Speeches

Valerie Jarrett
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Williams College Commencement Address - June 8, 2025
June 8, 2025
Thank you, Maude, for that lovely introduction. I am deeply honored to be here with all of you and receive this honorary degree together with my fellow honoree. Good morning, everyone. Oh come on – good morning, everyone! [audience: good morning] That's much better. Class of 2025, both the seniors and the master’s students – congratulations! You did it. But as your class speakers have not acknowledged, you did not do this alone. Congratulations to your family and friends who supported you every step of the way, many of who […]
Gina Ortiz Jones
categories: Campaign Speech, Speeches, Victory Speech
Mayoral Race Victory Speech – June 7, 2025
June 7, 2025
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Truly, I am looking out into a crowd of folks that work their butts off. I could not be more thankful. It was my name on the ballot. But you and I know decency was on the ballot. Kindness was on the ballot. Compassion – compassion was on the ballot. Compassion. And San Antonio showed up and showed out. There are so many people I need to thank, that have worked so hard. First of all, though, I’m grateful for God’s goodness and grace […]
Peggy Flanagan
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Mitchell Hamline School of Law Commencement Address – May 31, 2025
May 31, 2025
Woo. Well. How you feel? You feel good? [Cheers] I want to point out for a moment – the rowdiest section is right over here [Cheers]. Whomever the graduate is who has family members who literally have your face on t-shirts – y'all are going the extra mile. Thank you so much, Dean Davidson, Board Chair Buck, board, faculty, and the staff of Mitchell Hamlin. As a note of personal privilege, my husband used to work at this law school and he often told me about the many unsung and […]
Kelly Ayotte
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Nashua Community College Commencement Address – May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025
Well, well, thank you very much, President Williams. I am very honored to be here with all of you today. And I want to thank everyone on the dais here, Vice Chancellor Lloyd, Chair Kathy Shields, members of the NCC Advisory Board, faculty, staff, everyone who's brought you here today. It really does take everyone working together. So I want to thank all of you. Most of all, I want to thank the parents, the families, the friends, all of you who have helped our graduates get to where you […]
Mary P McAleese
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Saint Mary's College Commencement Address – May 17, 2025
May 17, 2025
Good afternoon. How are you all? You're good? You're looking really good, looking really good. Can I thank the university first for this honor and to share the platform with two such wonderful sisters and to share it with you, also wonderful sisters, and your families. It's a very, very special and moving day for me. President, trustees, members of the college community and especially today's graduands. Ladies and gentlemen, there literally is no happier day in the life of a college than the day of graduation, when family, friends […]
Maura Healey
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Mount Holyoke College Commencement Address – May 25, 2025
May 25, 2025
Good morning, and thank you so much, President Holley, trustees, faculty, staff, alums. Honorands — it’s truly an honor to be with both of you this morning. Guests, parents, family, friends — where are you out there? Look, you all deserve honorary degrees, too, today for all that you’ve been through. Rest easy knowing that the job is now done — except for helping these incredible graduates move out, of course. And most of all, to the class of 2025 — congratulations. Congratulations! And thank you for allowing me to […]
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Bowie State University Commencement Address – May 23, 2025
May 23, 2025
To the super-bad Dr. Breaux, to your faculty, staff, family, and friends of the Class of 2025, thank you for what you have done to teach, inspire and love this year's graduating class. And I'd like to congratulate you, the Class of 2025. You have done the hard work, and today is your reward. You’re prepared to take on the world with your trademark Bowie Boldness. And we’re celebrating you. And we need you and what you’ll offer the world more than ever. You’re ready for what’s next and guess […]
Winsome Earle-Sears
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Commencement Speech at Regent University – May 10, 2025
May 10, 2025
Good morning, graduates. Good morning, Chancellor. Good morning, Madame President. As they like to call me. Sounds very familiar. Good morning, Board of Trustees members. Good morning, everyone, family. Good morning. Good morning. Father God, good morning. It is a tremendous honor and I am deeply humbled. My privilege to stand before you today, not only as your commencement speaker but as a fellow Regent Royal, a proud alumna of this wonderful institution. This institution has helped to shape my life. Indeed, I remember when this was just a dirt […]
Jacinda Ardern
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Remarks at Yale College Class Day – May 18, 2025
May 18, 2025
Te whare e tu nei Te marae e takoto ana Tena korua E nga mate maha Haere, haere, haere Nga tangata whenua o tenei rohe, tena kotou Tatou nga kanohi ora e hui mai ana Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa I greet you this afternoon, as I if I would greet you if I were in my own home country of Aotearoa, New Zealand, by acknowledging all of you, by acknowledging the people of this land, and by celebrating your achievements, which we will all benefit from, as […]
Elizabeth Warren
categories: Commencement/Baccalaureate/Convocation Address, Speeches
Worcester State University Commencement Address – May 17, 2025
May 17, 2025
Thank you! Good morning, Worcester State! It's good to be here. Yes! And congratulations to the class of 2025! You guys earned this. [Applause] What a day and what a remarkable achievement. This is the end of cramming for exams and the beginning of better food options than the dining hall. It is a total win-win. So let's hear a big woohoo for never having to log into my Woo State again. Come on! [Cheers] So I also want to say a big congratulations to all the parents and the […]