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The spring semester is winding down for college seniors across the US, and graduation ceremonies will take place throughout May and June.
Many colleges have lined up impressive commencement speakers, landing reputable industry leaders in business, politics, and entertainment, who will aim to impart wisdom on the class of 2017.
But some colleges make more unusual choices when they book graduation speakers. Keep reading to see some of the most unexpected choices to give commencement addresses.
Kermit the Frog — Southampton College, 1996
America's favorite Muppet gave the graduation speech at Southampton College, and was even awarded a doctorate of amphibious letters for his speech — an honorary degree for his contribution to raising environmental awareness, The New York Times reported in 1996. Environmental and marine sciences is a big part of the college's curriculum.
Kermit started his speech like many esteemed graduation speakers do — reflecting on his childhood. He said:
"When I was a tadpole growing up back in the swamps, I never imagined that I would one day address such an outstanding group of scholars. And I am sure that when you were children growing up back in your own particular swamps or suburbs, you never imagined you would sit here on one of the most important days of your life listening to a short, green talking frog deliver your commencement address. All of us should feel very proud of ourselves ... and just a little bit silly."
While most of the student body were supportive of the choice of Kermit as their graduation speaker, not everyone felt that way.
"I've been here laboring for five years and now we have a sock talking at our commencement," Samantha Chie, a marine biology major, told The Times. "It's kind of upsetting."
Progressive's Flo (Stephanie Courtney) — Binghamton College, 2015
Stephanie Courtney is better-known by her fictional alter ego Flo, who sells insurance on commercials for Progressive. Flo was named one of the top female ad icons of all time by Ad Age.
While Flo may be known for her quirky humor, Courtney struck a serious note in her advice to Binghamton graduates. Speaking about how failure can be a positive experience she said:
"But those gaffes, those cringe-worthy moments, at best teach you how to be better, stronger, tougher, faster at whatever you want to do. And at the very least they make excellent dinner party stories."
Ali G — Harvard University, 2004
Dressed head to toe in his recognizable red track suit, Ali G — a character played by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen — addressed Harvard graduates for Class Day, the more informal graduation celebration that happens the day before students receive their diplomas. He started off:
"Me name be Ali G and I represent the UK. For those of you who didn't study geography the UK is a place over a 100 miles away from here, and the capital of it is? Anyone? Not you geography square! Yes, it is Liverpool. You are clever and quite fly if you don't mind me saying."
Harvard's student paper covered the speech noting that topics addressed ranged from "sex, drugs, race relations and higher education, interspersed with the occasional 'respect' and 'booyakasha.'
Kanye West — Art Institute of Chicago, 2015
Kanye West — an award-winning rapper, songwriter, and producer — was ostensibly a great choice for graduation speaker for aspiring artists at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The content of the speech he chose to give, however, was confusing and at points nonsensical. He provided advice like:
"I'm sorry is something that you can use a lot. It gives you opportunity to give your opinion, apologize for it, and give your opinion again. People say you should not be sorry for your opinions."
As well as:
"This honor, is going to make your lives easier. Two reasons: You don't have to defend me as much, and I'm going to make all of our lives easier."
It's unclear if graduates were able to put any of that advice to work.
Theodor 'Dr Seuss' Geisel — Lake Forest College, 1977
Eugene Hotchkiss, the president of Lake Forest College in 1977, invited Dr. Seuss to receive an honorary degree and give the commencement speech to graduating seniors. But somewhere along the way wires got crossed, and Dr. Seuss didn't realize he was to give the address. A day before the ceremony, Dr. Seuss informed Hotchkiss that he would not be giving a speech.
Hotchkiss, believing he had no other choice, hoped for the best on the day of the graduation. In 2004, he told the story of the moment Dr. Seuss went on stage to receive his honorary degree:
"At that moment, fearing his response, I shook his hand in a whisper and asked him if he would be willing to say a few words. He reached under his academic gown, announcing loudly for all to hear that it was 'a bathrobe,' pulled out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and turned to the microphone. And the rest, as they say, is history."
Dr. Seuss recited this brief poem for students:
My uncle ordered popovers
from the restaurant's bill of fare.
And, when they were served,
he regarded them
with a penetrating stare.
Then he spoke great Words of Wisdom
as he sat there on that chair:
"To eat these things,"
said my uncle,
"you must exercise great care.
You may swallow down what's solid
BUT
you must spit out the air!"
And
as you partake of the world's bill of fare,
that's darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.
And be careful what you swallow.
