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A composite image shows Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey and Patton Oswalt.

‘To the class of 2023, I say three words: you poor bastards’: the year’s best graduation speeches

Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Karine Jean-Pierre deliver words of wisdom at commencement ceremonies across US

I t’s been a typical commencement season across the US, with luminaries from the worlds of journalism, Hollywood and politics offering students the wisdom of their experience. The tradition stretches back over a century, and some of the most famous speeches in US history – from George C Marshall’s revealing of what would become known as the Marshall Plan to David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water – have been given to graduating students.

What’s less typical about this year, the speakers agree, is the environment the class of 2023 finds itself entering, faced with threats to democracy, the climate catastrophe, entrenched racism and a host of other crises. Graduation speeches tackled these concerns while finding reasons to hope – and even make a few jokes.

Among this year’s best lines, edited for brevity:

Patton Oswalt, actor and comedian, William & Mary

To the graduating class of 2023, I say three words: you poor bastards.

Democracy’s crumbling, truth is up for grabs, the planet’s trying to kill us, and loneliness is driving everyone insane.

I breezed into a world full of trivia and silliness and fun. You are about to enter a hellscape where you will have to fight for every scrap of your humanity and dignity. You do not have a choice to be anything but extraordinary. Those are the times you’re living in right now.

It’s been truly amazing to see how your generation has rebelled against every bad habit of mine and every generation that came before me. Everything that we let calcify, you have kicked against and demolished. You’ve rejected that whole 24/7, no-days-off grind. You’ve rejected apathy. You’ve rejected ignoring your mental health because “you’ve gotta muscle through it no matter what”. You’ve rejected alienation and cruelty. You’ve rejected not trying to include everyone. And you’ve rejected not looking out for each other.

And those are hard things to reject. Because accepting them sometimes makes life way easier. If you just shut off yourself from the world, life is way easier. It’s also way less colorful, way less complicated, way less nourishing, and way less memorable.

Isabel Wilkerson, journalist and author, Occidental College

Our country is like an old house. And the owner of an old house knows that whatever you were ignoring will never go away. Whatever’s lurking will fester, whether you choose to look or not. Ignorance is no protection from the consequences of inaction.

Many people might rightly say: “I had nothing to do with how this all started. I have nothing to do with the sense of the past. My ancestors never attacked Indigenous people and never owned slaves. Not one of us was here when this house was built.”

Our immediate ancestors may have had nothing to do with it. But here we are the current occupants of a property with stress cracks and bowed walls and fissures built into the foundation. We are heirs to whatever is right or wrong with it. We did not erect these uneven pillars and joists and beams; we did not install the frayed wiring and the corroded pipes; but they are ours to deal with now, and any further deterioration is in fact on our hands.

If we have learned anything from Covid, it is that an invisible organism without a brain managed to cause upheaval across the planet and overtake a presumably smarter species because it does not care about color. It does not care about nationality or immigrant status or gender or sexual orientation or national borders or passports. Covid sees all humans for what we actually are: one interconnected and interdependent species. It sees what we have in common if humans don’t see it themselves. We are all in this together and it is time we started to act like it.

Raphael Warnock, Georgia senator, Bard College

I know as you sit here – perhaps 21, 22, 23 years old – you say, well, what should I do? What is it that the world needs? My answer, in the words of [the author] Howard Thurman: “Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

In other words, I challenge you to find your passion. I challenge you to find that thing in the world that feels like such a deep moral contradiction that you cannot be silent. You have to express yourself; you have to stand up and try to make the world better. Find anything that you would do for free except that you have to pay the rent or the mortage. And chase after it with all of your might.

Tom Hanks, actor, Harvard University

Tom Hanks wears red academic regalia as he gazes at a Harvard University emblazoned volleyball.

We all have special powers and abilities far beyond the reach of other mortals. Some of us can repair a screen door with ease. Some of us can take care of a five-year-old kid and a toddler for 24 hours a day and never stop loving them. Some of us make sense of physics and economics and global policy. Some of us survive somehow on minimum earnings. Some of us graduate from colleges despite years of lockdowns and Zooms.

The American way is exampled in both plain sight and in subtle attitude. It’s in moments of routine exchange and in broad expectations. It’s in places of historic weight and import and in the small spaces in which we all stand. The American way could be exampled when you respect the law and the rights of all. Because if you don’t, who will? When your food is brought to you, will you thank the server? Because if you don’t, who will? Would you pick up the litter that has missed the recycling bin? Because if you don’t, who will? When you vote your conscience and make sure your neighbor has the opportunity to do the same with theirs, because if you don’t, who will? When you make good on your victories and learn from your losses because both are the results of proud and noble efforts, if you don’t, who will?

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, Rice University

Your road has been long. But here is something that I do believe that I can share – something that I’m partially qualified to give advice on.

Do not allow hardships, personal or existential, to become a barrier to your ability to look ahead with hope. Rather, embrace the challenge and take the building blocks of lessons you’ve learned during your most trying times – times you wanted to quit or run away or thought the path ahead was just too dark to even attempt to find the light. Take these experiences with you. Embrace them and use your experience to face the challenges ahead. Because you are more than capable. You are enough.

Your past is the proof of that. Getting to this point, graduation day is a validation that even if you fretted about your future or struggled with your past, you still chose to move forward to hope. And that hope is action.

Sanna Marin, Finnish prime minister, New York University

Sanna Marin wears purple academic regalia as she walks to a stage.

For decades, we have lived in a world with an optimistic expectation of progress. We have expected our values such as freedom of speech, rule of law, gender equality and democracy to bloom hand in hand with the expansion of free market economy. We thought that globalization and growth would be enough to benefit everyone. We expected to see less authoritarian rule, more respect for diversity and a better world that does not discriminate against people based on their skin tone, gender, sexual orientation or religion. We have expected the freedom of information and the internet to broaden everyone’s understanding.

But the history did not end.

Freedom of speech and other true elements of democracy are being questioned and limited all over the world. Whether this means diminishing the truth with false balance or using our personal data to influence our democratic elections, the rule of law as well as freedom of expression and the media need active defending.

The swollen amount of inequality and a lack of social mobility are challenging our ideas about everyone having the same possibilities and freedoms in life.

All of these questions are battles of values. And we all must take a side in that battle. There is no middle ground.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, journalist and author, Spelman College

Nikole Hannah-Jones gives a speech from a lectern.

You’re a part of an institution that understands Black excellence should never be disqualified by white institutions. And so I hope that Spelman has imbued into you that it is possible to succeed in those spaces where people don’t think we belong without compromising your values and your sense of self. That success doesn’t mean you have to look or talk or think a certain way. I stand here with this bright red hair, big hoop earrings and Jordans on, telling you that however you present yourself in the world has nothing to do with your intellect, your ambition and your worth.

Success will not be worth it if you have to sell yourself out to get it. So hold on to who you are.

Oprah Winfrey, talkshow host, actor and producer, Tennessee State University

There will never be anything in your life as fulfilling as making a difference in somebody else’s. Everybody here wants to see you take your integrity, your curiosity, your creativity, your guts, and this newfound education of yours and use it to make a difference. Everybody always thinks you got to go do something big and grand. I’ll tell you where you start.

You start by being good to at least one other person, every single day. Just start there. That’s how you begin to change the world.

There will be times when making the next right decision will be scary. I’ll tell you a secret. That’s how I’ve gotten through every challenge without being overwhelmed – by asking: what is the next right move? You don’t have to know all the right moves. You just need to know the next one.

But I can’t just tell you what desperate shape the universe is in, so I’m going to leave you with this instead: the world is weaning itself off Russian fuel. Electric cars are going mainstream across the globe. That hole we punched in the ozone layer is healing. Ukraine is still in there fighting for us all. Finland joined Nato. Covid is currently receding and there are human beings who very quietly donate their bone marrow to strangers. And this to me signals that the United States of America may not be united, but we are not a finished product. My point is, anything is possible. The wheels are still in spin.

Lester Holt, journalist, Villanova University

“I don’t know.” It’s a surprisingly difficult thing to say for someone who spends each day providing answers to millions of people on a lot of topics. It’s hard to say, and especially in a society that seems to thrive on sharp opinion and absolutisms and shuns nuance.

Nobody wants to be the guy in the back of the room who feels like they are the only one who hasn’t figured out the answer. But guess what? Chances are neither have the guys in the front rows. Until we can acknowledge what we don’t know, we can’t possibly be asking the right questions.

You don’t have to be the smartest guy in the room. Your aim should be to be the one asking for more information. The one audacious enough to say: “I don’t know.”

Mae Jemison, astronaut, University of Delaware

Look up at the sky, the clouds, beyond the sun, the moon, the stars, when you need to recharge your spirit.

Let the gravity of Earth give you a warm hug. Look up and remember what inspires you, what you were doing this for and why you cared in the first place.

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7 life lessons from this year's most memorable graduation speeches

  • It's graduation season, and many celebrities have given memorable commencement speeches. 
  • Some notable speakers include Bill Gates, Michelle Yeoh, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  • Here's a roundup of the best quotes from 2023 commencement speeches.

Billionaire Bill Gates said "you are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"My last piece of advice is the one I could have used the most. It took me a long time to learn. And it is this: You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack," said Bill Gates to the graduates of Northern Arizona University at their commencement ceremony on May 13.

In his commencement speech, Gates shared that he "didn't believe in vacations." Only as he got older, he realized that "there is more to life than work."

"Don't wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses," he added.

American songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda told graduates to "keep choosing life and keep choosing connection"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"What do you have to do? What do you want to do? Tomorrow is not promised. Make plans anyway," said the famous playwright, actor, and Hunter College High School alumnus Lin-Manuel Miranda to Hunter College graduates in his commencement speech on May 30, per The New York Post .

"You are opening doors. Shout, 'Here we are!' You're filling up days on a diamond. Keep choosing life and keep choosing connection. It will feel like you're running out of time. But in all likelihood, you've got plenty of time," said Miranda.

Oprah Winfrey advised graduates to "not let the world make an impostor syndrome out of you"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"'I come as one, I stand as 10,000' has been my mantra for power. Because for so many of my earlier years, I was the only woman, I was the only person of color," said famous talk show host Oprah Winfrey to the graduates at of her alma mater Tennessee State University at their commencement ceremony on May 6, per Oprah Daily .

"And at no time did I ever feel out of place, or not enough, or inadequate — or an impostor. Do not let the world make an impostor syndrome out of you. Why? Because I knew who I was," Winfrey said.

Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh said "knowing your limits keeps you humble, motivated, and focused on a goal to point your finger toward"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"Internally, knowing your limits keeps you humble, motivated, and focused on a goal to point your finger toward," said the Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh to the graduates of Harvard Law School during the commencement ceremony on May 24, per The Harvard Crimson .

"Externally, knowing the limits that are set for you by others gives you a place to point a different finger — I am talking about the middle one," she continued. 

"For every winner, there doesn't have to be a loser. In fact, most success stories are less about competition and more about collaboration," said Yeoh. "The truth is, I could not have done any of this alone."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "time is the most valuable resource on the planet"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"Time is the most valuable resource on the planet. Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late when they lose someone or something," said the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Johns Hopkins University's class of 2023 at their commencement ceremony on May 25, per CBS News .

"I'm certain you, as your forefathers did, will continue to lead the free world and this century will be our century," Zelenskyy said, "a century where freedom, innovation and democratic values reign. A century where tyrannies that repress their own and seek to enslave their neighbors will vanish from earth once and for all." 

Tom Hanks believes "we are all created equally yet differently, and of course we are all in this together"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"In the never-ending battle you have all officially joined as of today, the difference is in how truly you believe, in how vociferously you promote, in how tightly you hold onto the truth that is self-evident: that of course we are all created equally yet differently, and of course we are all in this together," said Hollywood veteran actor Tom Hanks to Harvard's Class of 2023 at the school's 372nd Commencement ceremony on May 25, per The Harvard Gazette .

"We are all in a cage match, mixed martial arts battle royale with agents of intolerance and braying incompetence, the malevolent equals to Imperial stormtroopers, Lex Luther, and Loki. And we could use a superhero right now," said Hanks.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges graduates to "speak up and act, so that world leaders can muster the necessary political will"

best graduation speeches of 2023

"The fact of the matter is that today's world leaders have thus far failed miserably by putting selfish national interests ahead of urgent global needs," former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told graduates of Harvard Kennedy School on May 24, per Harvard Kennedy School .

"They have failed to see the big picture — that the world will sink or swim together — or they have decided to play a dangerous game of chicken — demanding that others do more to curb CO2 emissions," Ban said.

"I urge you to speak up and act, so that world leaders can muster the necessary political will," said Ban. "It is up to your generation to fix what my generation failed to fix," Ban added.

best graduation speeches of 2023

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The Most Inspiring Graduation Day Speeches of 2023

Abbie Martin Greenbaum

Some of the happiest moments of spring each year are at graduation ceremonies. We really love hearing the moving speeches that come along with them.  We’ve compiled a list of the best and most inspiring graduation day speeches and commencement speaker quotes from celebrities, students and others in 2023. These are the words we’re taking to heart.

the most inspiring speeches from graduation day in 2023

We never stop needing good advice. In fact, though words of wisdom are often aimed at younger generations, we find ourselves more in need of them the older we get; the more trials and tribulations we endure in life, the more desperate we are for some expert guidance. And who better to look to for this guidance than some of the human beings we admire most?

That’s why we love commencement season. Though these inspirational speeches may be intended for an audience of young adults, bravely taking their first steps after university, we all have a thing or two we can learn from them.

the best inspiring quotes and speeches from the commencement speeches of 2023

The best and most inspiring graduation day speeches and commencement speaker quotes from celebrities, students and others in 2023.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favorite commencement speeches from 2023. Some of these speeches focus on the personal – on how to approach life’s hardest decisions – while others zoom out to look at the bigger picture. At how we can work together to make the world a better place.

We never stop needing good advice, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you find yourself in need of guidance, here are ten 2023 commencement speeches to watch.

1. Tom Hanks at Harvard University

This year, the 2023 Harvard University graduates were lucky enough to share their special day with the one and only Tom Hanks. The Oscar winner’s speech was as delightful as one might expect – the perfect mix of comedy, and a more serious call to action. Using superheroes – and our culture’s obsession with them – as a motif, Hanks encouraged these new adults to become heroes themselves.

“If you don’t,” he said, when reminding the graduates to stand up for “the promises of our promised land,” such as “the practice of decency, the protection of freedom, and the promotion of liberty for all with no exceptions” – “who will”? In other words, we should all walk through the world with the feeling that change is up to us; that a better future depends on our very own actions. This is good advice for twenty-two-year-olds, and good advice for the rest of us, too.

2. Michelle Yeoh at Harvard Law School

Though we might usually refrain from including two speeches at one university, we had to make an exception for the woman of the year, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh. Though Yeoh herself points out that she is not a lawyer (and hasn’t even played one in a movie) her brilliant words are the perfect match for this brilliant cohort.

“Limitations set by yourself give you boundaries to respect,” Yeoh said. “But limitations set by others give you boundaries to bust through.” This seems like a wise distinction for all of us to learn, and for law school graduates in particular.

Yeoh also encouraged the audience to stay open to the ways life might surprise them, and to surround themselves always with community.

the best inspiring quotes and speeches from the commencement speeches of 2023

3. Lena Waithe at Barnard College

We’ve been longtime fans of actress and Emmy Award-winning writer Lena Waithe, and so it was a pleasure getting to hear her address the 2023 graduates of Barnard College. Waithe focused her speech around a topic that was sure to be on the minds of many graduates: success. And its often-daunting counterpart, failure.

“Some people think if you find success, you find happiness,” Waithe said. “Those two things aren’t always mutually exclusive.” It’s not that success does not beget happiness, Waithe argues – because it often does – but rather that success is not a permanent state. Any rise is usually followed by a fall.

Waithe encouraged the graduates not to let a fear of failure stop them from striving for success – and to not worry so much about what other people think.   “People aren’t meant to live on pedestals,” she said. “I’d rather you be disliked by some, for being yourself, than be liked by everybody for being a person that doesn’t even exist.” This is something we all need to remember.

4. President Biden at Howard University

Of course, we are always going to be alert to the commencement address given by the President. After all, who is in a better position to provide expert advice?

The President delivered an impassioned speech to Howard graduates, reminding the crowd that in the fight against the domestic terrorism of white supremacy, “silence is complicity.” The graduates of 2023 already know that they have their work cut out for them, but the President offered them words of encouragement.

“Class of 2023, you’re the reason I’m so optimistic about the future,” he said. “You’re part of the most gifted, tolerant, talented, best-educated generation in American history.” Later, he went on to say, “You represent the best of us.”

And though these words may sound more like an affirmation than anything else, there is a call to action imbedded in the message. While they begin their journeys through adulthood, 2023 graduates cannot forget the bigger picture – cannot forget their duty to change the world. As the President said at the very end of his speech, “We need you.”

5. President Volodymyr Zelensky at Johns Hopkins University

The grads of Johns Hopkins University also got to spend their commencement ceremony with a President – the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. According to NPR , Zelensky’s livestreamed speech came as a surprise, and received a standing ovation.

The focus of his speech? Time. “Time is the most valuable resource on the planet,” Zelensky said. “Some people realize this sooner. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something. People cannot avoid it.”

It will not come as a surprise that the President of Ukraine had such sober words to share, but they are also valuable words for any person in their early twenties. At the moment of graduation, time may feel unlimited – even too much so – but it should never be taken for granted.

best graduation speeches of 2023

6. Oprah Winfrey at Tennessee State University

There are no public figures as iconic as Oprah, and therefore no one whose advice we’d rather hear. This year, Winfrey shared her some of her wisdom with her alma mater, Tennessee State University.

Like others, she acknowledged the difficulties that the class of 2023 will face – or is already facing.

“You are a generation that is forced to depend on body cams to obtain justice. You’ve witnessed the storming of the capitol and the death of civility,” she said. She listed other ways this generation has witnessing systemic oppression and violence, including the obliteration of reproductive rights and legislative attacks against the LGBTQ community.

But she also reminded the graduates that they can make a difference, and urged them to do so. “You start by being good to at least one other person every single day,” she said. “Just start there. That’s how you begin to change the world.” It may sound easy, but if we all can do it – maybe the world really will start to change.

7. Elizabeth Alexander at Yale University

Poet, professor, and playwright extraordinaire Elizabeth Alexander delivered a remarkable commencement speech at her alma mater, Yale University. Though we suggest watching the speech in its entirety, these are a few gems Alexander shared towards the end of her speech:

“Be an autodidact. Push past where your knowledge stops. Keep reading, keep asking questions, keep seeking out new ideas, new experiences, new perspectives – forever.”

Words that every person should hold close.

8. Ken Jeong at Cornell University

At Cornell University’s commencement, Ken Jeong dispensed some expert wisdom. “There are two types of decision making in life,” he said. “Fear-based decision making, and decisions made out of love.”

He told a story about his own journey, where fear-based decision-making led him to medical school, rather than his current career in the arts. Though everything obviously worked out okay in the end, this anecdote provides graduates with an important cautionary tale – whenever possible, don’t let fear lead you in the wrong direction.

best graduation speeches of 2023

9. Kevin Feige at University of Southern California

It’s hard to deny the fact that the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominates our zeitgeist for better or perhaps, at times, for worse. Nonetheless, we were interested to hear the commencement address from Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios.

“Remember what Tony Stark was able to do in a cave with a box of scraps,” he said. “Remember, a good story always moves forward, and that requires action. Success comes from doing. It comes from trying new things, by taking risks, by leading with yes instead of no. That’s one of the defining traits of the superheroes in our movies.”

However you may feel about Marvel and its heroes, this is solid advice. If you’re ever unsure of what to do next, saying yes is usually a good place start.

10. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at American University and Boston University

Though it’s not a competition, if we had to pick our favorite commencement speeches of the year, we might very well choose the ones given by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jackson addressed the law schools of both American University and Boston University and gave not one, but two epic and epically memorable speeches.

As well as offering some sparkling pearls of wisdom – such as “make the most of the resources you have” and learn to exist “both in community and in conflict” – Jackson shared two of the most enjoyable speeches of the month: one centered around the reality show Survivor , and the other centered around musical theater. Jackson explains she is a big fan of both. Both speeches are a joy, and their pop culture themes make it easy to absorb Jackson’s shrewd suggestions.

best graduation speeches of 2023

The best and most inspiring graduation day speeches and commencement speaker quotes from celebrities, students and others in 2023. Congratulations to all the high school and college graduates this year!

Abbie Martin Greenbaum

Abbie Martin Greenbaum

Abbie Martin Greenbaum is a writer, reader, and pop culture connoisseur, who loves storytelling, coffee, and dessert. Her work has also appeared in Playbill.

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best graduation speeches of 2023

Loyola Marymount University Newsroom

The Top Graduation Speeches of 2023

July 18, 2023

best graduation speeches of 2023

Poets & Quants — In her speech to Loyola Marymount University’s MBA Class of 2023, Ginni Rometty, the ninth chairman, president, and CEO of IBM, spoke of the importance of “good power.” Source: Poets & Quants The Top Graduation Speeches of 2023

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RoundUP: Best 2023 Commencement Speeches

We put together a list of the most inspiring commencement speeches to celebrate the graduating class of 2023.

Which one do you like the most? What other speeches should we add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Angela Bassett, Chapman University

Tom Hanks, Harvard University

Anthony Fauci, Washington University MD

Usher, Berklee College of Music

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Rutgers University

Oprah, Tennessee State University

Ketanji Brown Jackson, Boston University School of Law

Sanna Marin, Fmr Prime Minister of Finland, New York University

Bill Gates, Northern Arizona University

CJ McCollum, Lehigh University.

In addition to Dr. Fauci, WashU had award winning actor Sterling K. Brown.

:disappointed:

Senator Chuck Schumer gave an amusing commencement speech at Binghamton University. His daughter is a Bing grad. 48:00 mark.

I was lucky enough to be in person for David Foster Wallace’s 2005 speech at Kenyon, which later became the book “This is Water.” An amazing speech…though sad in light of his story. I still reread the speech from time to time and always find it inspiring.

That is an amazing book!

Writer, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt (Spence from King of Queens) had three words for the 2023 grads at William & Mary. “You poor bastards.”

Here’s Mark Rober’s entertaining 2023 MIT Commencement address.

Google Jimmy Tingle Harvard Commencement. Oldie but goodie. So funny! I tried to link but had no luck.

Came across another great speech delivered by John McEnroe at Stanford:

This is THE best one I’ve heard…delivered by a student! Well worth the listen.

best graduation speeches of 2023

I’m not exactly impartial (my daughter is headed there this fall), but I watched Randall Park’s speech at UCLA on youtube and he was fantastic.

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The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever

Looking for some new words of wisdom? Check out our hand-picked selection of commencement addresses, going back to 1774. Search over 350 speeches by name, school, date or theme — and find out what they have in common with pop songs — on our blog: n.pr/ed .

By Jeremy Bowers, Emily Davis, Danny DeBelius, Christopher Groskopf, Anya Kamenetz, Meredith Rizzo, Sami Yenigun

Thanks to Cristina Negrut, the creator of http://graduationwisdom.com/ where many of these speeches were first collected.

May 19, 2014, Last updated: July 2, 2015

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Georgia Tech

Brian Kenny

Ohio Northern University

Callie Khouri

Sweet Briar College

Candy Crowley

Maharishi University

Drexel University

Carl Schramm

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Carly Fiorina

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Carrie Chapman Catt

Charles w. colson.

Geneva College

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chris gardner, chris matthews.

Fordham University

Chris Sacca

University of Minnesota

Chris Waddell

Middlebury College

Chuck Norris

Liberty University

Clayborne Carson

Colin powell.

Northeastern University

Conan O’Brien

Dartmouth College

Cornel West

Wesleyan University

Cory Booker

Cynthia enloe.

Stanford University

Daniel S. Goldin

David broder.

Kalamazoo College

David Brooks

Wake Forest University

Rice University

Sewanee: The University of the South

David Byrne

Columbia University

University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism

University of New Hampshire

David Foster Wallace

David l. calhoun.

Virginia Tech

David McCullough Jr.

Wellesley High School

David Remnick

David woodle, dennis lehane.

Eckerd College

Denzel Washington

Dillard University

Dolly Parton

Doug marlette.

Durham Academy

Douglas Smith

DeVry University

Loyola University

Drew Houston

Dwight eisenhower, earl bakken.

University of Hawaii

Knox College

Cornell University

University of Virginia

Edward O. Wilson

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Edward W. Brooke

Elias a. zerhouni, elie wiesel, ellen degeneres, emir kamenica.

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Eric Greitens

Whitman College

Estelle Parsons

Eugene mirman.

Lexington High School

Fareed Zakaria

Bates College

Francine du Plessix Gray

Barnard College

Frank McCourt

Franklin d. roosevelt.

Oglethorpe University

Fred Armisen

Oregon Episcopal School

Fred Rogers

Gabrielle giffords.

Scripps College

Gary Malkowski

Gallaudet University

George C. Marshall

George plimpton, george saunders, george w. bush.

Calvin College

Gerald Ford

Chicago State University

Gloria Steinem

Greil marcus.

School of Visual Arts

Guido Calabresi

Guy kawasaki, gwendolyn brooks.

University of Vermont

Marquette University

Henry A. Wallace

Howard gordon.

Goucher College

J.K. Rowling

Jaclyn rossi, james b. angell, james bryce, james carville.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Jamie Hyneman

Janet napolitano, janet yellen.

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Jason Kilar

Emerson College

Jean Andrews

University of Texas, Austin

Jefferson Smith

University of Oregon

Jeffrey Sachs

Jennie cyran, jennifer lee, jerry zucker, jessica lange, jill abramson.

Maharishi University of Management

Jimmy Iovine

Jimmy tingle, joan didion.

University of California, Riverside

Jodie Foster

Joe plumeri.

College of William and Mary

John F. Kennedy

American University

John F. Kerry

Butler University

John Jacob Scherer

Roanoke College

John Legend

Kean University

John Mackey

Bentley College

John McCain

John roberts, john seely brown.

Wheaton College

Jon Stewart

Jonathan safran foer, jonathon youshaei.

Deerfield High School

Joseph Brodsky

Joss whedon, julia keller.

Dominican University

Julianna Margulies

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Kati Marton

Central European University

Katie Couric

Georgetown University

Kermit the Frog

Southampton College

Kirk Schneider

San Francisco State University

Kurt Vonnegut

Agnes Scott College

Larry Lucchino

Boston University

Florida State University

Leonard A. Lauder

Lewis black.

University of California, San Diego

Lewis Lapham

St. John’s College

Lisa Kudrow

Louis b. susman, lyndon baines johnson.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Madeleine Albright

Madeleine l’engle, makoto fujimura.

Belhaven University

Margaret Atwood

University of Toronto

Margaret J. Geller

Margaret spellings.

Montgomery College

Maria Shriver

Marian fontana.

Massachusetts School of Law

Marissa Mayer

Illinois Institute of Technology

Mark S. Lewis

Marlee matlin.

Wilkes University

Martha Nussbaum

Martin marty.

Eastern Mennonite University

Martin Scorsese

New York University Tisch School of the Arts

Marvin Bell

Northwest Institute of Literary Arts

Mary Robinson

Maya rudolph, meg greenfield.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Melissa Harris-Perry

Meredith monk, meredith vieira, meryl streep, michael bloomberg.

University of North Carolina

Michael Dell

Michael ignatieff, michael j. burry.

University of California, Los Angeles

Michael Lewis

Michael oren.

Brandeis University

Michael Uslan

Indiana University

Michelle Obama

Spelman College

Mike Tomlin

Saint Vincent College

Mindy Kaling

Harvard Law School

Mother Teresa

Muriel siebert.

Case Western Reserve University

Natalie Portman

Neil gaiman.

The University of the Arts

University of Mary Washington

Neil deGrasse Tyson

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Njabulo S. Ndebele

Nora ephron, omid kordestani.

San Jose State University

Oprah Winfrey

Howard University

Patricia McGowan Wald

Paul glaser, paul hawken.

University of Portland

Peter Dinklage

Bennington College

Phil Rosenthal

Hofstra University

Porochista Khakpour

Desert Academy

Rachel Maddow

Rahm emanuel.

George Washington University

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Randy pausch.

Carnegie Mellon University

Ray Bradbury

Edwin O. Smith High School

Rev. David O’Connell

Rev. dennis h. holtschneider, rev. joseph l. levesque, richard costolo, richard feynman, richard russo.

Colby College

Robert Ballard

Robert krulwich, robert m. gates.

University of Georgia

Robert Pinsky

Robert rodriguez, roger goodell.

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Roger Rosenblatt

Brigham Young University

Ron Suskind

Lewis & Clark College

Ronald Reagan

Eureka College

Ronan Farrow

Dominican University of California

Russell Baker

Ruth westheimer.

Trinity College

Salman Rushdie

Bard College

Sandra Soto

University of Arizona

Sanjay Gupta

Seamus heaney, sean lebowitz, sergio marchionne.

University of Toledo

Seth MacFarlane

Sharyn alfonsi.

University of Mississippi

Sheryl Sandberg

City Colleges of Chicago

Soledad O’Brien

University of Delaware

Stephen Colbert

Northwestern University

Stephen King

Stephen r. kellert.

University of Western Sydney, Australia

Steve Ballmer

Steve blank.

Philadelphia University

Sue Monk Kidd

Sumner redstone, susan sontag, sutton foster, suzan-lori parks.

Mount Holyoke College

Terry Gross

Bryn Mawr College

Terry Teachout

Hamilton Holt School

Theodor ‘Dr. Seuss’ Geisel

Lake Forest College

Thomas L. Friedman

Tiffany shlain, tim minchin.

University of Western Australia

Tim Russert

The Art Institute of California, Sunnyvale

Toni Morrison

The Catholic University of America

Tracy Chevalier

Oberlin College

Ursula K. Le Guin

Mills College

Vaclav Havel

Vernice armour.

Ashford University

Vernon Jordan

Victor hwang.

Austin Community College

Wangari Maathai

Warren burger.

Pace University

Wesley Chan

Whoopi goldberg.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Will Ferrell

William allen white, william chiu.

Halsey Junior High School

William H. Gass

Washington University

William Kunstler

State University of New York, Buffalo

Woody Hayes

Ohio State University

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Yvonne Thornton

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Zubin damania.

University of California, San Francisco

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Savannah Guthrie (L'02), co-anchor of NBC News' Today and the network's chief legal correspondent, speaks at Georgetown Law's commencement.

Title: 14 Best Pieces of Advice From Georgetown’s Graduation Speeches

This May, TV news anchors, CEOs, professors, nonprofit leaders, alumni and a rear admiral visited Georgetown to share their words of wisdom with the Class of 2023. 

Commencement speakers and alumni such as Igor Smelyansky (MBA’05) , CEO of Ukraine’s postal service, told graduate students about the responsibility he bears in deciding whether to send 50,000 postal workers into warzones every day to do their jobs. Dan Helfreich ( SFS’98, MBA’99 ), chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP, told undergraduates in the McDonough School of Business about how he leads with humanity — and takes time after work to call and broadcast Georgetown soccer games. And Savannah Guthrie (L’02), co-anchor of NBC News’ Today and the network’s chief legal correspondent, returned to her alma mater to inspire Georgetown Law students to take risks. 

“I’m proud of you, graduates,” Guthrie said. “I’m honored to be with you. Because I was here once, I know exactly what it took for you to get to this moment. I’m looking at every one of you, marveling — and cheering you on into your brave, wild and wonderful future.”

As commencement season wraps up, we bottled up the best advice from this year’s commencement speaker speeches. 

best graduation speeches of 2023

Jason Kander (L’05)

President of National Expansion, Veterans Community Project

“I am not here today to inspire you to think of others. I’m actually here today to inspire you to think of yourself.

My message to you today is one that I learned the hard way: that there is nothing selfish about self-care, because if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t change the world. But if you do, you just might.”

Watch Kander’s speech at the School of Continuing Studies commencement ceremony on May 19.

Dan Helfrich (SFS'98, MBA'99), the chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP, spoke at the School of Business' undergraduate commencement at Georgetown.

Dan Helfrich (SFS’98, MBA’99)

Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP

“Data would tell us there are future CEOs, startup founders, cabinet secretaries, nonprofit leaders in this audience. Please promise me you will be human when you get there.

Now for me in my role that means … showing up on every big company Zoom in a baseball hat and not the corporate CEO uniform. It means making sure people know that I leave work and skip important meetings to broadcast soccer games. And it means being willing to say I don’t know, I hadn’t thought about that, but perhaps most importantly, I think I made the wrong decision, and we need to change our course. That’s human.”

Watch Helfrich’s speech at the McDonough School of Business undergraduate ceremony on May 20.

Yamiche Léone Alcindor (C'09), NBC News Washington Correspondent, speaks at the College of Arts & Science's commencement ceremony at Georgetown.

Yamiche Léone Alcindor (C’09)

NBC News Washington Correspondent

“Don’t be afraid of the journey. Some of you—a lot of you, because you’re Hoyas—will rocket to the top, and you’ll stay right there for the rest of your life. Some of you will start out strong and then bounce back and have to start all over again. Many of you, like me and my Georgetown classmates, will hit speedbumps and potholes, roadblocks and detour signs that will force you into a winding journey. Be encouraged to stay the course.

I deeply understand what it means to need to make a living. So also be patient with yourself. Take the job that pays the bills if you need to. Move to the city where you can get employment. Don’t ignore or give up your dreams though. Claw your way back to them.

Michelle Obama said, ‘Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility…’ Expect amazing things to happen to you. Take leaps based on hope that you will land on your feet. Believe the universe is always, always working in your favor.”

Watch Alcindor’s speech at the College of Arts & Sciences’ commencement ceremony on May 20.

Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C'75), founder of Project Liberty, executive chairman of McCourt Global and member of Georgetown's Board of Directors, speaks at the McCourt School's commencement ceremony at Georgetown.

Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C’75)

Founder of Project Liberty, Executive Chairman of McCourt Global and Member of Georgetown’s Board of Directors

“M ore than your intellect or your acquired skills, I have faith in the size of your heart. In your capacity to meet our moment not only with your proficiency but with your magnanimity.

You have the chance to navigate a new path that is not determined by the power of technology but rather is guided by the aspirations of your soul.”

Watch Frank H. McCourt, Jr.’s speech at the McCourt School of Public Policy’s commencement ceremony  on May 18 .

best graduation speeches of 2023

Savannah Guthrie (L’02)

Co-anchor of NBC News’ Today and the network’s chief legal correspondent

“What a surpassing joy it is to stand here with you and root for you, beckoning you into your great future. If you do see my old self walking around somewhere today, this was what I was thinking you could tell her: Don’t worry so much. Don’t sweat every tiny thing like it’s the ultimate end-all, be-all thing. 

Tell her: It’s good to have a plan but it’s also good to take it, rip it up and do something wild and daring — even if it feels like you’re taking everything you’ve worked so hard for and lighting it on fire. … 

You’re going to get where you’re meant to go one way or the other. You can’t write yourself out of your own destiny.”

Watch the full video from Guthrie’s speech at Georgetown Law on May 21.

Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones Leverhulme, visiting professor in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine at King's College London, spoke at the School of Health's commencement ceremony.

Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones

Senior Fellow in the Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Cardiovascular Research Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine

“ For all of us in the room, we need more of us to shift from valuing comfort to valuing social justice — even as we recognize that valuing social justice will not always or maybe ever be comfortable. …

“My challenge to you are what I describe as my four ‘B Cs,’ which are habits of mind for social justice warriors. They are ‘be courageous, be curious, be collective and build community.’”

Watch Jones’ speech at the School of Health’s commencement ceremony on May 20.

School of Foreign Service Commencement Ceremony

This year, in place of a traditional honorary degree, the School of Foreign Service’s (SFS) commencement honored the thousands of political prisoners around the world who have chosen to stand up for human rights at the sacrifice of their personal liberty. Hear from the ceremony’s three commencement speakers, Dasha Navalnaya , Evan Mawarire and Debra Tice and watch the full SFS ceremony from May 20.

SFS Commencement Speakers

“In 2021, my dad went back to Moscow after he was poisoned by a nerve agent, knowing he would get arrested, because, simply put, you can’t run away from your problems. You have the hard conversations. You search for the truth. You stand up to authority when you know they are not doing the right thing. You continue to persevere and overcome because actions speak louder than words.”

Dasha Navalnaya, daughter of jailed Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny

“Go where the need is greatest and the help is least. There is no guarantee that they will remember your name or your face but let them never forget your unrelenting passion to serve. Let them never forget your desire to give your skill, your knowledge, your wealth and your very self, because nothing that is of true value and meaning was ever achieved without the sacrifice of self.”

Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean pastor who founded a movement to challenge corruption, injustice and poverty in Zimbabwe

“[Austin Tice] wanted people to see and understand what was happening in Syria. He hoped that knowledge of the escalation, the dangers of urban warfare, and the harm to innocent children would move people to pull back from violence. … I hope you are inspired by the courage and commitment to defend freedom and stand against injustice that so many of your fellow graduates have demonstrated for generations.”

Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice (SFS’02, L’13), an SFS alumnus and Georgetown Law Center student who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012

Dr. Joan Reede, dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard University, speaks at the School of Medicine's commencement ceremony.

Dr. Joan Reede

Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School

“This journey has not been about how you stand taller or jump higher and run faster than the person next to you … but rather how you — in fact, each of us — is taller because we stand on the shoulders of others.

We begin at a higher elevation and thus seem to jump higher because of the climb that others have already made. And we appear to run faster because others have provided starting fuel and left a map showing how we arrived at our present place. A map containing our history. A map where we can begin to acknowledge, understand and question what we in the past got right and what we got wrong. What we did well and where we failed and continued to fail to live up to our principles.”

Watch Dr. Reede’s speech at the School of Medicine’s commencement ceremony on May 21.

Igor Smelyansky (MBA'05), CEO of Ukrainian Postal Service, spoke at the School of Business' graduate school commencement ceremony.

Igor Smelyansky (MBA’05)

CEO and Director General of the Ukrainian National Post

“What Ukrposhta is entrusted with [is] millions of parcels of boxes each day. So you can guess I’ve seen my share of boxes. As you carry this graduate degree into the next phase of your career, you [will] often feel pressure to take conventional paths. To put yourself in the box. 

Boxes are incredible places to grow and train, and even I’m not immune to the appeal of a safe box. … But such boxes are pre-packaged with standardized formulas, benchmarks and results, and they often do not contain the tools one needs to rise for unprecedented challenges. …

It’s up to you to accept the terror and thrill of emerging into [an] undefined space in which you will discover your full potential as a leader. If you work hard and be the best at what you do, you will never be replaced or boxed in.”

Watch Smelyansky’s speech at the McDonough School of Business’ graduate commencement ceremony on May 19.

Susan Orsega, senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Health and the U.S. Surgeon General, spoke at the School of Nursing's commencement ceremony.

Susan Orsega

Rear Admiral, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corp

In this excerpt, Orsega reflects on the moment she was deployed to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I stepped foot onto the rubble with smoke that was billowing in the air, and I was scared. I was scared of the uncertainty about what I would see or how would I perform. I had a mental Rolodex in my mind of how I would treat someone who was either pulled out alive or how I was going to perform a suture on a patient.

But what I didn’t know was what I packed in my backpack that I needed more that day were core leadership skills. It wasn’t the stethoscope or the books. I realized at that moment that my growth and development through my life doesn’t move in a straight line, but rather it’s built upon the experiences and the opportunities that are either afforded to us or presented to us. It’s how we overcome them that will shape us uniquely as leaders and professionals.

So when you graduate, it’s not the end of your education but really the beginning. The beginning of this new defining moment. And all of you will have a moment. All of you will have a moment that will amplify your skills as a leader.”

Watch Orsega’s speech at the School of Nursing’s Commencement ceremony on May 18

Brian Greene, professor of Physics and Mathematics and Director of the Center for Theoretical Physics at Columbia University, spoke at the Graduate School of Arts & Science's commencement ceremony.

Brian Greene

Professor of Physics and Mathematics and Director of the Center for Theoretical Physics at Columbia University

“Our particular particulate arrangement has endowed us with enviable powers. We can think about the past. We can imagine the future. We can take in the universe and explore it … with reason and emotion as you all have done across your graduate school careers, carrying forth a journey of exploration and discovery that our species has been on for thousands of years yielding stunning insights. …

The fact that bags of particles — the very same fundamental particles that make up salt and Saturn — the fact that when those particles are configured correctly, they can do all this. Well, this should fill us all with a sense of connection and cosmic communion and … gratitude.

Gratitude for being a small, if transient part of this cosmological unfolding. Gratitude that each of us should feel and must feel and should cultivate and must cultivate. And I implore each and every one of you that we must spread widely throughout the course of our lives gratitude for human existence.”

Watch Dr. Greene’s speech at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ commencement ceremony on May 21.

Ayman Mohyeldin, MSNBC host of AYMAN, speaks at Georgetown in Qatar's commencement ceremony in May.

Ayman Mohyeldin

MSNBC host of AYMAN

“You see the difference between what you do and what your purpose is is profound. What you do is a job. It’s a way of making a living … But your purpose, well, that is something higher. That is your calling. 

You have a purpose in this world. Even if you don’t know what it is today, that is OK. But make the driving force of your life your purpose. Not your job. And definitely don’t make it money.  

You will know what that purpose is, that calling, because it will be when you must apply yourself, when you must try, when you must take a leap towards something that makes you come alive for a greater good.”

Learn more about Mohyeldin’ s speech at Georgetown in Qatar’s commencement ceremony on May 11.

best graduation speeches of 2023

Celebrating the Class of 2023

Georgetown celebrates the class of 2023 at commencement.

A sign that says "Hoya Saxa" sits on Healy Lawn in the background. Students in regalia are in the foreground.

Georgetown Announces Graduation Speakers for the Class of 2023

The Velasquez family stands in front of the Hoya Saxa sign on Georgetown's front lawn.

A Groundskeeper Worked 28 Graduations. This Year, It Was for His Daughter.

  • Class of 2023 ,
  • Commencement ,
  • Embracing Community

16 Best Graduation Speeches That Leave a Lasting Impression

By Kristi Kellogg and Noor Brara

Listen to words of wisdom from the best graduation speeches.

Some of the most impactful and inspiring sentiments are shared during graduation speeches delivered by the leaders we look up to. Graduation speeches from celebrities , entrepreneurs, authors and other influential thinkers are motivational, inspiring, thought-provoking and just might make you reach for the nearest tissue. After four years of hard work, stress, and exhausting self-discovery, lucky graduates are privy to a life-changing speech to top it all off.

Here, we rounded up up 16 of the best graduation speeches of all time, including words of wisdom from Natalie Portman, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and more.

1. Steve Jobs: Stanford, 2005

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

2. Michelle Obama: Tuskegee University, 2015

"I've found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the piece of mind knowing that all of the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting...all of it was just noise. It did not define me, it didn't change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn't hold me back."

3. Natalie Portman: Harvard, 2015

"I just directed my first film. I was completely unprepared, but my own ignorance to my own limitations looked like confidence and got me into the director's chair. Once there, I had to figure it all out, and my belief that I could handle these things, contrary to all evidence of my ability to do so was half the battle. The other half was very hard work. The experience was the deepest and most meaningful one of my career."

4. Amy Poehler: Harvard University, 2011

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"What I have discovered is this: You can't do it alone … Listen. Say 'yes.' Live in the moment. Make sure you play with people who have your back. Make big choices early and often."

5. Meryl Streep: Barnard College, 2010

"This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change."

6. David Foster Wallace: Kenyon College, 2005

"Twenty years after my own graduation, I have come gradually to understand that the liberal arts cliché about teaching you how to think is actually shorthand for a much deeper, more serious idea: learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed. Think of the old cliché about quote the mind being an excellent servant but a terrible master."

7. Barack Obama: Howard University, 2016

"You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness, but action. Not just hashtags, but votes."

8. Kerry Washington: George Washington University, 2013

"You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that can write the story that you were meant to tell."

9. Conan O'Brien: Dartmouth College, 2011

"There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized. Today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality … Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen."

10. J.K. Rowling: Harvard, 2008

"I stopped pretending to be anything than what I was. My greatest fear had been realized. I had an old typewriter and a big idea. Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

11. Oprah Winfrey: Harvard University, 2013

"Learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you into being more who you are. And then figure out what is the next right move. And the key to life is to develop an internal moral, emotional G.P.S. that can tell you which way to go."

12. Joss Whedon: Wesleyan University, 2013

"You have, which is a rare thing, that ability and the responsibility to listen to the dissent in yourself, to at least give it the floor, because it is the key—not only to consciousness–but to real growth. To accept duality is to earn identity. And identity is something that you are constantly earning. It is not just who you are. It is a process that you must be active in. It's not just parroting your parents or the thoughts of your learned teachers. It is now more than ever about understanding yourself so you can become yourself."

13. George Saunders: Syracuse University, 2013

"Do all the other things, the ambitious things … Travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop)—but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness."

14. Nora Ephron: Wellesley College, 1996

"Be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

15. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Wellesley College, 2015

"As you graduate, as you deal with your excitement and your doubts today, I urge you to try and create the world you want to live in. Minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, get your hands dirty way."

16. Admiral William H. McRaven: University of Texas at Austin, 2014

"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right."

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20 Best Graduation Speeches to Read When You Need Some Solid Life Advice

Including Ree Drummond's own speech at OSU!

preview for Best Commencement Advice for New Graduates

First up, we've got the Pioneer Woman herself—Ree Drummond's iconic keynote address at Oklahoma State University . Ree has witnessed her fair share of milestones with the Drummond kids —she just recently attended Paige's college graduation ! And who could forget Oprah Winfrey's speech to the class of 2020? In this heartfelt and emotional address, Winfrey encourages graduates to find their purpose in life and make a difference in the world. Those two are just a taste of what's to come. So, turn on the graduation songs , grab your tissues, and get ready for some solid life advice. Whether you're a recent graduate or just in need of a little pick-me-up, these speeches are sure to leave you feeling inspired and ready to take on whatever life throws your way.

Ree Drummond: Oklahoma State University, 2022

graduation speeches ree drummond

Ree hardly needs an introduction, but she knows a thing or two about life as a published author, Food Network host, and most importantly, mother of five.

"Buckle up, you have good times and rough seas ahead. It is just part of life, but enjoy the ride and laugh a lot... Life is about to unfold for you in all its forms. Love, heartache, accomplishments, disappointment, testing of faith... life is beautiful, so I repeat, buckle up and laugh along the way. It makes life fun."

Steve Jobs: Stanford University, 2005

graduation speeches steve jobs

The entrepreneur, inventor, and pioneer of the personal computer revolution had his fair share of ups and downs in life. But one of the things that made him so persistent was his love of technology.

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

Neil Gaiman: University of the Arts, 2012

Neil wasn't always an acclaimed author of fiction, comic books, graphic novels, nonfiction, and films. His speech may have been given to a group of young artists, but the advice applies to anyone starting out in a turbulent career.

"People who know what they are doing know the rules, and they know what is possible and what is impossible. You do not. And you should not. The rules on what is possible and impossible in the arts were made by people who had not tested the bounds of the possible by going beyond them. And you can. If you don't know it's impossible, it's easier to do. And because nobody's done it before, they haven't made up rules to stop anyone doing that particular thing again."

Oprah Winfrey: Class of 2020 Virtual Speech

graduation speeches oprah winfrey

Oprah had one of the hardest commencement speeches to give: it was for the class that graduated during the pandemic. She found a profound lesson in the chaos of those early months.

"Look who turns out to be essential! Teachers—your teachers!—healthcare workers of course, the people stocking grocery shelves, the cashiers, those who are caring for your grandparents, those who clean the places where we work and shop and carry out our daily lives. We are all here because they, at great and profound risk, are still providing their essential service. What will your essential service be? What really matters to you? How will you use what matters in service to yourself, your community, and the world?"

George Saunders: Syracuse University, 2013

Bestselling author and professor George Saunders offered grads a guiding principle to move through life with, no matter what they pursue.

"Travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop)—but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality—your soul, if you will—is as bright and shining as any that has ever been."

Admiral William H. McRaven: University of Texas at Austin, 2014

During Admiral McRaven's speech at his alma mater, he looked to the lessons he learned serving his country. One of which was so simple, yet profoundly impactful.

"If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter... And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better."

Nora Ephron: Wellesley College, 1996

When Nora Ephron wasn't reporting, she was writing some of our most beloved romantic comedies. She reassured grads that they will always continue to change and grow.

"What are you going to do? Everything is my guess. It will be a little messy but embrace the mess. It will be complicated but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it's going to be like, but surprises are good for you. And don't be frightened. You can always change your mind. I know. I've had four careers and three husbands. And this is something else I want to tell you, one of the hundreds of things I didn't know when I was sitting here so many years ago: you are not going to be you, fixed and immutable you, forever."

Toni Morrison: Wellesley College, 2004

graduation speeches toni morrison

Toni Morrison disputed the usual platitude that youth is the best time of your life. Instead, she told students that there is nothing more satisfying or gratifying than the true adulthood which stretches out before them. "What is now known is not all that you are capable of knowing. You are your own stories and therefore free to imagine and experience what it means to be human without wealth. What it feels like to be human without domination over others, without reckless arrogance, without fear of others unlike you, without rotating, rehearsing and reinventing the hatreds you learned in the sandbox. And although you don't have complete control over the narrative (no author does, I can tell you), you could nevertheless create it."

Conan O'Brien: Dartmouth College, 2011

This famous late-night host delivered a hilarious graduation speech riddled with stories, each with their own lesson.

"David Letterman wanted to be Johnny Carson and was not, and as a result, my generation of comedians wanted to be David Letterman. And none of us are—my peers and I have all missed that mark in a thousand different ways. But the point is this: It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound re-invention."

Barbara Kingsolver: DePauw University, 1994

The sentiment of Barbara Kingsolver's speech resonates today just as much as it did in 1994.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and give you one little piece of advice and that is like the idea of a future. Believe you have it in you to make the world look better rather than worse seven generations from now. Figure out what that could look like. And then if you're lucky, you'll find a way to live inside that hope, running down its hallways, touching the walls on both sides."

Hamdi Ulukaya: Northeastern University, 2022

You may not know his name, but you might just love Chobani, the hugely successful yogurt brand Hamdi started. He reminded graduates why we are here on earth.

"As we started to grow, we hired everyone that we could. I realized an hour away there was a community of refugees who were having a hard time finding jobs. I said, 'Let's hire them.' I promise you that there is nothing more rewarding than showing up in the world for other people, no matter how hard it may be."

Ken Burns: Stanford University, 2016

graduation speeches ken burns

In his 2016 Stanford speech, America's most famous documentary filmmaker asked listeners not to forget the lessons found in our history.

"Be for something. Be curious, not cool. Feed your soul, too. Every day. Remember, insecurity makes liars of us all. Don't confuse success with excellence. Educate all of your parts. You will be healthier. Seek out—and have—mentors. Listen to them. Bite off more than you can chew. Do not get stuck in one place. Visit our national parks. Their sheer majesty may remind you of your own 'atomic insignificance,' as one observer noted, but in the inscrutable ways of nature, you will feel larger, inspirited, just as the egotist in our midst is diminished by his or her self-regard. Insist on heroes. And be one."

Kerry Washington: George Washington University, 2013

graduation speeches kerry washington

Actress Kerry Washington told graduates to think of this achievement during the difficult or uncomfortable parts of life.

"The lesson is that you're here because you too learned how to answer the call. You don't earn a degree by doing and being and existing in the comfort zone of what you already know. Look back on the journey that brought you here. What moments challenged you most? When were you asked to step outside of your familiar territory in order to rise to the occasion of your potential? I want you to remember those moments, because they will embolden you."

Dr. Marie Lynn Miranda: University of Notre Dame, 2021

As obvious as it sounds, you don't know what you don't know. That's the lesson from this acclaimed Notre Dame professor and environmental researcher.

"As much as I want to highlight the importance of the expertise you have developed, I also want to make the point that you will face situations in the years ahead where you will have no relevant expertise; you will have no evidence base to rely upon; your intellect will not be able to supply a needed answer. In those situations, I would like to suggest that you respond with love."

Atul Gawande: Williams College, 2012

Being a surgeon means you have to think on your feet when things go wrong, and for Dr. Gawande, that holds an immense life lesson.

"A failure often does not have to be a failure at all. However, you have to be ready for it. Will you admit when things go wrong? Will you take steps to set them right? Because the difference between triumph and defeat, you'll find, isn't about willingness to take risks. It's about mastery of rescue."

John F. Kennedy: American University, 1963

graduation speeches john f kennedy

During the turbulence of the early sixties, then-president John F. Kennedy delivered a rallying cry to students entering the world: choose peace.

"Let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal."

Sheryl Sandberg: UC Berkeley, 2016

The former COO of Facebook offered graduates a realistic look at the life ahead and how to move through the hard times. "Some of you have already experienced the kind of tragedy and hardship that leave an indelible mark. The question is not if some of these things will happen to you. They will. Today I want to talk about what happens next. The easy days ahead of you will be easy. It is the hard days—the times that challenge you to your very core—that will determine who you are. You will be defined not just by what you achieve but by how you survive."

Bill Gates: Harvard University, 2007

graduation speeches bill gates

Who wouldn't take the Microsoft founder's advice?

"In line with the promise of this age, I want to exhort each of the graduates here to take on an issue—a complex problem, a deep inequity, and become a specialist on it. If you make it the focus of your career, that would be phenomenal. But you don't have to do that to make an impact... don't let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on big inequities. I feel sure it will be one of the great experiences of your lives."

Aaron Sorkin: Syracuse University, 2012

graduation speeches aaron sorkin

Aaron has carved an incredible career writing plays, movies, and television shows, but success clearly hasn't impacted his sense of humility.

"Decisions are made by those who show up. Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world. Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: civility, respect, kindness, character."

Tim Cook: Tulane University, 2019

graduation speeches tim cook

Tim Cook took a similar approach to his late co-worker Steve Jobs when it came to the theme of his graduation speech.

"There's a saying that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. At Apple, I learned that's a total crock. You'll work harder than you ever thought possible, but the tools will feel light in your hands. As you go out into the world, don't waste time on problems that have been solved... Look for the rough spots, the problems that seem too big, the complexities that other people are content to work around. It's in those places that you will find your purpose. It's there that you can make your greatest contribution."

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Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.

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The 15 Best Commencement Speeches of All Time

best graduation speeches of 2023

Table of Contents

T here’s a lot of pressure on speakers delivering a commencement speech.

They have to say something inspiring, engaging, and memorable—and if that wasn’t hard enough, they have to remain composed in front of hundreds or thousands of people. 

Universities handpick some of the most prestigious public speakers to give graduation speeches. As a result, there’s no shortage of commencement speech examples to watch and learn from. 

We’ve picked out 15 of the very best from recent times, including videos, transcripts, and the best quote from each.

What are the ingredients of the best commencement speeches?

Before we get to the speeches, perhaps you’ve come across this article because you’re on the lookout for your own graduation speech ideas to deliver at an upcoming address. 

If so, we’ve outlined the commonalities all of the best graduation speeches on this list share, so you can start crafting an address that will leave a lasting impression.

They include personal anecdotes

As you read through the graduation speech examples on this list, you’ll notice that nearly all of them start with a personal anecdote of some sort. This may be just a casual reference to one’s personal life, or a longer, more detailed story—or even a set of stories that are woven throughout the speech. 

Anecdotes can create a captivating hook for your speech, and also make you more relatable, so that students identify with your main points.

They have a clear central theme

Most graduation speeches range from ten minutes to thirty minutes, but all of the best ones can be boiled down to one or two sentences. This is because a good graduation speech will be crafted around a central point: one specific concept that the speaker wants to demonstrate. 

If you’re looking for graduation speech ideas, start with the primary point you want to make and build your speech around that. Choose too many points, and you’ll have a meandering speech that will leave listeners confused or overwhelmed.

They feature powerful one-liners 

You’ll see we’ve included our favorite quotes from each of the graduation speeches below. In most cases, it was hard to just pick one line! A good graduation speech should have a few standout moments—one or two sentences that will stick in the minds of anyone who hears the speech. 

The brilliant one-liners will rarely show up on the first draft of your speech, so don’t worry about being too clever when you’re just starting out. As you edit and hone the speech, the best lines will write themselves.

They are applicable to a broad audience 

It’s not uncommon for commencement speech-givers to make comments about the specific school they are speaking to; a commencement address at at a technical school will naturally have different themes than one at a liberal arts college. 

But ultimately, the graduation speech you give should be applicable to a broad audience. Every person in the graduating class should be able to resonate with the message on some level, and the most memorable graduation speeches apply to all young adults who are preparing to start living on their own.

The 15 best commencement speeches of all time

Kamala harris commencement speech .

Tennessee State University, Class of 2022

Read the transcript

Why it’s so good: Vice President Harris had a tough job—addressing a class of students who had experienced a global pandemic that disrupted their college experience. She took the stage and gave an inspiring speech encouraging students to seize the moment and adopt a sense of leadership. Listening to her speak, it’s no surprise her eloquence helped bring her to the White House. 

Best quote: “I look at this unsettled world and, yes, I then see the challenges, but I’m here to tell you, I also see the opportunities. The opportunities for your leadership. The future of our country and our world will be shaped by you.”

Jim Carrey commencement speech

Maharishi University of Management, Class of 2014

Why it’s so good: Actor Jim Carrey is introduced as “the funniest man on Earth,” and though he comes out with a bunch of great jokes, his speech delivers insightful, thought-provoking, and touching comments about what life will be like after graduation. 

Best quote: “You can spend your whole life imagining ghosts, worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be is what’s happening here, and the decisions we make in this moment, which are based in either love or fear.”

Taylor Swift commencement speech

New York University, Class of 2022

Why it’s so good: Taylor Swift, in some ways, is the voice of the generation (though you may roll your eyes at that statement if you aren’t a fan). Either way, this graduation speech she gave speaks directly to the GenZ audience she addressed in a way older speakers might not be able to achieve.

Best quote: “Never be ashamed of trying. Effortlessness is a myth. The people who wanted it the least were the ones I wanted to date and be friends with in high school. The people who want it most are the people I now hire to work for my company. ”

Steve Jobs commencement speech

Stanford, Class of 2005

Why it’s so good: Despite being one of the most successful businesspersons ever, the late Steve Jobs dropped out of college. He doesn’t shy away from this in his speech—instead, he uses it to tell three compelling stories from his life that contain some excellent lessons for soon-to-be grads. 

Best quote: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Patton Oswalt commencement speech 

William & Mary, Class of 2023

Read more excerpts

Why it’s so good: If you only read the opening of actor Patton Oswald’s commencement speech, it will sound less than inspiring. He begins by outlining the many uncomfortable realities our world is facing, from climate change to deteriorating democracies around the world. But as his speech goes on, Oswalt puts into words the hope and passion that are signature traits of Generation Z, and it has an impressive impact on his audience. 

Best quote: “You do not have a choice but to be anything but extraordinary. Those are the times we’re living in right now. And it’s been amazing. It’s been truly amazing to see how your generation has rebelled against every bad habit of mine and every generation that came before me.”

Maria Shriver commencement speech

University of Michigan, Class of 2022

Why it’s so good: Though exciting, graduating from college can be intimidating as well—students may feel unconfident about what they want to do in life and who they want to be. Though she’s a seasoned journalist, Maria Shriver knows something about self-doubt and how to overcome it. She eloquently shares her advice in this graduation speech. 

Best quote: “Graduates, you are not here to do a repeat of your parents or other famous Michigan grads. You are here to live your own wildly authentic lives. And it’s your authenticity, your determination, your creativity, and your imagination that our society needs most at this uncertain time.”

Denzel Washington commencement speech

University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2011

Why it’s so good: You probably don’t think of the word “failure” when you think of Denzel Washington, but that’s just the thing—as he says in his speech, people don’t focus on the failures of someone’s life; they focus on the successes. He uses examples of his own failures to encourage grads to “fall forward” when they don’t succeed. 

Best quote: “So the question is, what are you going to do with what you have? I’m not talking about how much you have. Some of you are business majors. Some of you were theologians, nurses, sociologists. Some of you have money. Some of you have patience. Some of you have kindness. Some of you have love. Some of you have the gift of long-suffering. Whatever it is, whatever your gift is, what are you going to do with what you have?”

Elizabeth Bonker graduation speech

Rollins College, Class of 2022

Why it’s so good: Elizabeth Bonker was one of the valedictorians for her class, which meant she was expected to give a commencement speech. As a woman affected by nonspeaking autism, she relied on technology to communicate a message of perseverance and the power to choose your own path in life. 

Best quote: “The freedom to choose our own way is our fundamental human right, and it is a right worth defending, not just for us, but for every human being.”

David Foster Wallace commencement speech

Kenyon College, Class of 2005

Why it’s so good: Author David Foster Wallace was a master storyteller, and his speech is full of funny parables that conceal incredibly profound insights for the graduates listening. The speech Wallace gave was raw and honest, and as such, it has cemented itself as one of the best commencement speeches of all time. 

Best quote: “And I submit that this is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about: how to keep from going through your comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult life dead, unconscious, a slave to your head and to your natural default setting of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone day in and day out.”

Tom Hanks commencement speech 

Harvard University, Class of 2023

Why it’s so good: Harvard is well-known for hosting some of the best commencement speeches, and 2023 was no different. Actor Tom Hanks started his address by talking about superheroes, and used it as a launching pad to show students how to tap into their own powers and fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. 

Best quote: “Every day, every year, and for every graduating class there is a choice, the same option for all grownups to make: to be one of three types of Americans—those who embrace liberty and freedom for all , those who won’t, or those who are indifferent. In the never-ending battle you have all officially joined as of today, the difference is in how truly you believe, in how vociferously you promote, in how tightly you hold to the Truth that is self-evident—that of course we are all created equally yet differently, and of course we are all in this together. Justice and the American way are within our grasp no matter our gender, our faith, our station, our heritage, our genetic makeup, the shade of our flesh, or the continental birthplace of our ancestors.”

Mary Schmich commencement speech (sort of)

All Graduates Everywhere, 1997

Read the original essay

Why it’s so good: This speech, titled “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young,” was never delivered to a single graduating class. It originated as a hypothetical commencement speech penned by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich. It went viral over email (it was 1997, after all, so there was no social media). Later, Baz Luhrmann (yes, that Baz Luhrmann) adapted it into a spoken-word song commonly known as “Wear Sunscreen.” The song still slaps and contains a bunch of fantastic advice for young people. 

Best quote: “Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.”

Abby Wambach commencement speech

Barnard College, Class of 2018

Why it’s so good: Olympic gold-medalist, World Cup champ, and human rights activist Abby Wambach was the perfect person to give a speech to the women graduating in the 2018 class at Barnard College. She gave a rousing speech about feminism and the power the women in her audience held as they took a step into the future. 

Best quote: “As you go out into the world: Amplify each others’ voices. Demand seats for women, people of color and all marginalized people at every table where decisions are made. Call out each other’s wins and just like we do on the field: claim the success of one woman, as a collective success for all women.”

George Saunders commencement speech

Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2013

Why it’s so good: Author George Saunders took the stage at the same university where he was a professor, which may explain why he was so candid in his excellent graduation speech. He speaks on regret and kindness—two emotions that are more connected than you may think. 

Best quote: “Since, according to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving: Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now. There’s a confusion in each of us, a sickness, really: selfishness. But there’s also a cure. So be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own behalf—seek out the most efficacious anti-selfishness medicines, energetically, for the rest of your life.”

Matthew McConaughey commencement speech

University of Houston, Class of 2018

Why it’s so good: Matthew McConaughey gives a masterclass on structuring an excellent graduation speech. He cuts to the chase, letting the audience know that he’s going to share with them 13 simple truths. The first one is “Life’s not fair.” And they only get more honest and inspiring from there. 

Best quote: “Prioritize who you are, who you want to be, and don’t spend time with anything that antagonizes your character. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. It tastes sweet but you will get cavities tomorrow. Life is not a popularity contest. Be brave. Take the hill. But first answer that question. What’s my hill?”

Juan Manuel Santos commencement speech 

Notre Dame University, Class of 2023

Why it’s so good: Juan Manuel Santos was the president of Colombia from 2010 to 2018, and much of his time during those years was dedicated to ending the long, violent civil war in his country. For this effort, he was the sole recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. It should come as no surprise that he delivered a moving commencement speech focused on the concept of peacemaking. 

Best quote: “To become a true peacemaker, first you must be at peace with yourself, at peace with your own conscience. … Whenever you have to choose between being at peace or proving yourself right, choose the way of peace. We have too many wars, conflicts, deaths, victims, and violence because human beings insist that only they, not their fellow humans, know the correct course of action. It is better to be at peace than to prove to anyone that you are right. Work with peace in your heart, find peace in your soul, and everything else will follow.”

More inspirational content for recent grads

Before you go, if you’re on the lookout for more resources to help you now that you’re a college grad, we’ve got some excellent content you might want to check out. Here are some of the best articles from our archives for young alumni:

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The rapid development of artificial intelligence and machine learning calls into question the future of the MBA degree, writes admissions consultant Swati Gupta

Top Business Schools Are Adding AI Courses to Their Curricula

AI is brewing up a storm. Generative tools, such as ChatGPT, are making waves in the tech industry and could potentially upend a number of jobs. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania found that 49% of workers could have half or more of their tasks exposed to large language models like ChatGPT.

The rise of AI has pushed a number of B-schools to update their curricula with courses that equip MBAs with the knowledge and tools to succeed in a generative workforce. Fortune recently highlighted some of the AI courses that top B-schools have added to their MBA curricula.

Last month, MIT Sloan introduced a new generative AI course to its curriculum.

“Embracing the Unexpected: Creative Transformation Amid Rapid Change” focuses on teaching students how to develop skill sets necessary to compete in an AI-driven world.

“Learning how to embrace the unexpected effectively—including the duality and paradox that accompany transformation—is much more than a single course,” Gregersen says. “It’s a lifelong quest that paves a powerful path for creating and recreating meaningful value in companies and communities around the world.”

NYU Stern has a number of courses covering AI topics.

Stern’s “Introduction to AI & Its Applications in Business” offers students an overview of AI developments, fundamental A.I. concepts, and its practical business applications. Additionally, the B-school’s curriculum includes two AI-focused electives for executive MBAs: “Artificial Intelligence, Automation and the Platform Revolution: Global Perspectives” and “Analytics and Machine Learning.”

NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Kellogg’s curriculum includes several AI-focused courses and the B-school has even developed a an MBAi (MBA in artificial intelligence) program in partnership with Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering.

AI courses at Kellogg cover a range of topics such as the importance of AI usage in business, workplace disruptions caused by A.I., and how marketing can change due to AI.

The business school’s MBAi program, developed in 2021, is a 15-month program designed for business leaders who want to learn more about how to operate AI-driven technology. The program includes a technical core that teaches students programming languages and the agile process used in product management.

Sources: Fortune , University of Pennsylvania

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The advice I shared with the class of 2023 is advice I could have used myself.

best graduation speeches of 2023

Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to give two commencement speeches: one to Harvard—the alma mater I never graduated from—in 2007, and another to Stanford in 2014. Today, I delivered my third to the forestry and engineering graduates of Northern Arizona University. (You can read more about what drew me to NAU here .)

The class of 2023 is no ordinary group of graduates. Before most of them completed their first year of college, a once-in-a-generation pandemic came along and changed life—and learning—as we knew it. It took resilience, grit, and a whole lot of ingenuity for them to cross this finish line. So I was excited to congratulate them before they begin the next stages of their lives, and share some wisdom I’ve picked up in the decades since I left my own college campus.

This is what I told them:

Remarks as prepared May 13, 2023 Northern Arizona University Commencement Ceremony for the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences and the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences

Good afternoon! Thank you, President Cruz Rivera and the Arizona Board of Regents, for this tremendous honor. I am thrilled to be here with NAU’s esteemed faculty and staff.

Friends and family, the time has finally come to exhale. Today is your accomplishment, too—and I think that deserves a round of applause.

Graduates, you made it. You finished your capstones and your internships. You survived junior-level writing class and multiple Tequila Sunrises. You had your last Dimes Night at Museum Club, and you earned your rubber duck from Collins.

You might be happy to know that I have joined your ranks. I am now the proud recipient of an honorary doctorate and an honorary ducky.

I am honored to have the opportunity to address you today, because I believe more people should know about the tremendous value of an NAU education. You are graduating from an institution that creates opportunity, fosters innovation, and builds community, and it has prepared you to find solutions to some of the biggest problems facing us today. 

NAU is also giving you something I never received: A real college degree.

Some of you might know that I never made it to my own graduation. I left after three semesters to start Microsoft. So, what does a college dropout know about graduation? Not much personally, to be honest.

As I prepared for today, I thought about how you, as new graduates, can have the biggest impact on the world with the education you received here. That led me to thinking about the graduation I never had, the commencement speech I never heard, and the advice I wasn’t given on a day just like this one.

That is what I want to share with you this afternoon: The five things I wish I was told at the graduation I never attended.

The first thing is, your life isn’t a one-act play .

You probably feel a lot of pressure right now to make the right decisions about your career. It might feel like those decisions are permanent. They’re not. What you do tomorrow—or for the next ten years—does not have to be what you do forever.

When I left school, I thought I would work at Microsoft for the rest of my life.

Today, I still love my work on software, but philanthropy is my full-time job. I spend my days working to create innovations that fight climate change and reduce inequalities around the world—including in health and education.

I feel lucky that our foundation gets to support amazing institutions like NAU—even if it’s not what I imagined I’d be doing when I was 22. Not only is it okay to change your mind or have a second career… it can be a very good thing.

The second piece of advice I wish I heard at my graduation is that you are never too smart to be confused .

I thought I knew everything I needed to know when I left college. But the first step to learning something new is embracing what you don’t know, instead of focusing on what you do know.

At some point in your career, you will find yourself facing a problem you cannot solve on your own. When that happens, don’t panic. Take a breath. Force yourself to think things through. And then find smart people to learn from.

It could be a colleague with more experience. It could be one of your fellow graduates, who has a good perspective and will push you to think differently. It could be an expert in the field who is willing to reply to your questions over DM.

Just about everything I have accomplished came because I sought out others who knew more. People want to help you. The key is to not be afraid to ask.

You may be done with school. But you can—and should—see the rest of your life as an education.  

My third piece of advice is to gravitate toward work that solves an important problem .

The good news is, you are graduating at a time when there are many important problems to solve. New industries and companies are emerging every day that will allow you to make a living and make a difference, and advances in science and technology have made it easier than ever to make a big impact.

For example, many of you are becoming foresters. Your professors taught you about cutting-edge tools, like drones that use LIDAR to produce accurate maps of the forest floor. You could find new ways to use that technology to help fight climate change.

Some of you are heading off to start careers as programmers. You could use your talents to make sure all people can benefit from artificial intelligence—or to help eliminate biases in AI.

When you spend your days doing something that solves a big problem, it energizes you to do your best work. It forces you to be more creative, and it gives your life a strong sense of purpose.

My fourth piece of advice is simple: Don’t underestimate the power of friendship .

When I was in school, I became friends with another student who shared a lot of my interests, like science fiction novels and computer magazines.

Little did I know how important that friendship would be. My friend’s name was Paul Allen—and we started Microsoft together.

Remember that people you’ve sat next to in lectures, skied Snowbowl with, and competed against on Wingo night are not just your classmates. They are your network. Your future co-founders and colleagues. A great future source of support, information, and advice.  

The only thing more valuable than what you walk offstage with today is who you walk onstage with.

My last piece of advice is the one I could have used the most. It took me a long time to learn. And it is this: You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack .

When I was your age, I didn’t believe in vacations. I didn’t believe in weekends. I pushed everyone around me to work very long hours. In the early days of Microsoft, my office overlooked the parking lot—and I would keep track of who was leaving early and staying late.

But as I got older—and especially once I became a father—I realized there is more to life than work.

Don’t wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses.

Take a break when you need to. Take it easy on the people around you when they need it, too.

And before you begin the next stage of your lives, take a moment and have some fun. Tonight, this weekend, this summer, whenever. You deserve it.

Class of 2023, the future belongs to you. I believe you will be the ones to solve the climate crisis and reduce the gap between the rich and poor.

You have already made history by attending college during some truly unprecedented times. I have no doubt that you will continue to make history throughout the rest of your lives. I cannot wait to see how you will drive progress around the world.

Congratulations on reaching this momentous milestone. Go Lumberjacks!

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This year signaled the start of a new era. Here’s why I believe next year is an opportunity to shape the world’s next chapter for the better.

best graduation speeches of 2023

It’s part of a new approach to teaching America’s least favorite subject.

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In the second episode of my new podcast, I sat down with the founder of Khan Academy to talk about how artificial intelligence will transform education.

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Washington State Teacher of the Year Dana Miles uses bus schedules, coffee orders, and dinner recipes to teach her students about self-advocacy.

This is my personal blog, where I share about the people I meet, the books I'm reading, and what I'm learning. I hope that you'll join the conversation.

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The Best Career Advice From 2023’s Top Graduation Speeches

Posted July 5, 2023

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The best Oscar acceptance speeches of all time, from Meryl Streep to Olivia Colman

best graduation speeches of 2023

What makes an exemplary Oscar speech?

That’s the million-dollar question facing each new crop of winners , who are frequently tasked with finding new things to say at the Academy Awards ( airing Sunday on ABC ) after a monthslong parade of awards shows. Brad Pitt , Ke Huy Quan and Daniel Kaluuya nailed the assignment in recent years, giving speeches that struck an endearing balance of humor and sincerity, but always with a dash of the unexpected.  

Many winners opt for a timely message, while others resort to rattling off a list of names. But after years of watching innumerable speeches, here are those in a category all their own:

10. Meryl Streep (2012)

Did Meryl Streep really need her third Oscar win for, of all films, “The Iron Lady?” Not really. She was the weakest contender for best actress that year, and her earlier nods for “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Doubt” and “Julie & Julia” were more deserving. But her pitch-perfect speech made up for it: She’s at once self-deprecating, joking that “half of America” groaned when her name was called. Streep then gets sentimental, reflecting on the community she has cultivated over 40 years in Hollywood. “I look out here, and I see my life before my eyes,” she said. “My friends, thank you, all of you – departed and here – for this inexplicably wonderful career.”

9. Joe Pesci (1991)

Patty Duke (“T he Miracle Worker”) and Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”) memorably delivered some of the shortest speeches in Oscar history. But it’s hard to top Joe Pesci, who charmingly maintained his tough-guy persona with a five-word address as he accepted best supporting actor for “Goodfellas.” “It’s my privilege. Thank you,” he said, flashing a sheepish grin before ducking offstage.

8. Anna Paquin (1994)

Rule of thumb: Every Oscar speech should start with at least 20 seconds of gleeful hyperventilating. Taking best supporting actress for “The Piano,” 11-year-old Anna Paquin spent most of her time onstage in stunned excitement , wide-eyed and gulping before letting out a quick “thank you” to the motion picture academy. Her iconic outfit – a purple vest and bejeweled beanie – is the cherry on top of an already adorable moment.

7. Hattie McDaniel (1940)

Sixty years before Halle Berry’s emotional win for best actress , Hattie McDaniel made Oscar history as the first Black honoree, earning best supporting actress for “Gone With the Wind.” The moment’s weight was not lost on the ever-poised McDaniel, who was seated in a far corner of the room away from the event’s white guests. “I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel ,” she said, burying her face in a handkerchief as she exited the stage.

6. Michael Caine (2000)

Winners often acknowledge their fellow nominees with a few obligatory words. But accepting best supporting actor for “The Cider House Rules,” Michael Caine graciously spent his whole speech fêting the young men in his category , including Tom Cruise (“Magnolia”), Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Green Mile”), Jude Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”) and 11-year-old Haley Joel Osment (“The Sixth Sense”). “Haley, when I saw you, I thought, ‘Well, that's me out of it,’ ” Caine said, earning laughs. “I'm basically up here, guys, to represent you as what I hope you will all be: a survivor.”

5. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon (1997)

Tinseltown’s favorite bros were delightfully unbridled as they accepted the statuette for best original screenplay for “Good Will Hunting.” “I just said to Matt, 'Losing would suck and winning would be really scary ,' ” Affleck quipped. They proceeded to ping-pong names back and forth, shouting and pointing at their families like an impromptu wedding toast. “And thank you so much to the city of Boston!” Affleck breathlessly concluded, a hilarious chef’s kiss from Beantown's unofficial spokesman .

4. Ruth Gordon (1969)

Ruth Gordon is deliciously unsettling in “Rosemary’s Baby,” which makes her warm and scintillating speech that much more amusing. “I can’t tell you how encouraging a thing like this is!” the supporting actress winner exclaimed, looking back on her 50-year career and wondering why “it took me so long.” “Thank all of you who voted for me,” she said with a smile. “And all of you who didn’t, please excuse me!”

3. Cuba Gooding Jr. (1997)

Accepting the award for best supporting actor for “Jerry Maguire,” Cuba Gooding summoned the sort of TV magic that we all tune in for but rarely get . What begins as your standard feel-good speech soon becomes a race against the playoff music to thank as many people as possible. “Oh, my goodness! Here we are!” Gooding yells giddily, triumphantly jumping and fist-pumping the air. His palpable joy is infectious, bringing the entire crowd to its feet by his dozenth proclamation of “I love you!”

2. Louise Fletcher (1976)

With just 22 minutes of screen time, Louise Fletcher won best actress for playing the venomous Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” She began by thanking voters with a joke about her chilling performance: “All I can say is I've loved being hated by you.” But what makes this speech an all-timer is Fletcher’s moving pivot to sign language, choking up as she pays tribute to her deaf parents : “I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true.”

1. Olivia Colman (2019)

Accepting best actress for “The Favourite,” Olivia Colman gave us everything we could want in an Oscar win: tears, laughter, amazement and a frenzied air-kiss to Lady Gaga. “It’s genuinely quite stressful,” Colman said as she took the stage, beaming as she pointed to her statue. “This is hilarious!” The beloved Brit zigzags through a marathon of emotions: crying as she thanks her husband and kids, and recalling her humble start as a cleaner. She also takes a beat to recognize Glenn Close, the award’s presumed front-runner and an eight-time Oscar nominee. ( “You’ve been my idol for so long and this is not how I wanted it to be!” ) Cheeky, heartfelt and endlessly rewatchable, Colman delivered the kind of speech that reminds us why we love awards season so much.

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American Fiction Writer Cord Jefferson Implores Hollywood to Take More Risks as He Wins Oscar

The other nominees were Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach for 'Barbie', Christopher Nolan for 'Oppenheimer', Tony McNamara for 'Poor Things' and Jonathan Glazer for 'The Zone of Interest'

best graduation speeches of 2023

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Cord Jefferson made a plea to Hollywood after winning the Best Adapted Screenplay for American Fiction at the 2024 Academy Awards .

The other nominees in the category were Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach for Barbie , Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer , Tony McNamara for Poor Things and Jonathan Glazer for The Zone of Interest .

He began, “This means the world to me. Thank you so much to the Academy, thank you so much to everybody who worked on the film.” 

“I’ve been talking a lot about how many people passed on this movie and discussing it and I worry that sometimes [it] sounds vindictive, and I don’t want to be vindictive, I’m not a vindictive person anymore,” Jefferson continued. “I’ve worked very hard to not be vindictive anymore.”  

Claire Folger

Jefferson then implored Hollywood to take more risks in filmmaking. 

“And it’s more a plea — it’s a plea to acknowledge and recognize that there are so many people out there who want the opportunity that I was given.... I understand that this is a risk-averse industry, I get it,” he said. 

“But $200 million dollar movies are also a risk, you know?” he added. “And it doesn’t always work out but you take the risk anyway. And instead of making one $200 million dollar movie, try making 20 $10 million dollar movies or 50 $4 million dollar movies. Like, you can — there are so many people, I just feel so much joy being here, I felt so much joy making this movie, and I want other people to experience that joy, and they’re out there I promise you.”

“The next Martin Scorsese ’s out there, the next Greta’s out there — both Gretas, the next Christopher Nolan’s out there I promise you. They just want a shot and we can give them one and this has changed my life. Thank you all who worked on this movie for trusting a 40-year-old Black guy who has never directed anything before. It’s changed my life, thank you — I love you all, thank you so much.”

Jefferson wrote American Fiction , which he also directed, based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel titled  Erasure .

The film stars Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, an author who grows frustrated that his books don't sell while books written by other Black writers who indulge in stereotypes perform better. He writes a novel titled My Pafology that parodies these books under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh and gets into a web of lies, and consequences follow when the book grows into a hit.

“Twenty pages in, I knew I had to write a film adaptation,” Jefferson told The New York Times of reading Erasure . “By the time I finished the book, I knew I had to direct it.”

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Jefferson's fellow nominees Gerwig, 40, and her husband Baumbach, 54, wrote Barbie during the first year of the COVID pandemic. At a Q&A for the film in New York City in November, Gerwig recalled that writing the movie during an uncertain time in the world and the film industry inspired them to craft the movie's bold story.

"We were writing it when no one was going to movies and there were no movies and no one was making movies," Gerwig recalled. "There was also a feeling of 'There's no movies, nobody's making anything.' So there was this sort of go-for-broke quality in how we did it . Then once we were doing it, we felt like, 'We love this — and also, definitely no one will ever let us make this.' "

Universal Pictures

Nolan wrote Oppenheimer — for which he is also nominated as Best Director — based on the 2005 Robert J. Oppenheimer biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert J. Oppenheimer . The movie, which stars Cillian Murphy as the eponymous Manhattan Project physicist, received 13 total nominations at the Oscars, the most among all movies.

Nolan wrote Oppenheimer 's screenplay from a first-person point of view, which he told Empire back in May 2023 was highly unusual for his own writing.

"I don't know if anyone's ever done it before. But the point of it is, with the color sequences, which is the bulk of the film, everything is told from Oppenheimer’s point of view — you’re literally kind of looking through his eyes," he said.

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

McNamara reunited with Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos and star/producer Emma Stone after writing the pair's 2018 movie, The Favourite (he also contributed to Stone's 2021 Disney movie Cruella ).

McNamara, 57, received his first Oscar nomination for The Favourite ; he adapted Poor Things from the 1992 novel of the same nam e by Scottish author Alasdair Gray.

At the movie's New York City premiere in December, McNamara told PEOPLE he "just looked for where the story [is]" while adapting the book.

"The novel is huge, but this piece of the novel and this premise of the young woman who gets a child's brain in her head was sort of — what Yorgos wanted to do was that Frankenstein element, but really tell the story of a young woman going through life without any of society's stuff in her head and how she would do that and how she would create herself," he said. "Then you get Emma Stone and you've got something pretty great."

Courtesy of A24

Director Glazer wrote The Zone of Interest based on author Martin Amis's 2014 novel of the same name . Both the novel and the movie are inspired by real-life Nazi officer Rudolf Höss, who was in charge of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland during the Holocaust.

The movie follows Höss (Christian Friedel), his wife Hedwig ( Sandra Hüller ) and their family as they live their lives just yards away from death and suffering inside the concentration camp.

Glazer told  The Guardian in December the "reason I made this film is to try to restate our close proximity to this terrible event that we think of as in the past."

"For me, it is not ever in the past, and right now, I think something in me is aware — and fearful — that these things are on the rise again with the growth of rightwing populism everywhere," Glazer said. "The road that so many people took is a few steps away. It is always just a few steps away."

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The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel , are airing live on ABC.

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‘20 Days in Mariupol’ wins best documentary Oscar, a first for AP and PBS’ ‘Frontline’

Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing first-person account of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, won the best documentary Oscar on Sunday. A joint production of The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline,” statuettes were awarded to Chernov, producer and editor Michelle Mizner and producer Raney Aronson-Rath. The Oscar — and nomination — was a first for both Chernov, an AP video journalist, and the 178-year-old news organization.

best graduation speeches of 2023

Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing chronicle of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has won best documentary at the 96th Academy Awards. The Oscar win, a first for The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline,” came as the war in Ukraine passed the two-year mark with no signs of abating.

best graduation speeches of 2023

Speaking on the red carpet of the Academy Awards, Mstyslav Chernov - director of documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” - says its important the “world understands the seriousness of what’s going on and the urgency of what’s going on” in Ukraine. (March 10)

best graduation speeches of 2023

Volodymyr Nikulin, Mariupol police officer who helped AP journalists during the siege of the city said “I am very happy for my friends, for the team that received an Oscar, for our country.” (AP video shot by Anton Shtuka)

best graduation speeches of 2023

Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing first-person account of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, won the best documentary Oscar on Sunday night.

Raney Aronson-Rath, from left, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Michelle Mizner, and Derl McCrudden accept the award for best documentary feature film for "20 Days in Mariupol" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Raney Aronson-Rath, from left, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Michelle Mizner, and Derl McCrudden accept the award for best documentary feature film for “20 Days in Mariupol” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Mstyslav Chernov accepts the award for best documentary feature film for “20 Days in Mariupol” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Evgeniy Maloletka, from left, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Michelle Mizner, Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson-Rath and Derl McCrudden arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Mstyslav Chernov arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing first-person account of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, won the best documentary Oscar on Sunday night.

A joint production of The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline,” the Oscar — and nomination — was a first for both Chernov, an AP video journalist, and the 178-year-old news organization. This was the third nomination and first win for “Frontline.”

Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko arrived an hour before Russia began bombing the port city. Two weeks later, they were the last journalists working for an international outlet in the city, sending crucial dispatches to the outside world showing civilian casualties of all ages, the digging of mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital and the sheer extent of the devastation.

“This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history, and I’m honored,” an emotional Chernov said. “Probably I will be the first director on this stage to say I wish I’d never made this film, I wish to be able to exchange this to Russia never attacking Ukraine.”

He called on Russia to cease aggression in Ukraine. “I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting their land, all the civilians who are in their jails,” he said.

“We can make sure that the history record is set straight and the truth will prevail, and that the people of Mariupol, and those who have given their lives, will never be forgotten. Because cinema forms memories and memories form history.”

Chernov ended his speech by switching to his native language, uttering his nation’s salute, “Slava Ukraini,” which means “Glory to Ukraine.”

Statuettes were awarded to Chernov, producer and editor Michelle Mizner and producer Raney Aronson-Rath; AP Vice President Derl McCrudden is also a credited producer on the film and was among those onstage to accept the award.

While reporting on the invasion, Chernov encountered quite a few different reactions to the team’s presence on the ground. Some thanked the journalists for doing their jobs. Some called them prostitutes. Some doctors urged them to film graphic scenes of injured and dead children to show the world what had been done.

FILE - An explosion erupts from an apartment building after a Russian army tank fired on it in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. The image is part of the documentary "20 Days in Mariupol." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Only about 40 minutes of footage made it out to the world in real time because of poor connections, but when Chernov and his colleagues were finally able to leave, he decided he needed to do something with the 30-some hours they had on tape. Chernov, who was born in Ukraine, narrated the documentary as well.

The work of Chernov, Maloletka, Stepanenko and Lori Hinnant won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for public service and featured prominently that same year in a Pulitzer for breaking news photography.

Mstyslav Chernov arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

“20 Days in Mariupol” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won an audience award. It went on to claim best documentary from the Directors Guild and BAFTA and was considered a favorite for the Academy Award going into the night. It won the prize over a strong slate of documentary features, including “Four Daughters,” “The Eternal Memory,” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and “To Kill a Tiger.” Last year, “Navalny,” about the Russian opposition leader who died just last month, won best documentary.

And while the awards run for “Mariupol” has come to a close, each new prize and platform has provided a stark reminder that, more than two years, later the war is still ongoing. On the same day Chernov learned he was nominated for an Oscar, he learned that his hometown of Kharkiv had just been subject to a deadly bombing by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in late February that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action since Russia launched its full-scale invasion .

“The Last Repair Shop” won for best documentary short. The film, co-directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers, profiles the craftspeople who fix thousands of musical instruments used by Los Angeles schoolchildren. “Music education isn’t just about creating incredible musicians, it’s about creating incredible humans,” said Bowers.

For more on the 2024 Oscars, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards. For more AP coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, visit https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine .

best graduation speeches of 2023

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5 best moments from the 2024 Oscars, ranked (plus one happy dog)

Blair Marnell

The 2024 Oscars have come and gone , and no one can say that the 96th Academy Awards show wasn’t entertaining! Returning host Jimmy Kimmel kept things moving all night long, and there were some very funny moments, as well as poignant speeches, and one of the most dazzling musical performances that the Oscars has ever seen.

Honorable Mention: A meme is born

  • 5. Cord Jefferson’s plea for studios to make more movies

4. A Twins reunion goes Batty

3. anti-war speeches, 2. john cena refuses to streak.

  • 1. Ryan Gosling brings the house down with I’m Just Ken

To mark the occasion, we’ve compiled a brief list of the five most memorable moments from the 2024 Oscars. And you may have already guessed which one landed at no. 1.

If you blinked, you might have missed the cameo by Messi, the very good dog from Anatomy of a Fall , with clapping paws added. It’s destined to be a meme for the rest of eternity.

  • 2024 Oscar winners: Oppenheimer wins 7 awards, including Best Picture
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here’s how messi can still win an oscar 🧵 pic.twitter.com/0vI10IOjbF — Letterboxd (@letterboxd) March 11, 2024

5. Cord Jefferson’s plea for studios to make more movies

Typically, Oscar winners use their allotted speech time to thank friends, family members, agents, and more. But when Cord Jefferson won Best Adapted Screenplay for American Fiction , he went in a different direction. Jefferson acknowledged that he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make his movie, but many other deserving filmmakers remain undiscovered.

Toward that end, Jefferson spent most of his speech making an impassioned plea for the movie studios to embrace making 20 $10 million dollar films instead of one $200 million dollar film.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito were ostensibly co-presenters because they starred in Twins together. But rather than talk about that movie, they shared notes as former Batman movie villains before calling out former Batman actor Michael Keaton , who was sitting in the audience.

Keaton was stone-faced initially, but he eventually played into the bit by inviting them to attack him, just like his Dark Knight alter ego. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Schwarzenegger didn’t recognize Keaton as his Batman, and pointed to George Clooney instead.

The Oscars ceremony does have its more serious and somber moments as well. The first came after director Jonathan Glazer and James Wilson Best International Feature for The Zone of Interest and spent their time decrying the dehumanizing of victims in war, from the lives lost in the October 7th attacks on Israel to the massive civilian causalities in the war on Gaza.

Similarly, director Mstyslav Chernov, who won Best Documentary Feature for  20 Days in Mariupol , noted that this was the first Ukrainian film to ever win an Oscar. But he expressed a desire to trade it all away if it meant that Russia never invaded Ukraine and occupied their country.

As noted by host Jimmy Kimmel, the 1974 Oscars famously had a streaker run on stage. Supposedly, former full-time wrestler-turned-actor John Cena was supposed to recreate the moment … but chickened out.

Instead, Cena appeared to come on stage fully naked, save for the Oscar-winning envelope he used to cover himself. It was one of the funnier skits of the night and could have taken the top prize on our list had it not been for the following performance.

1. Ryan Gosling brings the house down with I’m Just Ken

This wasn’t just the moment of the night, it might be one the greatest Oscar performances of all-time. We’ve known for weeks that Ryan Gosling would perform I’m Just Ken  from Barbie , but no one expected this show-stopping production. Gosling was decked out in pink and sitting in his own seat behind Margot Robbie when he started his performance, which was a clever way to get her into the shot. Behind them, the eventual Oscar-winner for Best Original Song, Billie Eilish, covered her mouth to suppress a laugh, while Robbie didn’t bother to hide her amusement.

Gosling and Mark Ronson pulled out all of the stops for this song, including bringing in the other movie Kens: Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, and Ncuti Gatwa. Slash made a surprise appearance late in the song before Gosling coaxed Robbie, America Ferrera, Greta Gerwig, and even Emma Stone to sing along with the song. This is going to go down as a legendary moment in Oscar history.

Need more Oscar recommendations? Check out   10 biggest Oscar snubs ever , 10 best Oscar-winning movies ever , 10 most Oscar-nominated movies ever , and 5 great Oscar-winning movies on Amazon Prime Video .

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Blair Marnell

Usually, you can pretty much predict who is going to win an Academy Award. If you're a dedicated movie fan, you'll know who was nominated for a Golden Globe, what film scooped up a lot of Critics Choice Awards, and who took home a SAG Award. By the time Oscar night rolls around, the winners have all but been anointed.

Yet there have been times when not all has happened as predicted. An underdog performer can beat the odds and win or a fan-favorite movie can win over enough voters to take the top prize. In its 96-year history, there have been some surprising victories that have left fans happy or angered. These are the five most shocking wins ever.

This Sunday, March 10, the 96th Academy Awards will bring together the biggest stars in Hollywood to determine who will go home with the top prizes. Oppenheimer, Barbie, and eight other films are contending for Best Picture, and it's still too early to know which movies will dominate and which ones will come up short. It's also going to be interesting to see if this year's Oscar ceremony can finish on time, even with its early start. It's the job of the Oscars host to keep things moving, in addition to entertaining the crowd in the Dolby Theater and the millions of viewers who watch the event on TV.

Since the first Oscars ceremony in 1929, there have been over 70 hosts of the Academy Awards. Although the Academy attempted to have a few Oscars without hosts, the show tends to be better when it's run by someone who has done it before. And that's why this year's Oscar host is a three-time veteran.

Part of the pleasure of the Academy Awards is pointing out all the times they got it wrong over the years. Crash winning Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain in 2006, Judy Holliday winning over Bette Davis and Gloria Swanson in 1951 ... these are the moments that incite great debate and endless chatter.

But what about the performances and films that weren't even nominated? Oscar has shunned some pretty memorable performances over the years, and we've highlighted five particularly egregious examples of snubbing that can't go unnoticed.

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COMMENTS

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