Commencement/Baccalaureate Address

Kathy Hochul
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Syracuse University - Sept. 19, 2021
September 19, 2021
Gov. Hochul gave this address at Syracuse University’s “makeup” commencement ceremony for their 2020 graduates. Chancellor, it's always a little embarrassing when someone reads all those jobs. It sounds like I can't hold down a job, doesn't it? Oh, well, oh, well. Chancellor Syverud, I want to thank you for the extraordinary leadership that is the hallmark of your administration. I know a little bit about chancellors, I've had a few run ins with chancellors, I'll get to some of my stories in a few moments, but I want to […]
Sandra Day O’Connor
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Stanford University Commencement Speech: The Individual Often Does Make A Difference In Society - June 16, 1982
June 16, 1982
First. I want to say hello to the class of 1982. You are the people who asked mo to be with you today. My presence here reflects that there are some offers that even supreme court justices can't refuse. Yours was one of them. Thank you for asking me to share your day with you. Thank you, Don Kennedy, for your kind words and thoughts and thank you, dear friends of Stanford and of the graduates, for being here today for this wonderful celebration. As I stand here and look […]
Maria Ressa
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Graduates Day Remarks at Vanderbilt University - May 11, 2023
May 11, 2023
Ressa received Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in 2023, and spoke at the university's Graduates Day event. Thank you Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, members of the board, faculty…oh my gosh…Ed and Janice Nichols…and hello, class of 2023. [applause] Congratulations! I mean, you know, you have to like fill these moments, you know. Just stop a second.… Well first of all, while I was sitting back there I was thinking, oh my god, like when the rain started, I was like—this is a perfect metaphor for our world today, but let […]
Elizabeth Warren
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
UMass Boston Commencement Address - May 25, 2023
May 25, 2023
Good morning, UMass Boston! Congratulations! [cheers and applause] It is such an honor to be with you today. I want to begin by thanking the chancellor and the Board of Trustees for inviting me to join you today. Now,he chancellor explained to me that UMass Boston wanted a record breaking, movement inspiring, creative thinker for commencement speaker…unfortunately Taylor Swift was not available. So we’ll all just have to shake-shake-shake it off! Congratulations, Graduates! You have worked hard and you have earned this day, so rub it all over yourself, roll […]
Kamala Harris
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point - May 27, 2023
May 27, 2023
Vice President Harris was the first woman to deliver a commencement address at West Point. Good morning. To the members of Congress: Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Steve Womack, and Congressman Pat Ryan. To the Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth; Chief of Staff of the Army, General James McConville; and Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Lieutenant General Steven Gilland. And to the soldiers and officers, and faculty and staff, and distinguished guests: It is an honor — truly an honor — to be with all of you this […]
Nadia Murad
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Pitzer College - May 13, 2023
May 13, 2023
Good morning, class of 2023. Good morning, parents, teachers and everyone here who has supported these students through kindergarten, classroom, and finally to commencement. What an achievement. I am delighted and honored to be giving the address today. I hope that over the next few minutes I can offer you some words of advice and encouragement as you wave goodbye to college and head out onto life's open road. People often ask me what it takes to be an activist, young people in particular—people like you with passion, with convictions, […]
Nadia Murad
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Chapman University - May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022
Greetings, faculty, staff, students, friends, and families. It is wonderful to be celebrating here with you today. I would like to thank President Struppa for your leadership, shaping an institution that is so committed to the pursuit of knowledge, that supports social and international justice. I'm looking forward to staying involved with the university and its remarkable students and faculty in the years to come. Thank you, Dean Keene, for warm welcome this week and all the faculty and staff who have supported this and other events I have been […]
Terri Sewell
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Princeton University Class Day Remarks - May 29, 2023
May 29, 2023
To the mighty, unprecedented class of 2023—congratulations! [cheers and applause] To President Eisgruber, to the board of directors and trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, friends, and all who are assembled—good morning. It is indeed overwhelming for me to return home to Princeton as your 2023 Class Day speaker. As I look across the audience, I can't help but remember my own college graduation. For me, college was an exciting and transformational time in my life. College was what I call the wonder years. You know—I wonder if my classmate likes […]
Diana DeGette
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Colorado College - May 22, 2000
May 22, 2000
Thank you, President (Kathryn) Morhman. I am moved by that wonderful introduction. I've never regretted that decision the Board of Trustees made in 1992. I think Colorado College's history will show Kathryn to be maybe the best president we've ever had, and I think we're all honored to have her. I especially want to thank the class of 2000 for inviting me back today as your commencement speaker even after you had to suffer through my opening convocation speech several years ago. I am deeply honored by this, and I'm […]
Elizabeth “Liz” Cheney
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate Address, Speeches
Colorado College Commencement Address - May 28, 2023
May 28, 2023
During Cheney’s address, some graduating students turned their chairs around to face away from Cheney in protest of her conservative positions on issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and voting rights. [cheers and applause] President Richardson, trustees, faculty, administrators, parents, family members, and class of 2023. Congratulations on this wonderful day. It’s an honor to be here with most of you to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment. I can honestly say that all of those things that mean the most to me in this world, I owe to Colorado College. My […]