8 Famous People Speaking at College Graduations in 2014
As graduation season rolls along, students all over the world prepare to sit for hours listening to commencement speeches and college deans calling off names from a long roll call sheet, waiting…waiting…waiting…as they bake in the hot sun in anticipation of finally receiving their hard earned college diploma. Every year, universities vie to spice things up for students (and improve their street cred) by harnessing big names into participating as keynote speakers at graduations. In 2014, a wide range of international celebrities from P.Diddy to John Legend to Bill and Melinda Gates have confirmed their participation in commencement ceremonies.
Check out these 2014 commencement speeches given by:
1. Sean Combs (P. Diddy) at Howard University
No, it’s not because Howard University in Washington, DC is a historically black university. Sean Combs, more famously known by his stage rapper name P.Diddy, was a student at Howard University before he dropped out to pursue music in 1990.
2. Jimmy Page at Berklee College of Music
Last week, the famous guitarist for Led Zeppelin kept it short and sweet at Berklee College of Music’s graduation ceremony.
3. Jay Leno at Emerson College
Talk show host and comedian Jay Leno kept the tone light but meaningful in his commencement speech at Emerson College. He was also presented with an honorary doctorate of human letters.
4. Katie Couric at American University’s School of Communication
Renowned reporter and TV host Katie Couric spoke at the commencement ceremony for the School of Communication at American University in DC.
Stay tuned for…
5. Michael Bloomberg at Harvard University
New York City major Michael Bloomberg will be the principal speaker at Harvard University’s commencement ceremony on May 29th. He is an alumna of Harvard (M.B.A. class of ’66)
6. Bill Clinton at NYU Abu Dhabi
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton will be speaking at NYU Abu Dhabi’s first graduation ceremony on May 25th. NYU opened its Abu Dhabi branch on Saadiyat Island just four years ago in 2010.
7. John (Stephens) Legend at University of Pennsylvania
The nine time Grammy Award-winning soul artist will be speaking at the University of Pennsylvania’s commencement ceremony on May 19th. Legend graduated from UPenn in 1999 with a B.A. in English and a concentration in African American literature and culture.
8. Bill and Melinda Gates at Stanford University
Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, founders of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will share the podium as the keynote speakers at Stanford University’s commencement weekend from June 13th-15th.
WE SAID THIS: Watch the ‘5 Most Inspirational Speeches in Modern History‘.
