<p>[*Madoff</a> will headline Wharton graduation ceremony - News](<a href=“http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009/04/08/News/Madoff.Will.Headline.Wharton.Graduation.Ceremony-3701525.shtml]*Madoff”>http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009/04/08/News/Madoff.Will.Headline.Wharton.Graduation.Ceremony-3701525.shtml)</p>
<p>Nuruddin Farah is speaking at UC Berkeley’s English Department commencement.</p>
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<p>He’s doing ASU as well. (And not getting an honorary degree - which seems to be all they’re talking about on the news here)</p>
<p>Washington University in St. Louis - Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America</p>
<p>Dr. Matthew C. Spitzer, president of Doctors Without Borders USA, will deliver the commencement address at Vassar College.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama- USNA</p>
<p>“Astronaut Jim Lovell, whose message to Mission Control — “Houston, we’ve had a problem” — initiated one of the most dramatic episodes of the space age, has accepted an invitation to deliver the main address at Ithaca College’s Commencement ceremony on May 17, 2009.”</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon - Google Chairman, CEO Eric Schmidt</p>
<p>BC - Ken Burns
BC Law - Ben Bernanke</p>
<p>Warning, Ben Bernanke is deadly dull–but you will hang on his every word, trying to parse it for info that might affect your 401K.</p>
<p>Fortunately, I’ll be listening to Ken Burns instead. I’m hoping he will be entertaining.</p>
<p>Hamilton College- Cathie Black, president of Hearst Magazines</p>
<p>Harvard College Commencement- Steven Chu Nobel Prize winner and Secretary of Energy. A student was quoted in The Crimson as being “underwhelmed” by the selection.</p>
<p>Matt Lauer will speak for Class Day. Students are also disappointed with this selection- there is a funny analysis at “On Harvard Time” the Harvard student video comedy site.</p>
<p>Kids at Harvard are often underwhelmed with the selections. Last year, students complained about JK Rowling (“What can we learn from someone who writes children’s books?”). Turns out–quite a lot!</p>
<p>Kids were right about Bernanke, though…a little on the snoozy side…</p>
<p>At George Washington, it’s Rahm Emanuel. At least they don’t have to spend much $ to get him there.</p>
<p>Howard University, Gwen Ifill</p>
<p>Joe Biden will be the speaker at Wake Forest. Great job by WFU, bringing in a bigger-name speaker than those in recent years.</p>
<p>Knox College is having Patrick Fitzgerald. Very fitting for those of us from Illinois.</p>
<p>Wheaton College (MA) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick</p>
<p>President Obama is speaking at Arizona State U, which has a tradition of not handing out honorary degrees. I did hear, however, that they are going to start a scholarship in his name instead, which I think if funded well will have longer lasting effect than an honorary degree does.</p>
<p>Michelle Obama is speaking to the first graduating class at UC Merced. The students there started an email campaign to her, begging her to come.</p>