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
FAQ: Student Commencement Speaker application process
Who is eligible to be the student commencement speaker?
Students who have achieved Latin Honors (GPA of 3.5 and above) and graduated in December 2024 or will graduate in May or August 2025 have received an email notifying them of their eligibility to apply to give the student address at the May 2025 commencement ceremony. Those who apply must be in good academic and behavioral standing to be considered by the selection committee.
Is the commencement speaker considered the valedictorian?
No, USC will no longer award the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian going forward.
Why is USC changing this process?
Over the past several years, commencement speaker selection processes around the nation have changed and the title of valedictorian retired in institutions of higher education. In conversation with our peers in the BIG10, we recognized that our process, developed originally in 1972, needed to be realigned to celebrate the accomplishments of a wider range of our graduating students who have worked incredibly hard throughout their academic career.
Why is USC sunsetting the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian titles?
USC values the varied backgrounds and experiences of all our students. We also recognize not every student can have a near perfect semester every semester for personal or other reasons that arise. We believe more students should be eligible to receive the honor of representing and speaking to their peers at graduation.
What does the application and interview process entail?
Eligible students should have received a letter from Vice Provost Andrew McConnell Stott inviting them to apply Student Commencement Speaker Application Link.
Once an applicant uploads all the requested documentation, their application will be shared with the selection committee for consideration.
How will the speaker be chosen?
The process of selection will largely resemble that from past years.
Finalists will be invited to interview with the selection committee. That committee will provide their top recommendations to the provost for selection.
Does the student commencement speaker get to attend the Academic Honors Convocation dinner?
No, the student speaker who gives the student address is not considered a traditional valedictorian because the award is not an academic honor.
I have questions about the application process. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to Academic Honors and Fellowships ahfstaff@usc.edu if you need administrative support during application submission.
All other questions can be directed to the Office of the Provost at uscprovost@usc.edu.