Apply to be the student speaker at commencement.
A picture of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences December 2021 commencement at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Hello, Eleanor, 

Congratulations again on being one of a small number of students who are graduating from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a level of distinction this fall.

I am writing once more to invite you to consider applying for the role of Fall 2022 commencement student speaker in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony to be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This is an excellent opportunity to represent your graduating class during this special occasion.

If you would like to be considered, please submit the following materials:

  • An academic resume or list of your academic and work experiences during your time at the University of Iowa. This may include internships, faculty-mentored research, a job, study abroad opportunity, or others.
  • A letter of recommendation from an instructor or teaching assistant (this can come separately from your other materials)
  • A self-recorded video clip of a brief proposal (max 200 words/90 seconds) on why you would like to be the commencement speaker and what you would talk about in a speech that will be no longer than four minutes. The following are examples of themes or topics you could focus on in a commencement speech.
    • How have you changed or grown during your time at Iowa?
    • As you graduate now, what or who are you most grateful for?
    • Looking forward, what do you hope for both yourself and your fellow graduates?

You can apply for this opportunity by sending an email with the above items attached to clas-marcom@uiowa.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11.

A small committee representing CLAS students, faculty, and staff will review the student speaker applications and select several finalists for each ceremony.  If you are selected as a finalist, we will notify you via email by Friday, Nov. 18, and invite you for an on-campus in-person interview with the selection committee the week of Nov. 28th

We will notify the chosen speaker by end of the day on Wednesday, Nov 30. If needed, the Writing Center and Speaking Center (housed in the Department of Rhetoric) will be available for consultation.

Again, congratulations on your academic achievements! I hope you will consider applying to represent your fellow graduates as our December 2022 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement student speaker.

If you have questions, please email clas-marcom@uiowa.edu. 

Sincerely,

Cornelia C. Lang, Ph.D
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences