Description of USC Student Commencement Speaker Role
The selected USC Student Commencement Speaker will have the honor of addressing the audience during the Main Ceremony at the USC Commencement. The event will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, May 15, 2025. There are expected to be around 60,000 attendees at the event.
Student Commencement Speaker Candidate Eligibility
- Graduating senior (expected undergraduate degree(s) graduation date of either Dec 2024, May 2025, or Aug 2025)
- Latin Honors (3.5 GPA or above)
- In good behavioral and academic integrity standing at USC
- Submitted STARS report should read “all requirements completed” including in progress coursework
Application Components
- Online application consisting of biographical information
- Resume – Should be 1-2 pages
- USC STARS Report – To access a copy of your STARS report, go to my.usc.edu, click on OASIS, and select the STARS Report option to view and download.
- Commencement Speech (See guidelines below)
- Bio of yourself that is between 150-180 words.
Speech Guidelines
- The commencement speech should celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2025 and reflect on the unique experiences and memories of your shared time at USC. Do not focus primarily on your individual accomplishments.
- Inspire those in attendance to strive towards future success.
- The written speech should be between 550 and 600 words. Be four (4) minutes or less in duration when read. (Please use double-spacing to make reader-friendly.)
- The speech context should be original and not another writer’s work (i.e., not the product of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT; not a speech previously delivered at another commencement or graduation ceremony)
- Be submitted as the speech you plan to deliver at Commencement
Interviews
Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of USC faculty, administrators, and student leaders across a variety of offices. The selection process is a partnership between Undergraduate Education, Office of the Provost, Student Life, and Cultural Relations and University Events.
Finalists will be invited to an in-person interview with the Selection Committee to perform their speech and discuss why they are the best individual to represent and address their class at graduation.
Timeline
March 2, 2025: Deadline to apply for USC Student Commencement Speaker role
Late March: Finalists notified and invited to interview in-person
USC Student Commencement Speaker Application
Deadline to Apply: Sunday, March 2, 2025
Contact
For application questions and support:
Academic Honors and Fellowships
Undergraduate Education
3601 Trousdale Parkway, STU 300
Los Angeles, California 90089-0896
ahfstaff@usc.edu
All other questions:
Office of the Provost
3551 Trousdale Parkway, ADM 102
Los Angeles, California, 90089-4019
uscprovost@usc.edu