NY Islanders owner Jon Ledecky awarded an honorary degree from George Washington University

It's college graduation time across the United States, and the NY Islanders can now say they have another doctor within their ranks.

On Sunday, Islanders co-owner, Jon Ledecky, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Services degree by George Washington University.

Ledecky served on the George Washington Board of Trustees for five years and spoke at Sunday's commencement at the National Mall in Washington D.C., with plenty of references to his life in the hockey world.

“Hockey is life,” he said. “It goes by faster than a slapshot. You want to avoid the penalty box at all costs…. You need good coaches and teammates too... Find something you love as much as hockey players love hockey and try to become great at it.”

According to GWToday, Ledecky started a Foundation dedicated to the education of underprivileged children. The Foundation provided grants to over 100 organizations serving children and young adults in the DMV region while helping to open and support independent schools for inner-city students in Washington, New York, and Boston.

Jon Ledecky given honorary degree from George Washington University

Ledecky, who never attended George Washington University, graduated from Harvard University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1979. He completed his Master of Business Administration in 1983. His love for sports was evident, writing for the Harvard Crimson and reporting for the school's radio station WHRB.

Earning his millions as the founder of U.S. Office Products, Ledecky had multiple ventures into professional sports ownership. He's made attempts at purchasing multiple sports franchises including the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, and Montreal Canadiens. He eventually became part-owner of the Washington Capitals in 1999, selling his share in the team just a year later.

in 2014, Ledecky along with his Harvard roommate, Scott Malkin, purchased the Islanders from Charles Wang, taking full control of the franchise after a two-year transitional period.

Since joining the Islanders family, Ledecky has been omnipresent within the community and continues to help those in need around the tri-state area.