Commencement Speakers 2011

As seniors scramble to finish up final projects and take their last exams, a cadre of politicians, celebrities and artists prepare to give them tips on life after college.

Check out our slide show of 21 commencement speakers who are sure to make a splash.

Did we include someone you hate, or miss someone you love? Let us know in the comments section.

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Michelle Obama

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The First Lady will speak at the University of Northern Iowa, Spelman College and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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The First Lady will speak at the University of Northern Iowa, Spelman College and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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Comments

[jnp1401]

11:48 PM on 05/28/2011

Adrianna Huffington was the commencement speaker at Sarah Lawrence College. While I expected an intelligent and insightful speech, I was charmed by Ms. Huffington's humor. She was a perfect fit for the SLC Class of 2011.

[skrudolph]

09:58 AM on 05/24/2011

The best commencement address of 2011 was Chris Sacca at the University of Minnesota.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RskzYHPlh5U

Watch it and "be your weird self!"

[Mike Nagel]

09:58 PM on 05/15/2011

Robert Gates also spoke at North Dakota State Unicersity

[Monica Medina]

02:01 AM on 05/12/2011

Stephen Colbert will speak at his alma mater, Northwestern University.

[ctowner256]

09:55 PM on 05/07/2011

Katie Couric will be speaking at Boston University's commencement, featuring Vicki Kennedy receiving an honorary doctorate.

[Allison Hogshead]

07:16 PM on 05/06/2011

Lance Armstrong @ High Point University!

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

04:07 PM on 05/06/2011

Wait! Who is speaking at U. of Phoenix?

Oh wait...no one actually graduates from there. Forgot.

[considerthis]

12:15 PM on 05/06/2011

Thankful I didn't send my kid to Ohio State or Eureka. Her speaker may not be a big celebrity but that's ok with me.

[kathryndc]

07:54 PM on 05/04/2011

We are so excited to have alumnus Mike Duke - the CEO of WalMart - speak at Georgia Institute of Technology's graduation!

[bgofca]

07:54 PM on 05/07/2011

yuk

[Always Conservative]

04:50 PM on 05/10/2011

More successful than Janet Neopolitan...

[AcademicFreedom]

08:00 PM on 04/26/2011

When Mr. Wiesle speaks at Washington University, I'm sure the lefty professors will not turn their back on him as they did with Phillys Schlafly a couple of years ago. Lefty professors are such poorly behaved children.

[ktylerconk]

01:07 PM on 04/26/2011

Comedian Jane Condon, currently playing in her one woman show off-Broadway, will be the commencement spreaker at her alma mater, Wellesley College.

[Alicia Halberg]

03:19 PM on 04/25/2011

Secretary Sebelius will be speaking at the University of Washington in Seattle!

[blueinohio]

03:26 AM on 04/24/2011

I'm glad my son doesn't graduate until 2012 from Ohio State, so I wont have to sit through a speech by John Boehner!!

[Murray43H]

03:49 PM on 04/25/2011

He's speaking also at The Catholic University of America

[babsoncollegepr]

01:43 AM on 04/23/2011

@biz @babson

[Reyna Gara]

03:24 AM on 04/22/2011

Felipe Calderon will be at Stanford. I really wonder what he is going to talk about.