with graduates Reeon and Deeon Brown, 25-year-old twin brothers from Walterboro .

Besides being awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science, the brothers also received their commissions as second lieutenants in the Army infantry. In July, they'll report for active duty at Fort Benning, Ga.

"Leadership values that I got from his speech were unselfish service, honoring country, duty, respect and loyalty," Reeon Brown said.

Deeon said, "It made me realize that I need to think before I act."

For 72-year-old David Lucas of Florence, Saturday's graduation was the fulfillment of a dream that began in 1951.

Lucas was enrolled at S.C. State then as a biology major, but left for what turned out to be a 26-year career in the Navy.

After retiring from the service, Lucas earned a degree in business management from Limestone College and launched a career in real estate.

Through his church, Lucas became involved in health fairs. From that experience, he decided to return to S.C. State and get a degree in nursing.

Lucas, who is modest about his accomplishment, urges others his age to further their education.

"If I can do it, there's no excuse for anyone else not to."