Commencement Speeches

Attorney Ted Olson credits his college debate coach as his inspiration to fight against Proposition 8 --California's law prohibiting same-sex marriage...

After you walk across the stage and accept your diploma, there is a question you need to keep in mind and an answer for yourself when things get rough (and they will): What great things have come from being comfortable?

"So dream on. Dream on. Dream until your dreams come true." -Robert Fischer, Belmont University, 6:21 "We will ultimately rise up with social act...

On May 21, Wake Forest's distinguished Class of 2012 received their diplomas. Yet, one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of Commencement -- the keynote speech - - was an embarrassment.

The system by which we fund higher education may be horribly broken, but that in no way means the people who are a product of it should be written off. Graduates should feel empowered to effect these changes. If they don't -- if they're all too cynical and feel there's no use in trying -- then we're in big trouble.

There's something we can guarantee will be in the speeches given at college commencement ceremonies; a boat-load of cliches. Whether you're going t...

College is a lot like the Garden of Eden. It's a pretty place. The temptations are many. And just when you get a little taste of knowledge, the administration kicks you out. So, go out there and don't just see the world, but become involved in the world.

After congratulating University of Southern California School of Theater graduates, Gary Ross, director of the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games, w...

Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami brought out two special guests at the University of Vermont's commencement ceremony -- SpongeBob Squarepants and P...

ABC News' Barbara Walters delivers a punchy speech to Yale's class of 2012. She discusses her experiences interviewing world leaders on the topic of l...

Twitter co-creator Dom Sagolla told Becker College’s graduates to "seek out" constraints in his commencement address Monday. "Embrace constraint...

Many of you won't begin your lives in earnest right away. And that's fine. Our culture encourages that in twentysomethings, particularly of a certain social class. Self-regard is permitted as we make our way in the world.

Bill Nye "The Science Guy," and/or TV host and environmental advocate, challenged the graduates of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., to work t...

Commencement speeches are the worst kind of speech, because you need to be enthusiastic and inspiring in your own voice. There is nothing cheesier than that.

Belmont University President Robert Fisher started the commencement season strong with this short, sweet address to graduates totally comprised of son...

A good commencement speech gets graduates motivated about their futures; a great commencement speech gets cited as a source of inspiration for years a...

Bottom line, Class of 2012: The hippies who brought you strobe lights and Led Zeppelin are graying -- and they've got 450 million boomer peers worldwide. Your success depends upon all of us creating new paths of education to keep these "seniors" at the cutting-edge.

That piece of paper you just picked up doesn't matter. Neither does your major, your GPA or any "honors" you graduated with. From here on out, the only thing that matters is your work.

We gave you round one, now here's round two of some of the 2012 commencement speakers we're excited about. Being journalists and admitted nerds, Hu...

It's getting closer to that time of year. That's right, it's nearly commencement season! It's that day when thousands of young 20-somethings wake u...