The Most Viewed Commencement Speeches In the History Of YouTube (VIDEOS)

The right commencement speaker can make all the difference come graduation.

Sometimes a speaker says something so on key that it sticks with you for years to come. All of the speakers below did just that, making them amongst the best speeches of the internet age.

YouTube has posted a list of their 10 most viewed commencement speeches in the history of the video sharing site, including both famous and lesser known speakers who just seemed to say all the right things. Inspiring or just laugh-out-loud funny these speeches have just seemed to hit the right tone with viewers, boosting them into internet fame.

From Steve Jobs to Oprah, millions have viewed these videos, and while we're hesitant to call them the best speeches, it seems the viewers have spoken.

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10. Average is the New Exceptional - Binghamton University Commencement remarks (185k Views)

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The Binghamton University Events Center was filled with laughter provided by undergraduate Anthony Corvino, a bachelors degree candidate in political science, chosen to deliver the undergraduate student commencement remarks. Corvino championed the "average" individuals out there, who aren't often in the limelight, unlike their genius fellow students. The political science major thanked his "average" mom for always sending him a package of Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids on Halloween, and he proclaimed his opinion that Wikipedia is the greatest innovation ever. He then urged fellow graduates to thank those who helped them get to this point in their life. He also told his compatriots that while they may be "average," that doesn't mean they can't have an effect on the world and others. "You aren't given opportunity," Corvino said. "You fight for it." Corvino will remain at Binghamton to pursue his masters degree in elementary education. He has performed with the Dickinson Community Players and in Bard in the Yard and is currently the president of the Roller Hockey Club. Become a fan of this video on Facebook: www.facebook.com

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The Binghamton University Events Center was filled with laughter provided by undergraduate Anthony Corvino, a bachelors degree candidate in political science, chosen to deliver the undergraduate student commencement remarks. Corvino championed the "average" individuals out there, who aren't often in the limelight, unlike their genius fellow students. The political science major thanked his "average" mom for always sending him a package of Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids on Halloween, and he proclaimed his opinion that Wikipedia is the greatest innovation ever. He then urged fellow graduates to thank those who helped them get to this point in their life. He also told his compatriots that while they may be "average," that doesn't mean they can't have an effect on the world and others. "You aren't given opportunity," Corvino said. "You fight for it." Corvino will remain at Binghamton to pursue his masters degree in elementary education. He has performed with the Dickinson Community Players and in Bard in the Yard and is currently the president of the Roller Hockey Club. Become a fan of this video on Facebook: www.facebook.com

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Comments

[Comm Core]

01:15 PM on 05/31/2011

CommCore's CEO provides his suggestion to great graduation speeches. http://blog.commcoreconsulting.com/2011/05/what-makes-leader.html Let us know your thoughts!

[dbrett480]

06:28 PM on 05/29/2011

The Lisa Kudrow one was pretty good, although I love that Cosby wore a sweatshirt at the commencement speech.

[DlJack]

01:22 PM on 05/26/2011

i have to say i go to binghamton university and its pretty cool that a student made the list and that he is the only non public person up there.

[socialtalker]

01:18 AM on 05/26/2011

excellent, will make a youtube playlist of this speeches. I love a good speech.

[Analisa Perez]

07:22 PM on 05/25/2011

The commencement speech given by David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College in 2005. I can't believe it is no where on this list! Absolutely #1, by far. It is available in book form entitled "This Is Water". I suggest anyone who hasn't read it, READ IT. I've read it several times and refer to it on those occasions when I need a bit of perspective dealing with all of life's drama. Any of his writing is worthwhile, really.

[hagagaga]

12:59 AM on 05/25/2011

And Youtube is the best way of measuring a speech's quality?

[ImagesbyMagoe]

03:37 PM on 05/24/2011

The kind of speech that the majority of people can relate to. Speaking truth from the heart always makes the best speech!

[faithisforfools]

01:04 PM on 05/24/2011

I like Will Ferell at Harvard in 2003 myself. The bush impersonation was great.

[Boelle10]

01:02 PM on 05/24/2011

My favorite is definitely Roseanne Rosannadanna at the Columbia School of Journalism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_syuD-N_k

[RyanC1384]

12:58 PM on 05/24/2011

Missing one of the best I have ever seen: Stephen Colbert at Knox College

[itti22]

12:51 PM on 05/24/2011

bill nye the science guy!

[Ethiopianbuzz Mike]

12:47 PM on 05/24/2011

I speech 2.1 is great !

[leorangerie]

12:29 PM on 05/24/2011

Jobs' speech is one of the smartest twenty minutes I've ever heard...and usable. Do not live someone else's life...live your own. Deceptively simple, but impactful. Hopefully not wasted on the young.

[mettechrist]

12:16 PM on 05/24/2011

You COMPLETELY forgot Conan at Harvard in 2000 - an epic speech that has made its rounds all over the internet ever since. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cFY0-IFcwc

[Marshall Tse]

12:50 PM on 05/24/2011

thank for agreeing :-)

[csb3]

03:04 PM on 05/24/2011

My favorite too!

[Marshall Tse]

12:12 PM on 05/24/2011

THIS LIST IS FAKE!!! THE ALL TIME BEST and FUNNIEST was the commence speech by conan o brien in harvard,: here the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmD4wLp-wTI ... conan did went to harvard.. the speech in stuyvesant was great also, link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi4-1d9DB9Q

[mettechrist]

12:18 PM on 05/24/2011

AGREED about Harvard. And it has way more views than half this list.