Graduations ceremonies are happening all over the country so we decided to offer a roundup of some of the more interesting ones that feature celebrities or newsmakers as guest speakers.
What did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tell graduates? Did you see what former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said about the Republican Party?
Here is a snapshot of those and other commencement speeches.
Liz Cheney, former U.S. House representative – Colorado College:
“After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say that the 2020 election was stolen, that the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and that Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous. I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership. America cannot remain a free nation if we abandon the truth. So as you go out to change the world, resolve that you will stand in truth. Those who are trying to unravel the foundations of our republic, who are threatening the rule of law and the sanctity of our elections, know they can’t succeed if you vote. So Class of 2023, get out and vote. This means listening and learning, including – especially – from those with whom we disagree. This means running for office. We need you to work to defend our Constitution and defeat those who deny the sanctity of our elections. We are entrusting our nation – and the future of freedom – to your care.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine – Johns Hopkins University:
“Every person eventually realizes that time is the most valuable resource on the planet, not oil or uranium, not lithium or anything else, but time, time. While it is still possible to find new deposits of oil or lithium, and if in the future humanity can start mining resources in space, it is still purely science fiction to live longer than has been given. The time of life of all Ukrainians who are forced to live through this terrible Russian aggression, unfortunately, is subject to many factors that are not all in their control. You have to know exactly why you need today and how you want your tomorrows to look like. All of our tomorrows and the tomorrows of our children and grandchildren depend on each of our todays.”
Angela Bassett, award-winning actress, director and executive producer – Chapman University:
“You have perhaps seen me on ‘9-1-1’ during a study break, or in the theater in films like ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ or ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout.’ But to only see my life in that way would be the equivalent of opening a book to the 10th of 13 chapters and feel like you know the full story. My career did not begin on the location of a glamorous film set or on a reality-defying soundstage. I started acting at the St. Petersburg Little Theater in a production of ‘The Great Sebastians’ while I was still in high school. The fire that acting ignited in me was so fierce that it fueled me each day as I juggled a busy schedule filled with classes and homework assignments. But that’s what we do when we have goals. We work towards them, despite the challenges, difficulties and sacrifices we might have to make. So now, if someone ever says to you that you are doing too much, you tell them, ‘I’m just getting started.’ “
Patton Oswalt, comedian, author and actor – William & Mary:
“It’s been truly amazing to see how your generation has rebelled against every bad habit of mine and every generation that came before me. You’ve rejected that whole 24/7, no days off grind. You’ve rejected apathy. You’ve rejected ignoring your mental health. You’ve rejected alienation and cruelty. You rejected not trying to include everyone, and you’ve rejected not looking out for each other – and those are hard things to reject. Because accepting them sometimes makes life way easier. If you just shut off your soul from the world, life is way easier. It’s also way less colorful. It’s way less complicated, way less nourishing and way less memorable. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. I’ve seen port-a-potties on fire from a helicopter above Woodstock ’99. I’ve seen Charlize Theron glitter in the dark from the backstage wings of the Oscars. All of these moments, and far better ones, are waiting to be experienced and marveled at by every one of you. It’s time to live.”
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani – Adelphi University:
“For me, this school is more than a degree. Adelphi University is my Ellis Island. Imagine it is the fall of 1994. There is a 21-year-old boy on the train to Garden City (New York). And he is terrified. He just arrived in America. He doesn’t know a soul. And he doesn’t speak English. This morning, I took the same train out to Garden City that I took 29 years ago. Looking at all of the other passengers, I couldn’t help but wonder how many of them ate Chobani yogurt this morning? But who would have thought that the yogurt recipe I carried in my bag 29 years ago would one day be welcomed in homes across America? I wonder today what I would say to the 21-year-old boy now. I’d say you were right to leave Turkey when you did. What an amazing country we are living in. There is magic in the soil here. There are things you can do in America that you can’t do anywhere else on earth. We can never forget how fortunate we are to be here. With it comes a responsibility to keep this country’s light alive for future generations, and to make this world a better place.”
Juan Manuel Santos, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Colombia – University of Notre Dame:
“I worked to achieve peace with the oldest and most powerful guerrilla group in the Western Hemisphere – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. It was not an easy task. In fact, making peace is much more difficult than making war. I know this because I have made both. We face immense challenges ahead, as humanity always has. There are countless conflicts across the planet. Not only the war on Ukraine, but also the wars in Asia and Africa. And now, we have a new existential threat straight out of science fiction. Many experts are warning us about artificial intelligence and its real dangers to humankind. Many scientists have even asked for a moratorium in its development, cautioning us that we must first learn to master AI before it masters us. This threat is so real that one of the godfathers of AI resigned from Google. Of course, AI, like all technological breakthroughs, can be harmful or can be beneficial. It depends entirely on us and on our wisdom in using it. Humanity has overcome existential crises in its hundreds of thousands of years on earth, and I am certain, certain that we will be able to overcome the current ones.”
Stephen Kaufer, co-founder and former CEO of TripAdvisor – Bentley University:
“Rather than riff on your future responsibilities as titans of industry, or urge you to ‘follow your dreams’ – news flash: you’re probably not going to be a professional basketball player anytime soon – I thought I would share with you six specific principles that I’ve come to appreciate in my professional and personal life. 1) Speed wins – the faster you go, the more chances you get to succeed. 2) If it is worth doing, it is worth measuring – know what the goal is, and measure your progress so you can achieve it. 3) Embrace change – when change happens, try to leverage the opportunity to your advantage. 4) Don’t be afraid of hard work – working hard on professional and personal goals is a great investment. 5) Own your integrity – you control your reputation; live by the rules you believe in. 6) Pay it forward, you’ll find it very rewarding.”
CJ McCollum, point guard for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans – Lehigh University:
“Your future won’t be drawn by a straight line or even pace. I’m in the wine business, too! In my experience, whether manufacturing fine wines, negotiating contracts or playing hoops, the only consistent rhythm is start-and-stop, speed up then slow down. Timing is everything! As president of the NBA Players Association, I’ve spent the last two years bargaining for the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) agreement. In negotiations, both sides need to know when to back off or move the deal forward – to land on a mutually beneficial agreement. It’s a matter of determining the right balance. In an intense and fast-paced sport like basketball, effectively controlling the game’s tempo typically earns critical advantage over the competition. While the world whirls at breakneck speed, patience, flexibility and strategic timing increases the likelihood of success. You’ll find in the next exciting chapter of your life what gets measured matters. But don’t limit how you measure success to titles, salaries or advanced degrees. Factor in your personal growth and happiness as you overcome the inevitable challenges ahead. Calculate the impact you make on others – and positive changes you personally bring to the world.”
