Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address / page 13

Tammy Duckworth
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
George Washington University Commencement Address - May 21, 2017
May 21, 2017
Thank you! Thank you all so much! Congratulations, class of 2017! And, of course, congratulations to all of the parents, sisters, brothers and family members who – loved ones, children – who made this day possible. The last time I was at one of these, I was down there as a student. It looks a lot different from up here! To the faculty, staff, students, and the entire GW community, thank you for this honorary degree and for inviting me to speak to you. It's such an unexpected honor, and […]
Laura Bush
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
High Point University Commencement Address - May 5, 2012
May 5, 2012
Thank you very much. Thank you, all of you and thank you Dr. Qubein for that very nice introduction. Thanks, everybody. Thank you all. Megan, thank you for your thoughtful remarks on behalf of your class and congratulations to you. Congratulations to the two distinguished faculty members, Professor Shore and Professor Simpson, for the awards that you received today. Thank you to all of the distinguished faculty, to the Board of Trustees, the alumni, the parents and the families for your very warm welcome. Most of all, thank you and […]
Cecile Richards
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Barnard College Commencement Address - May 18, 2014
May 18, 2014
Thank you. Thank you, President Spar, Board of Trustees. Patti Smith – wow - Ursula Burns, Mahzarin R. Banaji. It's a tremendous honor to be mentioned alongside all of you. To beaming relatives and friends, proud and adoring parents, and the ecstatic graduates class of 2014. It's been tremendous to see many of you speak today, just to see the support and love that you have for each other. Congratulations on a job well done. [applause] Yeah, give it up for yourselves I'm incredibly honored to be here and a […]
Tarana Burke
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
UPenn School of Social Policy Commencement Speech – May 14, 2018
May 14, 2018
Thank you, Dean Jackson. I almost want to say "Ditto" and sit down. [laughter] That was a lovely, lovely introduction. Thank you. Greetings, Class of 2018. How are you? [cheers] I should echo those sentiments and say, "Puerto Rico!" [cheers] Yes, let's not forget Puerto Rico is still suffering, y'all. Here's a fun fact – I did not attend my college graduation. My senior year in college, I was a busybody – or at least that' what the administration called me. I was serving as the president of the African-American […]
Patrisse Khan-Cullors
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Pitzer College – May 14, 2016
May 14, 2016
That was the longest bio ever – how embarrassing. I'm grateful to be here. Thank you, students, for picking me to show up on your day. I'm excited and energized. I've been on this campus a few times to show my art and it's been incredible to listen to all of your accomplishments. I hope you're proud of yourself. Look at the person next to you and say, "Thank you and that's what's up." [laughter] I woke up full of grace, stronger in my back, drank some water, asked myself […]
Alicia Garza
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
San Francisco State University Commencement Address - May 25, 2017
May 25, 2017
This is an ode to Black women— because Black women are magic. This is an ode to the Black women who persisted and the Black women who helped them each and every step of the way. Were it not for a Black woman from the Midwest who could do anything a man could do and definitely do it better. Were it not for that same Black woman getting pregnant with me and not being quite sure how she was gonna do it but she did it anyway. Yes, she persisted […]
Donna Shalala
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
University of Miami Commencement Address - December 15, 2016
December 15, 2016
President Frenk, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, graduates, and guests, it is a pleasure for me to be back here on this stage. I want to congratulate my friend Dean Nena Peragallo on receiving the President’s Medal. She has been a fabulous colleague and leader. I’m especially grateful to receive this honorary degree. I may have been President of this university for 14 years - - but today, for the first time, I can say with great pride that it’s great to be a Miami Hurricane! I […]
Donna Shalala
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
"Expect the Unexpected" - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Commencement Address - May 26, 2016
May 26, 2016
Thank you so much, Dean Hunter. And thank you for your leadership. Let’s give Dean Hunter a big hand. It’s not easy to be an acting anything. Before I begin, I’d like to give a shout out to the Green Team. I had a chance to meet them when I first arrived, and all of you have done a remarkable job, not just in recycling but in thinking about how we improve the environment. So let’s give a bug hand to the Eco-Opportunity group. Dean Hunter, let me also congratulate […]
Oprah Winfrey
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Smith College Commencement Address – May 21, 2017
May 21, 2017
Wow. Wow, wow. [cheers] It feels good. Feels good to be with you and just to be here in this quad. Such great vibrations from all you Smithies. Thank you. [cheers] Thank you. Thank you. President McCartney, I told you to invite me. Took you four years. [laughter] We were sitting on a stage at Harvard and she said, "I'm going to Smith. I'm going to be president." I go, "Invite me!" [laughter] Thank you! [laughter and cheers] To the Board of Trustees, chairwoman Deborah Duncan, the Provost Katherine Rowe, […]
Oprah Winfrey
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Agnes Scott Commencement Address - May 13, 2017
May 13, 2017
Morning, Agnes Scott! [cheers] I gotta give it to y'all, Y'all do it, y'all do it right. I gotta say this. You get up, you get out, you get it on, you get it over, and out into the world. By noon today, you'll be launched into the world. Congratulations, class of 2017. [cheers and applause] I'm really happy to be here. As President Kiss said, this this isn't my first visit. I was here in the summer filming for "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" over, I think it […]