Commencement Speakers

[twinmom]

Ben Bernanke is the Class Day speaker at Harvard. From the Crimson:

“When we found out J.K. Rowling was going to be speaking [at Commencement], we wanted to find someone that would kind of balance our graduation ceremonies,” said Class Marshall Alexander J. Tennant ’08. “He’s a Harvard alum, and he is also in a position to make major decisions for the US and the economy, and we thought he would provide that perfect balance of thought.”

[originaloog]

Rensselaer had David Gergen whose speech was better than I expected given his on air speaking style, the gist of which was for students to find their inner passion, their Lambarene.

[Elleneast]

Chris Matthews is really making the rounds. He is speaking at our local community college graduation ceremony next week.

[Dean J]

You can look most up on The Chronicle website: The Chronicle: Commencement Speaker Database: May 20, 2008

[kjofkw]

Carnegie Mellon: Al Gore gave the keynote speech. Randy Pausch also gave a speech, featured on GMA the following day. Both received well-deserved standing ovations.

[ellemenope]

>>Rensselaer had David Gergen whose speech was better than I expected given his on air speaking style, the gist of which was for students to find their inner passion, their Lambarene.<<

Had to look up Lambarene...and how it works in this context. Thanks, learned something new today--I try to learn something new every day. (I can quit for today.)

[nngmm]

David McCullough Urges BC Graduates To Speak Properly: Cut The "Like!" - Media on The Huffington Post

[Tammy Bear]

I agree with ucsd-ucla-dad -- my nephew is graduating from Johns Hopkins this week and our whole fam-damily is very excited about Bill Nye The Science Guy! First time I've really looked forward to a commencement speech.

[Lafalum84]

A few years ago Mr Rogers spoke at BU. When he stood up to speak, the entire class sang the entire Mr Rogers Neighborhood theme song.

Personally I'd love to hear JK Rowling. She must have such a creative and intelligent mind to come up with such a fully-formed fantasy world, with an entire system of magic that is consistent and makes sense, and the characters who inhabit this world have complete personalities with strengths and weaknesses. I'm not much of a fantasy or sci-fi fan, I tried but couldn't get interested in Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings, but when I first began reading Harry Potter to my kids, and got to the part where she describes Hogwarts, and how the people in the paintings move between pictures and visit one another, and how the staircases move and their destination varies depending on the day of the week... I was hooked. What a fascinating world she created, I'm sure she'll be an interesting speaker.

[1sokkermom]

I thought that the Duke commencement speaker was awful, even though she is a known author. (Barbara Kingsolver) - She also has a daughter who is a student at Duke.

She used the speech as a platform to talk about Global Warming and her liberal views on communal living. Not appropriate at all in my opinion for this occassion! This topic was somewhat ironic since is was such a cold and rainy day in May in the South! She went on and on, when no one was listening because it was pouring rain and everyone was very uncomfortable. At one point a group of students started clapping, hoping she would cut the speech short. She didn't.

S mentioned that she was the "substitute" commencement speaker, and many students and parents were very disappointed. The student paper had an article about the speech and the comments were brutal, but accurate.

[ticklemepink]

CBS reporter Lesley Stahl at Colgate... not exactly too inspiring (the fact the graduation was held out in pouring rain didn't quite make it all better!).

But we got a big treat to have the Dalai Lama two weeks earlier!! That was enough!

I would've really liked to see Bill Nye, Steven Colbert, and JK Rowling

[marite]

Lafalum:

You're in the Boston area, right? The Commencement Day speaker is in the afternoon, and usually the gates are open then. Members of the general public can often get in. Otherwise, the whole thing is available on the Harvard web. Last year, I watched the students. One of them, a Canadian female student, was absolutely hilarious.

[dragonmom]

"I agree with ucsd-ucla-dad -- my nephew is graduating from Johns Hopkins this week and our whole fam-damily is very excited about Bill Nye The Science Guy! First time I've really looked forward to a commencement speech."


Oh, I wish I knew someone graduating and could think of some excuse to get there.... Bill Nye is our family hero!
Re: Barbara Kingsolver - I loved some of her earlier novels but she lost me with the one worshiping coyotes.....

[jmmom]

Tulane had James Carville and Mary Matalin, the political world's Odd Couple. I expected they would be very good and heard that they were. They have ties to New Orleans, as well, and recently moved back there.

[Lafalum84]

marite, thanks! I'll check out the Harard web. I can just imagine the Harry Potter fanatics storming the gates of Harvard in full wizard regalia....