For Graduation Ceremonies, Ditch the Guest Speaker

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | July 1, 2026 | Russell T. Warne

[karpov]

A graduation ceremony is one of the most formulaic events in higher education. The main event at a graduation ceremony is a student getting their five seconds in the sun as their name is called. Then they stroll across the stage to receive the diploma they worked so hard for. At the end, students throw their cap in the air, and then everyone snaps photos.

Yet, every year a handful of universities botch the simple task of planning a graduation ceremony. The result is an unpleasant experience for attendees, unnecessary controversies, and sometimes wasted resources. With graduation season wrapping up, the press is reporting a steady stream of controversies surrounding graduation speakers. These controversies happen every year. It doesn’t have to be this way.

One of the biggest unforced errors universities commit is inviting a controversial speaker from outside the university community. Politicians are the best example. This year, California Representative Ro Khanna spoke at Suffolk University in Boston, even though he has no connection to the university. In 2007 and 2011, I had a double-whammy with politicians speaking at my bachelor’s and doctorate graduations: then-Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State James Baker. Neither had any direct connection to the university. Even if a politician gives an uncontroversial speech, their voting record, policy positions, and party affiliation are often enough to spawn protests and boycotts or to sour the experience for some attendees.

Controversial speakers are not limited to politicians, though. This year, Utah Valley University invited Sharon McMahon to speak at commencement. Self-described as “America’s government teacher,” McMahon was a controversial choice for Utah Valley University—the site of Charlie Kirk’s assassination in front of 3,000 people last September.

---

TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: college

[Sacajaweau]

Mail the Certificates. High school grad is no big deal. And Kindergarten is absurd.

Went to my granddaughters awards day....amybe 5th grade... Everyone in the class got an award. Ridiculous.

[rlmorel]

Higher education is probably 80-90% leftist. They are likely to invite someone who can get another 30 to 60 minutes of indoctrination in.

I had an excellent speaker my graduation: admiral Grace Hopper. She was fun and interesting to listen to, but I believe times have changed since then.

[Macoozie]

Never attended my Graduations at any level.

Too busy Making Money, or on Vacay.

Silly ceremonies easily done away with.

[crusty old prospector]

They should only invite comedians.

[Axenolith]

+1

[Inyo-Mono]

During my son and daughter’s university graduation ceremony back in 2015, the speaker was the college president who told the graduates that the biggest challenge they faced in the future was Global Warming.

[Clutch Martin]

Ditch the valedictorian speach too!

[NonValueAdded]

I thought Rush Limbaugh would have been an amazing commencement speaker. He was at his best when he had a young caller on his show and was talking about possibilities, optimism ... he really got into it. But alas, the left would have turned it into a zoo and that was a shame.