GROVE CITY — On May 17, 1954, 60 years to the day before Saturday's commencement ceremony at Grove City College, the Supreme Court handed down the decision for Brown v. Board of Education, which legally ended segregated schooling.

Jeb Bush told the 585 graduates and their families the United States has made substantial achievement toward equality in the six decades since then.

“But not nearly enough,” he said.

Bush, who was the governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007, was the speaker for the college's 134th commencement in the Physical Learning Center on campus. The college presented him with an honorary doctorate of humane letter degree.

He is the son of former President George H.W. Bush and the brother of former President George W. Bush, and he has been talked about as a possible Republican candidate for president in 2016.

Bush said there remains a big gap between rich and poor students, and between white and minority students, noting the reading level of black students is two and a half grades behind white students.

If the U.S. gets education right, it will level the playing field and create a real meritocracy, he said.

“Education will be the great equalizer in America,” Bush said.

He also said it is harder to move up the economic ladder than before, saying only 4 percent of people in the bottom income tier make it to the top income tier and only 30 percent in the bottom tier make it to the middle tier.

This needs to change, he said.

“This is not the America we know that leads the world,” Bush said.

He said the U.S. needs to fix its failing immigration system to a system that is fair and legal. He said when established immigrants start business and families, it helps the economy.

He advised students to remain true to their convictions and faith, although he said the federal government has been violating freedom of faith recently, making it tough.

Bush said students should not miss work opportunities. He said they may not love every job they have, but they should not forget the value of hard work.

“Work is a virtue,” Bush said.

He said students should fight change that compromises their values, but should be early adopters of change that helps people.

Additionally, he said they should not let the ugliness of politics deter them from running for office, and they should not lose their faith.

Bush noted how much technology has increased since the graduates were born and how it will continue to increase at a rapid rate.

“In your lifetime, you'll see driverless cars,” Bush said.

He also said wireless technology will continue to grow, and medical technology almost can assure the current generation will live past 100 years old.

Bush thanked the graduates for their commitment, and thanked their families and parents for their commitment, such as reading to their child, going over math problems and driving them to practices.

“They are acts of sacrifice and, yes, acts of love,” Bush said.

He was not the first Bush to speak at the college. Former first lady Laura Bush, Jeb's sister-in-law, spoke at the 2011 commencement ceremony and helped kick off the college's current capital campaign.