Interested in applying to be a 2019 Student Commencement Speaker? Share your experience and insights, inspire your fellow graduates, and leave a legacy at Seattle University. To apply, please review the following information about the process and criteria. For information about the ceremonies, other graduation events, apparel, etc, please visit the Commencement Site.
Applications must include an outline or complete script of your speech to be considered. Our hope is to give you the maximum opportunity to be selected by fully expressing the thoughts you would deliver at Commencement and to prepare you to be successful in giving your speech if selected for an audition. Candidates who have developed their thoughts more fully are generally more successful.
The selection committee consists of students, faculty and staff members. They will review all applications and select up to six finalists. All applicants will be notified if they are selected (or not) to audition and finalists will be sent a link to sign up for a specific audition time.
Each finalist will sign up for a 15 minute time slot. See times below. Auditions consist of delivering your speech to the selection committee, as well as short interview questions.
The committee will be seeking speakers that best fit the following criteria:
All those who audition will be notified. Those selected to speak will be paired with a faculty/staff coach to refine the speech with notes from the Selection Committee and polish delivery. Speakers will also complete a biographical form to be used in press releases and the introduction at the Commencement Ceremony.
Speakers will be announced and introduced at Red Night Out on May 30 from 7-9 pm. Although attendance is not required of the selected student speakers, it is highly encouraged. This is the first announcement to the SU community of who the student speaker will be.
Once selected, we will work with the speaker's schedule to find a time when most selection committee members can attend to hear a final presentation of the speech for final approval. The committee may give final notes on which to work with the coach prior to Commencement.
The Undergraduate Ceremony begins at 9:30am. The speaker should plan to arrive no later than 7:30am for final sound check. The Graduate Student Ceremony begins at 3:00pm. The speaker should plan to arrive no later than 1:30pm for final sound check.