Commencement Address / page 3

Gretchen Whitmer
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
University of Michigan Commencement Address - May 4, 2019
May 4, 2019
Hello, you beautiful Wolverines! President Schlissel; Provost Philbert; distinguished deans; faculty, regents, staff; friends and family; and most importantly, the amazing class of 2019: Congratulations! I am truly honored to celebrate with you today. You may know that I am a Spartan. I have been since my dad took me to see Magic Johnson at Jenison Field House in East Lansing. Now, while I think he’s the finest athlete to come out of our great state, though I can admit Tom Brady and Derek Jeter probably round out the top […]
Elizabeth Warren
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Morgan State University Commencement Address - Dec. 14, 2018
December 14, 2018
Hello Morganites! Happy graduation! This is exciting. Thank you, President Wilson. Thank you, Board of Trustees. And I want to take a moment to thank a champion and fearless leader in the fight for social, economic and racial justice for being with us today. Your congressman and my dear friend and long-time partner in many, many fights, Congressman Elijah Cummings. I am so happy to be here with you. This iconic place is a shining example of what HBCUs have embodied in this country for over a hundred years - […]
Anita Hill
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Lesley University - May 18, 2019
May 18, 2019
Wow, thank you. This is just…I'm overwhelmed. I suppose I should start by saying thank you to the Board of Trustees, to President [Richard] Hansen, Provost [Margaret] Everett, faculty and staff and students and everyone here today for making this one of the highest honors of my life. I am thrilled to accept the Lesley University's honorary degree and I am privileged to address this outstanding class of 2019. Congratulations. In 1973 I sat at my college graduation just as you do today. It was a great day for me […]
Anita Hill
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Wellesley College - May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019
Good afternoon. Is it afternoon? It’s morning. Good morning! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Of course, I want to thank President Johnson for that generous introduction, but I also want to thank her for her leadership here at Wellesley. Yes, and in the higher education community at large. Those of us in the community are so grateful that she took on the role of president of Wellesley College three years ago. To the Board of Trustees, Provost Shennan, faculty, staff who made this commencement ceremony possible, thank you. Please […]
Oprah Winfrey
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Colorado College Commencement Address - May 19, 2019
May 19, 2019
I've got to say that's a full-circle moment for me, and I'd just like to take a moment to thank Jesus and the ancestors and do a little happy dance. Because I brought 20 girls to the United States. I've been to…this is my 19th and final graduation today. Nineteen graduations in the past three years. And what's interesting is…17 graduations and two baccalaureates because I had three twice in one day in three different cities and couldn't get to all three cities in one day. So to be here […]
Alma Adams
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Commencement Address at Bennett College - May 6, 2017
To interim President Dawkins, to the illustrious past sister presidents Dr. Gloria Randle Scott, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Dr. Esther Terry and Dr. Rosalind Fuse-Hall. Distinguished guests, faculty and staff, trustees, alum, friends, parents and most especially, most especially to the phenomenally bold, brilliantly awesome graduating class of 2017 – Bennett Belles, good morning! It is a distinct honor and privilege to join you today as you embark upon new beginnings. Dr. Scott, congratulations to you. Dr. Cole, thank you for the task that you undertaken. And thank you to […]
Michelle Obama
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
North Carolina A&T University Commencement Address - May 12, 2012
May 12, 2012
MRS. OBAMA: Good morning, everyone. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: Good morning. MRS. OBAMA: You all, rest yourselves. (Laughter.) First of all, let me thank Chancellor Martin for that very kind introduction. I also want to thank Davonta and everyone from the Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees, the faculty, and all of the staff here who have worked so hard on this event and on making you the men and women that you are. I also have to thank the University Choir. You all are amazing. (Applause.) As the Chancellor said, […]
Gwen Ifill
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Wake Forest University Commencement Address – May 20, 2013
May 20, 2013
Congratulations, to all you Demon Deacons out there. Congratulations – it's a big day. And thank you, President Hatch, for having me. I’m happy to be here – actually, I'm happy to be anywhere where they don't confuse me with Queen Latifah. Saturday Night Live impersonations can be a blessing and a curse. I have been blessed over the years to share days like this on college campuses all over the country. Along the way, I have learned a thing or two about commencement speeches. Among them: everyone’s in a […]
Barbara P Bush
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Wake Forest University Commencement Address - May 21, 2001
May 21, 2001
The following speech was delivered on May 21, 2001 and was transcribed by the Wake Forest News Service. Thank you very, very much. Thank you President Hearn, trustees, faculty, parents, and, of course, the Class of 2001. I’m really delighted to be here today on this very special day as you leave this really beautiful campus. I’m told that your four years here, and I should say graduate students, too, however many years you spent here, have been filled with very many exciting triumphsÖ You know, you’ve had two historic […]
Madeleine K Albright
categories: Commencement Address, Speeches
Bucknell University Commencement Address - May 19, 2019
May 19, 2019
President Bravman, distinguished faculty, families and friends, Bucknellians: good morning. Let me begin by thanking the senior class for the invitation to be with you on this very exciting day. I was told that the students wanted to hear from a “strong and impressive woman.” Well, if that is true, then you only need to look as far as your all-star class congress — led by President Laura Bart, Vice President Emily Shapiro and Treasurer Annie Girton. I have attended many graduations as a student, and a mother, and a […]