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Commencement Address ( Texas A&M) Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 This should be considered must-reading for every adult in North America . It is extremely rare that anyone speaks the truth like this at any College or High School Commencement Address. Neal Boortz is a Texan, a lawyer, a Texas AGGIE (Texas A&M), and now a nationally syndicated talk show host from Atlanta . His commencement address to the graduates of this year's A&M class is far different from what either the students or the faculty expected. His views are thought provoking. "I am honored by the invitation to address...

Strapless Commencement by: Deborah Lambert, June 30, 2008 While the San Jose Mercury News reports that middle-school girls want to look like top models at their graduation ceremonies, principals apparently still frown on the “Lolita look.” Education writer Joanne Jacobs reports that while “at one middle school graduation, halter tops are okay, spaghetti straps aren’t. At another, it’s the reverse. Strapless dresses and high heels are banned at most intermediate schools....

British Invasion Graduation by: Deborah Lambert, June 26, 2008 Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who will start teaching at Yale this fall, addressed the school’s 2008 graduating class on May 25th, all of which apparently horrified his former Oxford tutor, who, according to Blair, said: “I only hope for their sake you are going there to learn rather than teach.” Blair discussed the Middle East, climate change and the global economy, urging grads to become involved in causes greater than themselves. He also said that while the grads benefited from superior intellect and luck, it was very important to...

Prez at Furman by: Deborah Lambert, June 25, 2008 While ignoring faculty protesters during his commencement address at Furman University (SC), President Bush nevertheless decided to meet the issue head-on. Thanking the profs for their devotion to improving the lives of young people, he said that he too, was a believer in free speech, “and to prove it, I’m about to give you one.” The President noted that Governor Mark Sanford, also present at the ceremony, graduated 25 years ago when his father, George H.W. Bush, was the speaker. Commenting on that coincidence, he said this means that “some at...

Supreme Speaker by: Deborah Lambert, June 26, 2008 When Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was on the commencement speaker circuit this season, one of his most meaningful talks was the one he gave to the graduating class of 18 middle-school boys at Washington (DC) Jesuit Academy. Described by the Washington Times as a “tuition-free private boarding school for underprivileged but academically promising youths run by the Jesuits,” the school’s “small class sizes, 12-hour school days and 11-month school year” has worked miracles since its launch in 2002. “While 11 percent of entering students read at grade level, the school reports...

Well, here you are at your college graduation. And I know what you’re thinking: “Gimme the sheepskin and get me outta here!” Not so fast. First you have to listen to a commencement speech. Don’t moan. I’m not going to “pass the wisdom of one generation down to the next.” I’m a member of the 1960s generation. We didn’t have any wisdom. We were the moron generation. We were the generation who believed we could stop the war in Vietnam by growing our hair long and dressing like circus clowns. We believed drugs would change everything—which they did, for John...

Commencement Celebrities by: Deborah Lambert, June 12, 2008 According to USA Today, it appears that students are having more of a say in determining who will give the annual commencement address. This year’s list of luminaries—and others— who will give the class of 2008 a sendoff include: Oprah Winfrey—Stanford University J.K. Rowling—Harvard University Jon Stewart—William and Mary Craig Newmark of Craig’s List—Case Western Reserve Jessica Lange—Sarah Lawrence College Brian Williams—Ohio State University Michael Bloomberg—University of Pennsylvania David McCullough— Boston College Meredith Viera—Tufts University Al Gore—Carnegie Mellon University Sandra Day O'Connor—Gettysburg College Carl Bernstein—University of Maryland...

EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, big-government liberals stand up in front of college commencement crowds across the country and urge the graduates to do the noblest thing possible -- become big-government liberals. That isn't how they phrase it, of course. Commencement speakers express great reverence for "public service," as distinguished from narrow private "greed." There is usually not the slightest sign of embarrassment at this self-serving celebration of the kinds of careers they have chosen -- over and above the careers of others who merely provide us with the food we eat, the homes we live in, the clothes we...

BOSTON (AP) — Sen. Edward Kennedy is pulling out of the commencement address at Wesleyan University after being diagnosed with brain cancer, and Barack Obama will stand in for him. A spokeswoman for Kennedy said he had planned to speak at the Sunday ceremony in Middletown, Conn., where his stepdaughter will be among the graduates. The commencement exercises also coincide with 25th reunion festivities for his son Edward Kennedy Jr. Kennedy was diagnosed this week with a malignant brain tumor, which was discovered after he had a seizure last Saturday. He was released Wednesday from Massachusetts General Hospital and has...

Around Martinsville, in eastern Nacogdoches County, country roads trail past farms and ranches. It's a place where people used to talk about hay yields. Now discussion has turned to politics. Protest signs reading, " No Trespassing to Trans Texas Corridor hang on their fences and gates. This week's discussion centers around a rally on the day Governor Rick Perry will be in Nacogdoches delivering a commencement speech. He may need more luck than the graduates. Trans Texas Corridor opponent, Larry Shelton said, " We want to send a message loud and clear to the governor that we are tired of...

The Gathering of Eagles, a patriotic organization dedicated to honoring our men and women in uniform and those who are honorable veterans, announces our latest event in honoring the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy by welcoming their families and supporters to their graduation ceremony on May 21, 2008. We will be in front of the entrance on Mohegan Ave, at the intersection of Williams and Mohegan from 7 AM to 1 PM that day, waving flags, carrying patriotic signs and singing patriotic songs in an effort to welcome the families to what is a most honored event; the graduation...

Well, here you are at your college graduation. And I know what you're thinking: "Gimme the sheepskin and get me outta here!" But not so fast. First you have to listen to a commencement speech. Don't moan. I'm not going to "pass the wisdom of one generation down to the next." I'm a member of the 1960s generation. We didn't have any wisdom. We were the moron generation. We were the generation that believed we could stop the Vietnam War by growing our hair long and dressing like circus clowns. We believed drugs would change everything -- which they did,...

President Bush speaking to graduating class Greensburg, KS-one year after tornado

Folks, I want to invite all Freepers and Lurkers in good standing to attend the rally to welcome the families of the graduating cadets of the Coast Guard Academy on May 21, 2008. Vice President Dick Cheney will be the honored speaker.

Wallingford, Conn. (AP) -- Following protests from students, former presidential adviser Karl Rove has withdrawn as this year's commencement speaker at a prestigious prep school, the school's headmaster said Monday. The choice of Rove as speaker for the June commencement at Choate Rosemary Hall had led some students to plan to walk out of the ceremony. Others had sought to bring comedian Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternate speech. Instead of commencement, Rove now will speak at the school on Feb. 11, headmaster Edward J. Shanahan said. Shanahan said he will deliver the commencement address at the school, the...

Wallingford (AP) _ Students at the Wallingford prep school Choate Rosemary Hall are protesting the choice of former presidential adviser Karl Rove as this year's commencement speaker. Some plan to walk out, while others are trying to bring comedian Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternative speech. The campus paper has urged the school to reject Rove. Others say they're interested in hearing what Rove has to say but are not sure the school's June commencement is the best venue because they are afraid he will overshadow the graduates. Choate trustee Bruce Gelb, former ambassador to Belgium, helped secure Rove...

DENVER — A student who said she was told she wouldn't get her diploma unless she apologized for a commencement speech in which she mentioned Jesus has filed a lawsuit alleging her free speech rights were violated. The school district contends its actions were "constitutionally appropriate." Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2006. All were invited to speak for 30 seconds at the graduation ceremony. When it was Corder's turn, she encouraged the audience to get to know Jesus Christ. Corder had not included those remarks during rehearsals. [snip] The lawsuit said Brewer would...

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani called for boosting the Army by another 35,000 troops, saying the nation must project strength and better handle the aftermath of war.

WHITE PLAINS - The mere presence of Vice President Dick Cheney does not turn West Point into a public forum and is not an "open invitation" to protesters, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. Cheney is scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy today, and about 1,000 people had hoped to march onto the campus for an anti-war demonstration. But the Army denied permission, a federal judge in White Plains agreed, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused on Friday to issue a preliminary injunction that would allow the march...The protesters' attorney, Stephen...

Court: Protesters Can't Enter West Point For VP's Speech POSTED: 1:11 pm EDT May 25, 2007 UPDATED: 1:13 pm EDT May 25, 2007 WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The mere presence of Vice President Dick Cheney does not turn West Point into a public forum and is not an "open invitation" to protesters, a federal appeals court said Friday. Cheney is scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy on Saturday and about 1,000 people had hoped to march onto the campus for an anti-war demonstration. But the Army denied permission, a federal judge in White Plains agreed...

http://www.regent.edu/events/commencement/2007/video_high.cfm The clip of Mitt begins at 29:00. It's an excellent, well-delivered speech, even moving. Much better than a lecture on the Palestinian rights I received at mine. Some excerpts: "You know, I don't remember when it was exactly when I went beyond the sandbar. My family had a cottage on the shores of one of the Great Lakes. For the first 40 feet or so, the lake is shallow, warm, and protected from the big waves by a sandbar. That's where I spent most of the hot summer days as a boy. I liked it there. One day, my...

Commencement today marks new beginning for school he founded LYNCHBURG -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell planned to save America through his students, 3,598 of whom will graduate today from Liberty University inculcated with his evangelical, conservative vision. "The reason he built this place was to change the world," said Liberty student Mark Krom. "It's easy for me to buy into that. He was training champions for Christ." Falwell, 73, died from a heart condition Tuesday in his campus office. Thousands have come to the campus to view his body over the past several days. Falwell, in repose in a coffin...

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Liberty University's graduating class Saturday to honor the spirit of school founder Jerry Falwell by confronting "the growing culture of radical secularism" with Christian ideals. Gingrich, who is considering a 2008 presidential run, quoted Bible passages to a crowd of about 17,000 packed into the university's football stadium four days after Falwell's death. Despite the somber tone of the day, graduates who covered the football field chanted "Jerry! Jerry!" in tribute to Falwell. "A growing culture of radical secularism declares that the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was...

Thank you very, very much, General Rosa. And thank you very much for the degree. It wasn’t as hard as what you had to go through to get it. And I should correct you, I was Cum Laude at New York University Law School, not Magna. But it’s an honor to stand before you and a great honor to be able to say congratulations to the 438 graduating cadets from The Citadel Class of 2007. And particularly congratulations to all of the people, who really made this day possible. Your parents—who I saw you all got up and very warmly...

May 12, 2007 White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Encourages 2007 Graduates to Love. Addresses CUA's 118th Annual Commencement. WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Tony Snow gave the newest graduates of The Catholic University of America several rules for living — emphasizing the power of love and prayer — at the university’s 118th Annual Commencement exercises, held May 12, 2007. “Think not only of what it means to love but what it means to be loved,” Snow said in his commencement address. “I have a lot of experience with that. Since the news that I have cancer again, I’ve...

In a commencement speech that is likely to be remembered more for its moment than for its message, President Bush yesterday encouraged the graduating seniors at St. Vincent College to live the lessons of public service that they learned in Latrobe. "Here at St. Vincent College, service outside the classroom is as important as what's learned inside the classroom," Mr. Bush told the 296 members of the Class of 2007. "The challenge for you is to keep this up as you begin your new careers, your new families and your new lives." Those ideals, he said, of charity and community...

Today President Bush delivered the commencement address at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Transcript with audio) In a written statement, the president also saluted the Virginia Tech class of 2007, which will be having its graduation ceremonies this weekend. (Transcript) President Bush returned to the White House this afternoon to commemorate Military Spouse Day and to present the President’s Volunteer Service Awards. (Transcript with audio) Vice President Dick Cheney departed the United Arab Emirates and arrived on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in the Persian Gulf. There, the vice president received a warm welcome from 4,000 sailors...

CBNNews.com - Virginia Beach, Va - Before the celebrating came the turning of tassels and accepting this charge: "I want you to strive for greatness through service," said CBN founder Pat Robertson. The largest class in Regent's history sang a hymn bowed their heads in prayer. "Father," prayed Pastor Jack Hayford. "We come with hearts of gratitude for each of these graduates." {snip} Some say they were initially skeptical about having a Mormon address a Christian audience. "There were some people who were alarmed," said Regent graduate Cassy McLauchlin. "I was surprised because I just didn't think he was the...

Under the Regent University banner, former Massachusetts governor and 2008 Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Saturday told the school's largest-ever graduating class to reach past the sandbar and live in the deep waters of life. "In the deep water, life is about others. In the deep water, there are challenging ideas," Romney told the class of 1,005 students and nearly 4,000 friends, family members and faculty. "Some of you will be tempted to stay near shore, where there are no breakers and you can't make any waves." Romney's 13-minute commencement address was especially significant because the Mormon presidential aspirant...

President Bush, pushing for a hard-to-find breakthrough on a broad immigration overhaul, appealed to graduating college students in this diverse city Saturday for help in persuading Congress to produce a bill. Bush gave the commencement address at Miami Dade College, where more than half the students were raised speaking a language other than English. He gave the graduates an assignment: Tell their elected representatives in Washington to get going on immigration overhaul. "You see every day the values of hard work and family and faith that immigrants bring," the president said. "This experience gives you a special responsibility to make...

Pretty funny, even if you have to look at Donna Shalala. Here's the video link: http://streaming.miami.edu:8080/ramgen/commencement/smil/commencement-12142006-1000am-barry.smil Must have RealPlayer to view it, unfortunately.

LTC Randolph C. White Jr. delivers the graduation speech for the newest batch of Infantrymen to complete training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, on April 21st, 2006. This video is 12 minutes and 11 seconds long and will be the best 12:11 minutes you'll spend online this weekend.

Via The Rutherford Institute Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have agreed to represent a high school senior whose microphone was unplugged by school officials after she began to speak about her Christian beliefs during her valedictory address. When Foothill High School valedictorian Brittany McComb began reading a speech that contained Bible verses and references to God and her faith in Jesus Christ during her commencement speech on June 15, 2006, officials with the Clark County School District unplugged the microphone. Institute attorneys plan to file a First Amendment lawsuit against the school district for having violated Brittany's constitutional right to...

(AgapePress) - A Christian attorney says a Colorado high school was wrong to withhold a valedictorian's diploma because her commencement speech encouraged people to learn about Jesus Christ. Erica Corder, an 18-year-old graduating senior at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, used her commencement speech to speak about the death and resurrection of Christ and to urge listeners to learn more about his sacrifice. After the valedictory address, however, school officials told Corder she would not receive her diploma until she wrote an e-mail to the school community's students and parents, apologizing for her comments. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of...

by Mark Finkelstein June 24, 2006 If Dave Rossie were simply a columnist, one might dismiss his sophomoric liberal rants as, well, sophomoric liberal rants. But what is disturbing is that when he's not pounding out his latest condemnation of all things Republican, the Gannett chain has seen fit to give Rossie the power to edit news at one of its papers, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. Rossie's latest opus concerns commencement addresses. After knocking administration officials for speaking at military institutions, and singling out VP Cheney for "defending the practice of spying on Americans via illegal wire taps," Rossie...

Gabriel Whitney says he did not plan to nearly suffocate President Bush in a bear hug. In fact, he did not plan to hug him at all. But when Mr. Whitney, one of 202 midshipmen to graduate from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., on Monday, stepped forward to receive his diploma, it just sort of happened. Call it irrational exuberance. But after six years of undergraduate school and 4,872 demerits, Mr. Whitney, 25, of Nashua, N.H., could hardly restrain himself. With more reason than most to be overjoyed, the 6-foot-7 midshipman stepped onto the stage...

U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment ICongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. I am not one to fall all over myself for the "rights" of children to say or do whatever they want in our schools. I usually come down on the side of decorum and order when considering how much "freedom" to give our students. I am for a dress...

She knew her speech as valedictorian of Foothill High School would be cut short, but Brittany McComb was determined to tell her fellow graduates what was on her mind and in her heart. But before she could get to the word in her speech that meant the most to her -- Christ -- her microphone went dead. The decision to cut short McComb's commencement speech Thursday at The Orleans drew jeers from the nearly 400 graduates and their families that went on for several minutes. Read more ...

The President and First Lady spent Father's Day Weekend in Crawford returning to the White House on Sunday afternoon. Today the President became the first sitting President to deliver the commencement address at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point NY Vice President Dick Cheney makes remarks at the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize luncheon Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice met with Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, Poland's Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga and Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu with the Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku. Also she announced the resignation of Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick...

District pulls plug on speech Foothill valedictorian criticizes decision to censor her proclamation of faith By ANTONIO PLANAS REVIEW-JOURNAL She knew her speech as valedictorian of Foothill High School would be cut short, but Brittany McComb was determined to tell her fellow graduates what was on her mind and in her heart. But before she could get to the word in her speech that meant the most to her -- Christ -- her microphone went dead. The decision to cut short McComb's commencement speech Thursday at The Orleans drew jeers from the nearly 400 graduates and their families that went...

A local high school graduation ended with roars of protest after school officials turned the microphone off right in the middle of one of the valedictorian's speeches. The microphone cut out after the valedictorian at Foothill High made reference to God. The family says the District's decision isn't fair. Brittney McComb says she's a straight A student, number one in her class, and is headed to Biola University in the fall. Brittney attributes all of her success to God. Trouble is, she tried to explain that during her speech which the school district said they told her beforehand was a...

She knew her speech as valedictorian of Foothill High School would be cut short, but Brittany McComb was determined to tell her fellow graduates what was on her mind and in her heart. But before she could get to the word in her speech that meant the most to her -- Christ -- her microphone went dead. Advertisement The decision to cut short McComb's commencement speech Thursday at The Orleans drew jeers from the nearly 400 graduates and their families that went on for several minutes. However, Clark County School District officials and an attorney with the American Civil Liberties...

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush are spending Father's Day weekend at their ranch in Crawford, TX. In the meantime, in upstate New York, the 202 midshipmen of the Merchant Marine Academy, along with their families, faculty, Academy staff and guests are eagerly anticipating the first visit ever by a sitting President of the United States to their commencement. Judging by reports in multiple news articles, as well as in news releases from corporations and sponsors, this event is a very big deal in the Maritime industry. I've vicariously become excited about it just through reading the...

Patrick Henry College, founded in 2000, just celebrated its fifth graduation on its Purcellville, Va., campus. The 49 graduates received bachelor's degrees. Supported by the Home School Legal Defense Association, PHC is dedicated to preparing Christian men and women to lead our nation and to shape our culture using biblical values they learned from their parents and churches, as well as PHC. The college is unique among conservative Christian colleges because of its emphasis on classical liberal arts and on the preparation of its students for public service, advocacy and citizen leadership, as well as a commitment to apprenticeship.

LEVITTOWN, Pennsylvania (June 6) - A deal is being negotiated that would allow a high school's class president to participate in Friday's graduation ceremony despite concern that he could be targeted by a gang. Tyrone Lewis, 18, had been scheduled to be one of the speakers at the Truman High School commencement ceremony, but police were worried that he could be targeted by a gang from Trenton, New Jersey, because his sister had testified in a murder trial. Lewis had been barred from the ceremony. Dave Truelove, the Bristol Township School District's solicitor, confirmed Tuesday that talks are in progress...

From a commencement address I delivered last week: I want to congratulate you all upon your graduation from the University of Maryland College of Journalism, and wish you luck as you prepare to embark on exciting careers in telemarketing or large-appliance repair. My point is, this is a challenging time for journalists. And because you are word people, you understand that "challenging time" is a euphemism often used to describe disasters of epic proportions. For example, Richard Pryor was facing a "challenging time" when he ran down the street half-naked and on fire. What are your challenges, specifically? Let us...

ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 2, 2006 – The events of Sept. 11, 2001, created major doubts and new difficulties for many in America, but for midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, those events have become a reason to serve. The U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2006 celebrates its accomplishment by tossing hats into the air at commencement May 26 in Annapolis, Md. The hat toss tradition began at the academy in 1912 in a spontaneous celebration as graduates threw away their midshipman hats and donned the hats of newly commissioned officers. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy   The Class...

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 1, 2006) – Comparing the Global War on Terror to the Cold War, President George W. Bush told 861 U.S. Military Academy graduates May 27 that they will face a more elusive enemy – global terrorists. Comparing the years after World War II to the years following 9/11, he said the dedication of President Harry S. Truman helped the U.S. build a stronghold against its challenges. “By the actions he took, the institutions he built, the alliances he forged and the doctrines he set down, President Truman laid the foundation of America’s victory in the...

HERNDON, VA – The preponderance of commencement speakers at our nation's top colleges and universities were Democratic Party officials, leftist activists, and members of the old media, according to a survey released by Young America’s Foundation. The survey also uncovers separate graduation ceremonies for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) students as well as Black students. Using U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the nation’s top 100 colleges and universities, Young America’s Foundation found—for the thirteenth consecutive year—that commencement organizers chose the Tom Brokaws over the Sean Hannitys, the Marian Wright Edelmans over the Thomas Sowells, and the Desmond...

Official Apologizes For Saying Bush Should Be Shot Between Eyes POSTED: 2:27 pm EDT June 1, 2006 UPDATED: 2:35 pm EDT June 1, 2006 NEW YORK -- New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi publicly apologized Thursday for a "beyond dumb" remark about "putting a bullet between the president's eyes." Hevesi hastily called a press conference hours after putting his foot in his mouth during a speech at the Queens College commencement. The comptroller said he was trying to convey the strength and courage of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York,