Student speakers to be included in undergradate commencements

Two IU undergraduate students who are graduating this spring will speak at this year’s undergraduate student commencements.

Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson announced that student speakers will become a part of undergraduate commencement’s culture, beginning with this year’s exercises on May 8.

Two sessions will be held for conferring the degrees on graduating students, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, according to the Office of University Ceremonies. Two inaugural student speakers will give a speech, one at each session respectively.

Greg Buse, project specialist for the Office of the Provost, said the changes to the commencement ceremonies announced last fall allowed for the addition of student speakers.

“With the Saturday ceremonies now being devoted to the celebration of the accomplishments of undergraduates, we have more flexibility in the program,” he said.
Buse said several other Big Ten universities also feature student speakers at their commencement ceremonies.

“It seemed a natural way to infuse IU’s undergraduate commencement with more of a student voice,” he said.

Buse said the Office of the Provost is looking for graduating seniors who have an excellent academic record with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, strong verbal communication, a record of involvement in campus and/or community activities and a unique and compelling story to tell.

“We hope that the student speakers will convey how IU has been instrumental in their growth and development,” he said.

Buse also said the IU student speakers will address more than 17,000 graduates, faculty, alumni, friends and family members at Assembly Hall.

A selection committee to be appointed by the Provost will review all the applications for speakers, interview several candidates and recommend finalists to the Provost. The Provost will then interview those finalists and select speakers for each of the two ceremonies.