Every May and June, thousands of speakers take the podium at colleges across America. Some are presidents. Some are poets. Some are comedians. A few are all three. What unites them is the impossible assignment: say something meaningful to a room full of people who are thinking about the party later.
By Theme
By Year
Theme · 847 speeches
Resilience & Failure
The most enduring theme. When did failure become something to celebrate?
Theme · 721 speeches
Purpose & Passion
"Follow your passion" entered the lexicon in the 1990s and never left.
Theme · 614 speeches
Technology & Change
From the internet to AI — how each wave of anxiety showed up at the podium.
Theme · 589 speeches
Service & Community
The call to give back is universal. Who gets asked reveals institutional values.
Theme · 512 speeches
Identity & Authenticity
Be yourself — but which self? The authenticity imperative and how it evolved.
Theme · 478 speeches
Fear & Courage
From Cold War anxiety to post-9/11 resolve — how fear shaped what speakers said.