Iconic Figures and Unexpected Guests to Speak at This Year’s College Graduations

This graduation season, an eclectic mix of speakers will take center stage, including rapper Snoop Dogg, beloved "Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, author and podcaster Jay Shetty, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, physicist Walter Massey, and even the iconic Muppet Kermit the Frog.

These figures represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds, from entertainers and athletes to political leaders, scholars, and media personalities, all set to address graduating classes across the country.

Who would you choose as your ideal commencement speaker? Whether a local figure or an international icon, what achievements or qualities make that person stand out? What insights would you hope to gain from their address?

Share your thoughts in the comments, and explore the story of the University of Maryland students’ reactions upon learning that a Muppet would be delivering their graduation speech.