Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address / page 8

Stacey Abrams
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Bowie State University Commencement Address - May 21, 2021
May 21, 2021
President Breaux, Provost Goodman, faculty, staff, family, friends and most importantly graduates, thank you for having me here today. Please allow me to commend the students, faculty, staff and administration of Bowie State University for your perseverance during what has been a tumultuous year. My time in college wasn't quite this rough. During my time, however, I became well known at the registrar’s office for my many majors. I dabbled in physics and philosophy, theater and English, history and film, deciding that I needed to declare each of them as […]
Angela D Merkel
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Harvard University Commencement Address - May 30, 2019
May 30, 2019
President Bacow, fellows of the corporation, members of the Board of Overseers, members of the Alumni Board, members of the faculty, proud parents and graduates: Today is a day of joy. It's your day. Many congratulations. I am delighted to be here today and would like to tell you about some of my own experiences. This ceremony marks the end of an intensive and, probably also, hard chapter in your lives. Now the door to a new life is opening. That's exciting and inspiring. The German writer Hermann Hesse had […]
Oprah Winfrey
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Howard University Commencement Address - May 12, 2007
May 12, 2007
President Swygert, trustees, distinguished guests, my fellow honorees, my shero Dr. Dorothy Height, graduates, parents, friends—what a deep honor to be here today for me. I think Dr. Gates said it best. You can receive a lot of awards in your life but there is nothing better… [tearing up; applause] there is nothing better than to be honored by your own. [applause] Thank you, thank you. I'll be calling myself Dr. Winfrey on Monday morning on The Oprah Show. [cheers and applause] Well let me just say that everybody I […]
Madeleine K Albright
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Columbia School of International and Public Affairs Commencement Address - April 28, 2021
April 28, 2021
Dean [Merit] Janow, members of the Class of 2021, and your loved ones. I'm so pleased to help you commemorate this landmark moment in your lives. As a former student and current professor, I have always loved commencement ceremonies, especially the awarding of diplomas, the lovely music and the multicolored academic robes. And what could be better than when the diploma and the robes are from Columbia? As you can see, I never miss an opportunity to wear mine. I regret, after this most harrowing of years, you're not able […]
Joyce Beatty
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Ohio State University Commencement Address - August 6, 2017
August 6, 2017
Thank you. To President Drake, thank you for your incredible leadership and for inviting me to deliver today's commencement address. To the Board of Trustees, distinguished Deans, Faculty and Staff, proud parents, guests and—most of all—graduates, welcome and congratulations! Commencement comments are a special challenge, they are expected to charge graduates with plausible words of wisdom. So, graduates have no fear, I am well aware that on a day of such high excitement, what you require first and foremost of any speaker is brevity. I shall not fail you in […]
Susan E Rice
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Ohio State University Commencement Address - June 10, 2012
June 10, 2012
Good afternoon, everyone. President Gee, thank you for your warm welcome and your outstanding leadership. The Ohio State University is mighty lucky to have you - again. If anyone out there doubts that public education can meet today's challenges, just come to the home of the Buckeyes. I'm honored to be part of your 400th commencement-the last class to hear those bells. I'm also excited because your invitation allows me to bring back to campus, for the first time since his graduation, a proud Buckeye who's very special to me. […]
Elizabeth Dole
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Ohio State University Commencement Address - June 9, 1989
June 9, 1989
Remarks Prepared for Delivery Thank you very much, President Jennings. And thank you, members of the senior class--soon to be graduates--for inviting me to share this day with you and your families, and for honoring me with a degree from Ohio state. My husband wanted me to ask if the Honorary Degree entitles me to dot the "I" in script "Ohio" at a halftime this fall. If so, I start taking sousaphone lessons when I return to Washington. And President Bush asked me to pass along his best wishes to […]
Katherine Clark
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Framingham State University Commencement Address - May 23, 2021
May 23, 2021
Hello, I am thrilled to be part of today's celebration and humbled to receive the honorary Doctorate of Public Service. Thank you to Framingham State University, President Cevallos, faculty, and staff, who have invited me to be part of today's commencement ceremony. Welcome to family and friends. And most importantly, congratulations to our graduates! For you and your families, this will be a day to remember in a year to remember. While I think many rightfully want to put the last year and a half behind us, I want us […]
Elizabeth Warren
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Harvard Law School Class Day Address - May 27, 2021
May 27, 2021
This address was delivered virtually. Hello, Harvard class of 2021. I wish that we could be doing this in person to celebrate, but as we know it's just not possible right now. If we were together, I would tell a few jokes about Socratic teaching, and by now, knowing that you would never have to sit through another Socratic class again, you might even laugh. We would dress up. We would also take selfies. And I would have a chance to tell each one of you how happy I am […]
Stacey Abrams
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
University of Colorado Law School Commencement Address - May 9, 2021
May 9, 2021
This address was delivered via Zoom during the virtual commencement ceremony. Thank you so much, Wilson [Wilson D. Scarbeary, class treasurer]. Thank you to Dean [James] Anaya, to faculty, to family, to the administration and staff, and of course, to the graduates of 2021. Thank you all so much for having me, although I'm going to begin this with a little bit of a gripe. Emma [Emma W. Hancock, class president], you are from Georgia and you know that as the Southern hospitality rules go, you don't upstage your guests. […]