Commencement speech

Greetings parents and congratulations to Kenyon’s graduating class of 2005. There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and […]

I want to thank the Mills College Class of ’83 for offering me a rare chance: to speak aloud in public in the language of women. I know there are men graduating, and I don’t […]

Good morning Merrimack. I’d like to thank President Hopey, trustees, faculty, students, parents, and my apologies to all the grandparents in the audience who have absolutely no idea who I am. You are graduating from […]

Thank you, all. Thank you, President Spar, Ms. Golden, President Tilghman, Members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished faculty, proud swelling parents and family, and gorgeous class of 2010. If you are all really, really […]

Dean Green, deans, University Leadership, faculty, staff, parents, friends, and the 2015 class of New York University’s TISCH School of the Arts. Thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you today.  TISCH graduates, you […]

President Bridges, faculty, graduating class, parents, yes, students, and the man in the back who’s wondered into the wrong place by mistake. Good morning. My task is a pleasant one. I’m here today because I’m […]

Distinguished faculty, parents, guests, alumni, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Scarlett Knights of all ages, and especially graduates: Welcome and congratulations! You made it. Very nicely done. I plan to input some wisdom here, […]

Hello Knox College! Thank you students, faculty, parents, and elderly relatives who have no idea who I am. It is such an honor to be in the presence of hundreds of the sharpest young minds […]

It’s great to be back here on campus, back in Blacksburg. Its an honor to be here. Some of my fondest memories are of this town, of this campus. When my dad taught here, ­­those […]

Thank you Bevan, thank you all! I brought one of my paintings to show you today. Hope you guys are gonna be able see it okay. It’s not one of my bigger pieces. You might […]