Shahid Khan, 1971 alumnus and local billionaire, will give this year’s commencement address.

Khan, president of car parts manufacturing company Flex-N-Gate and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, will speak at both campuswide commencement ceremonies at Assembly Hall on May 12. He could not be reached for comment at press time.

Chancellor Phyllis Wise said in a news release that Khan was chosen because he “exemplifies the type of graduate the University produces”. 

“The chancellor chose him because he’s such a wonderful example of how far someone can go in life when they get such a good educational opportunity,” said Robin Kaler, University spokeswoman. “He is a great role model for students.”

Khan left Pakistan at the age of 16 to attend the University. While studying engineering, he began working for Flex-N-Gate. Following graduation, he was immediately hired as the company’s engineer manager, according to the release. After leaving Flex-N-Gate in 1978, Khan started the company Bumper Works and purchased Flex-N-Gate two years later. 

He serves on the University of Illinois Foundation’s board of directors and has also served on the President’s Council. He was inducted into the University’s Engineering at Illinois Hall of Fame in 2010.

Khan has given many gifts to the University, including the donation that led to the addition on Huff Hall called the Khan Annex, which houses programs of the College of Applied Health Sciences, including the Center on Health, Aging and Disability, as well as the Master of Public Health program.

But Flex-N-Gate has been the target of criticism recently after it received a citation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Jan. 15 for seven safety hazards classified as serious with proposed fines of up to $41,200. A serious violation is defined as when there is a “substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.” Flex-N-Gate is currently negotiating with the administration, OSHA spokesman Scott Allen said last month.

Local activist groups and labor unions protesting working conditions have most recently begun an effort to move toward unionization for employees.

Last month, employees rallied outside their workplace at the Urbana Guardian West location, where the company is headquartered, asking co-workers to join their petition to become a part of the United Auto Workers union. At least 30 percent of workers must support the petition to the Illinois Labor Relations Board to begin the process.

Emily can be reached at [email protected].