Would you like to be the student speaker at this year’s graduation ceremony?
The CGU Student Senate invites students participating in the 2026 commencement ceremony to submit an application to be the student speaker.
Commencement is a moment to imagine what comes next. Share your vision as a graduate student speaker, reflecting on how your experience at Claremont Graduate University has shaped your values, expanded your sense of possibility, and equipped you to make an impact. Weave that story into a message that inspires graduates to see themselves as stewards of the future—and calls them to act with purpose beyond this moment.
The Application Form is available for download. Please submit your application materials to Student Senate Secretary, Cliff Huang, at Secretary.Senate@cgu.edu
Applications missing any of the noted information in the form will not be considered. Applications are due on February 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm (PST).
If you have any questions, please contact Student Senate Secretary, Cliff Huang, at Secretary.Senate@cgu.edu
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the CGU Student Commencement Speaker must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Students/alumni who received their degrees* during the Summer and Fall semesters that immediately precede the current Spring semester and who have not participated in a previous ceremony for the same degree.
- Students graduating during the Spring semester who have not participated in a previous ceremony for the same degree.
All submission components must be included to be eligible. See full list in application form.
Selected applicants, notified by email, must present their speech to a panel of judges. Time and date to be determined.
Application is due on February 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm (PST). No exceptions will be made.