Deadline to submit is Monday, March 24, 2025 – 1:00PM

One speaker will be selected for each of the Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies. 

• Ph.D. Ceremony
  • Thursday, May 1, 5:00-6:30pm, Doors open at 4:00pm
• Bachelor’s Morning Ceremony
  • Friday, May 2, 9:00-11:30am, Doors open at 8:00am
• Bachelor’s Afternoon Ceremony
  • Friday, May 2, 3:00-5:30pm, Doors open at 2:00pm
• Master’s Ceremony
  • Saturday, May 3, 9:00-10am, Doors open at 8:00am

• Deadline to submit is Monday, March 24 – 1:00pm
• Committee reviews submissions Tuesday, March 25 – Thursday, April 3
• Finalists notified of their audition time LATE on Friday, April 4
• Auditions will be conducted Monday, April 7th, 11:00am – 1:00pm. 

Yes, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a graduate in the ceremony
• Be in good academic standing
• Grant permission to verify academic standing
• Have a history of participation in campus and/or community activities
• Acknowledge the speech submitted is your own work and that you have adhered to the Student Honor Code in the creation of this speech

• Click here to summit your draft speech and video. The video will be forwarded to the committee along with your written speech for review and can be used in your absence if you are selected but unable to attend your audition.
• Speech should be between 2-3 minutes in length (you will be timed!)
• Speech should be secular in tone, provide inspiration to the graduates, and recount times spent together at Georgia Tech.
• Speech should also be relatable to and appropriate for the entire audience including parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, faculty, and staff.
• Applicants must feel comfortable speaking at a podium and in front of a very large crowd.
• Remember – the deadline to submit is Monday, March 25 – 1:00pm.

• An info session will be held virtually on Monday, February 17 from 3:00 – 4:00pm, register here
• As you polish your speech, please keep in mind you are talking to your peers, their families, and guests, so a positive and inspiring presentation is hopefully how you would like to be remembered.
• Try to avoid writing your speech entirely about yourself.  The committee will be looking for a speech with a little humor, some relation to GT (of course), and your/students time spent here, with an inspiring message/story to take forward for all!
• Stage presence is important as well.  You don’t have to memorize your speech; however, you also shouldn’t read it word for word!
• Be mindful that if chosen to speak at commencement, you will be expected to deliver the speech you presented to the selection committee and rehearsed with the Clough Communications staff.

The Commencement Speaker selection committee reviews and scores all applications to narrow down the finalists.  The committee is comprised of Students, Faculty, and Staff. The finalists for the commencement speaker will be contacted via email to schedule an audition the following week. 

• Auditions will be conducted on Monday, April 7 between 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • In-person auditions in the student center
    • 3108 Student Engagement Conference room
    • Monday, April 7th, 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • If selected as a finalist to audition, your actual time commitment will be approximately 5 minutes within that 2-hour block of time
• Finalists will be notified of their specific audition time within the predetermined block of time.      You will either give your speech to the selection committee at a podium in the front of the room or virtually based on the finalist’s availability/location.
• All auditions will be held on the same day.  If you are selected as a finalist, but unavailable for an on-campus audition (i.e., internship), you can either present virtually or your video will be played in your absence.
• The final speaker for each ceremony will be selected at the end of the auditions and will be notified via email within 24 hours of the audition.

Yes, the individuals selected as the Student Reflection Speaker for each ceremony will work with staff in The Naugle Communications Center in Clough Commons to rehearse and finalize their speech. The dates and times for practice will be scheduled once the individuals are selected.

The student reflections speaker will speak at the beginning of the ceremony and then will rejoin his/her/their classmates. For more information, please contact Debbie Dorsey in the Division of Student Life at 404 385-1562 or debbie.dorsey@studentlife.gatech.edu.