Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke to more than 4,700 people at Georgia Southern University Sept. 8 about leadership and the power of education.

"You are so lucky, you who are students. You are experiencing the one great equalizer that we have, which is education," Rice told the crowd.

Speaking on what she called the "transforming power of education," Rice urged students to find their passion, accept challenges as part of the learning process, and to realize "you can come from humble circumstances and do great things."

"It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you're going," Rice said.

Rice's visit, which was sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, was designed to give Georgia Southern University students insight into what makes a great leader and how they respond in times of crisis.

Rice was national security advisor to President George W. Bush during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and was later named secretary of state.

"When there is a lot of change around you and things are difficult, go back to your values," Rice told the audience. "I think integrity is the most important value in leadership. One of the tests of integrity is to ask yourself if you're asking someone to do something you wouldn't do."

Tickets to the event were available to students, faculty and staff, and the community. Demand for tickets was so high that overflow seating had to be arranged so those who could not get tickets could watch a simulcast. Before the doors opened, lines of people eager to see Rice wrapped around Hanner Fieldhouse.