Commencement Address / page 2

Susan Collins
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Husson University – May 11, 2019
May 11, 2019
President Clark, trustees, faculty and staff, parents, family, friends and in most of all, the class of 2019—what a great pleasure it is to join in this celebration. Congratulations to the members of this outstanding class. You did it and you deserve to celebrate—wisely, of course. Congratulations also to the outstanding individuals receiving honorary doctorates today, Carol Kanar and Larry Shaw. They exemplify the Husson spirit of accomplishment and service. Speaking of Husson spirit, please join me in thanking Julie Green for the39 years of dedication and contribution to this […]
Lucy McBath
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Virginia State University – May 19, 2019
May 19, 2019
Good afternoon, my fellow Trojans! President Abdullah, Provost Palm, faculty, distinguished guests, family and most importantly, the class of 2019—thank you for inviting me here today. Thank you for welcoming me home. It's an honor to deliver your commencement address this afternoon. Yes, my name is Lucy Macbeth, and I am the congresswoman for Georgia's sixth congressional district. I am the first Democrat to hold this seat since 1979 in Georgia. I am the first person of color to receive the Democratic nomination for this seat in Georgia. And I […]
Nancy Pelosi
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at San Francisco State University – May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Good evening, San Francisco State Class of 2019! Are there any Gators in the house? [Applause] I thought so! Thank you, President Leslie Wong, for your kind words, and for your great leadership of this legendary university. The campus and the country are grateful for your leadership and service, and we wish you and your wonderful wife Phyllis well in the next chapter of your lives. And thank you for paving the way for a woman to follow in your footsteps! We are all thrilled that President Lynn Mahoney will […]
Janet Mills
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at the University of New England – May 18, 2019
May 18, 2019
Thank you President Herbert, faculty, staff, parents, family, friends and University of New England graduates of 2019. I'm so honored to receive this degree and honored to address you on the occasion of your commencement. To the 1880 students, including 524 undergraduates, 888 graduate and 468 doctoral students receiving their degrees today, I welcome you to commencement, welcome you to our state if you haven't been here before or if you're coming back, and congratulations on your accomplishments. You graduates come from 53 states and territories in the United States, […]
Samantha Power
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Indiana University - May 4, 2019
May 4, 2019
HELLO, CLASS OF 2019. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO BE AMONG YOU, TO BE KIND OF CLASS OF 2019 IN MY OWN LITTLE WAY. I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE UP HERE LOOKING OUT AT THIS VAST SEA OF INSPIRING AND INSPIRED, I HOPE, PEOPLE AND THESE AMAZING, SHINING FACES—NOT SHINING BECAUSE OF THE RAIN, SHINING BECAUSE OF THE EXCITEMENT OF WHAT LIES AHEAD. AS I LOOK OUT AT WHAT IS ACTUALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, I THINK TO MYSELF, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE […]
Stacey Abrams
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address for American University School of Public Affairs – May 11, 2019
Thank you. You guys are too nice to me. I may not go home. To president Burwell, to Provost Myers, Dean Wilkins, trustees, faculty, administration, family, friends and the graduating class of 2019—thank you for having me here today. As a fellow graduate in the work of public affairs, I've had more than 20 years to think about what I intended to do with my degree and where I am today, and to cut to the chase I had no idea this is what was going to happen. I didn't […]
Hillary Rodham Clinton
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Hunter College - May 29, 2019
May 29, 2019
Thank you. Thank you so much. I have to say, this has been one of the most inspiring, heartfelt commencements that I've ever experienced and I am thrilled to be a part of it today. Madam President—that has a nice ring to it—thank you so much and thanks especially for the very personal descriptions of a few of the members of this class. I think honestly we could be here for a couple of days hearing each and every one of your stories, and I for one would welcome that. […]
Kirsten E Gillibrand
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at New England College - May 11, 2019
May 11, 2019
Thank you very much, President Perkins, thank you for inviting me here. I appreciate the invitation. Dr. Lesperance, the Board of Trustees, the faculty and the entire administration. And thank you to all the graduates today who inspire me every day. Congratulations as you enter this next phase of your life, a phase that is exciting, rewarding and maybe just a little bit intimidating. But as you step into the world, you are doing so prepared with the knowledge and skills that come from a great education here at New […]
Madeleine K Albright
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at UC San Diego - June 15, 2019
June 15, 2019
Chancellor Khosla, UC regents, distinguished faculty and trustees, honored guests, members of the class of 2019 – good morning. I want to begin by thanking you very much for the medal, which I will cherish. And thank you as well for inviting me to share with you this very exciting day, even if I'm merely a warm-up act for your remarkable student speaker, Michaela Juels. It's not every day that I speak to such a large audience or in a setting such as this. I actually feel as though I […]
Sonia Sotomayor
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Manhattan College - May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019
Hello. I am thrilled to be a new Jasper. President O'Donnell, I thank you and the Board of Trustees of this college for bestowing upon me my honorary degree. I take great pride in joining the great class of 2019. It is an honor for me to share this occasion with all of you. It is also particularly lovely for me to be here because it lets me return to my home borough, the Bronx, a place that makes my heart smile whenever I come back to it. You can […]