Guest speakers for the 2018 graduation ceremonies are still being chosen.
Graduation is at 11 a.m. for undergraduates and at 3 p.m. for graduates May 5 in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.
President Robert Henry chooses the undergraduate speaker with recommendations from Provost Kent Buchanan or trustees.
The graduate speaker will be the school’s “Outstanding Faculty Member” of the year, which will be announced soon to give the recipient time to prepare his or her speech.
Former graduation speakers have ranged from university presidents to Olympic athletes and, in some cases, were also awarded an honorary doctorate from the school.
“The first year I was here, he was a famous gymnast, Bart Conner, so I think it’s an inspirational thing,” said Sarah Powers, executive assistant to Henry. “It’s like, ‘look what you can do.’”
Powers said the president tries to find someone students can look up to and who can show them what they can do with their education.
Last year’s speaker was Michelle Millben, a music school alumna who has worked as a performing artist, staffer for the U.S. Congress, pastor, and adviser to former President Barack Obama.
“There’s a process, recommendations-it’s never a unilateral decision,” Powers said.
The speaker is usually close to being chosen about six months before graduation. Powers said the president’s retirement in June has complicated the selection process this year.
Gage Rancich, acting senior, said he would like to see a unique alumni chosen.
“I would love somebody who has graduated from OCU and has made a distinct mark in their industry, who maybe is not necessarily the person everybody talks about,” Rancich said. “Maybe one of our other performing arts alumni who has made a name for themselves in the industry but is not necessarily a household name, like Kristin Chenoweth. I’d like to see the people who we don’t see talk all the time.”
If the speaker lives out of state, university officials pay for transportation and housing if necessary.
Powers said Henry spoke at graduation the year before he took office, so, if an outside speaker is not chosen, it is possible for the speaker to be the next university president or Henry. Powers said she does not know when the speaker will be chosen.
Henry was unavailable for comment Feb. 26.
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