http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/commencement/ en-us Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:44:40 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043531/posts Commencement Address ( Texas A&M) Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 This should be considered must-reading for every adult in North America . It is extremely rare that anyone speaks the truth like this at any College or High School Commencement Address. Neal Boortz is a Texan, a lawyer, a Texas AGGIE (Texas A&M), and now a nationally syndicated talk show host from Atlanta . His commencement address to the graduates of this year's A&M class is far different from what either the students or the faculty expected. His views are thought provoking. "I am honored by the invitation to address... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043531/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:44:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038652/posts Strapless Commencement by: Deborah Lambert, June 30, 2008 While the San Jose Mercury News reports that middle-school girls want to look like top models at their graduation ceremonies, principals apparently still frown on the “Lolita look.” Education writer Joanne Jacobs reports that while “at one middle school graduation, halter tops are okay, spaghetti straps aren’t. At another, it’s the reverse. Strapless dresses and high heels are banned at most intermediate schools.... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038652/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:19:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036874/posts British Invasion Graduation by: Deborah Lambert, June 26, 2008 Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who will start teaching at Yale this fall, addressed the school’s 2008 graduating class on May 25th, all of which apparently horrified his former Oxford tutor, who, according to Blair, said: “I only hope for their sake you are going there to learn rather than teach.” Blair discussed the Middle East, climate change and the global economy, urging grads to become involved in causes greater than themselves. He also said that while the grads benefited from superior intellect and luck, it was very important to... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036874/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:10:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036768/posts Prez at Furman by: Deborah Lambert, June 25, 2008 While ignoring faculty protesters during his commencement address at Furman University (SC), President Bush nevertheless decided to meet the issue head-on. Thanking the profs for their devotion to improving the lives of young people, he said that he too, was a believer in free speech, “and to prove it, I’m about to give you one.” The President noted that Governor Mark Sanford, also present at the ceremony, graduated 25 years ago when his father, George H.W. Bush, was the speaker. Commenting on that coincidence, he said this means that “some at... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036768/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:07:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036764/posts Supreme Speaker by: Deborah Lambert, June 26, 2008 When Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was on the commencement speaker circuit this season, one of his most meaningful talks was the one he gave to the graduating class of 18 middle-school boys at Washington (DC) Jesuit Academy. Described by the Washington Times as a “tuition-free private boarding school for underprivileged but academically promising youths run by the Jesuits,” the school’s “small class sizes, 12-hour school days and 11-month school year” has worked miracles since its launch in 2002. “While 11 percent of entering students read at grade level, the school reports... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036764/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:03:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033943/posts Well, here you are at your college graduation. And I know what you’re thinking: “Gimme the sheepskin and get me outta here!” Not so fast. First you have to listen to a commencement speech. Don’t moan. I’m not going to “pass the wisdom of one generation down to the next.” I’m a member of the 1960s generation. We didn’t have any wisdom. We were the moron generation. We were the generation who believed we could stop the war in Vietnam by growing our hair long and dressing like circus clowns. We believed drugs would change everything—which they did, for John... Change Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033943/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:01:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030079/posts Commencement Celebrities by: Deborah Lambert, June 12, 2008 According to USA Today, it appears that students are having more of a say in determining who will give the annual commencement address. This year’s list of luminaries—and others— who will give the class of 2008 a sendoff include: Oprah Winfrey—Stanford University J.K. Rowling—Harvard University Jon Stewart—William and Mary Craig Newmark of Craig’s List—Case Western Reserve Jessica Lange—Sarah Lawrence College Brian Williams—Ohio State University Michael Bloomberg—University of Pennsylvania David McCullough— Boston College Meredith Viera—Tufts University Al Gore—Carnegie Mellon University Sandra Day O'Connor—Gettysburg College Carl Bernstein—University of Maryland... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030079/posts#comment Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:29:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025006/posts EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, big-government liberals stand up in front of college commencement crowds across the country and urge the graduates to do the noblest thing possible -- become big-government liberals. That isn't how they phrase it, of course. Commencement speakers express great reverence for "public service," as distinguished from narrow private "greed." There is usually not the slightest sign of embarrassment at this self-serving celebration of the kinds of careers they have chosen -- over and above the careers of others who merely provide us with the food we eat, the homes we live in, the clothes we... Jewish World Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025006/posts#comment Mon, 2 Jun 2008 22:20:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019867/posts BOSTON (AP) — Sen. Edward Kennedy is pulling out of the commencement address at Wesleyan University after being diagnosed with brain cancer, and Barack Obama will stand in for him. A spokeswoman for Kennedy said he had planned to speak at the Sunday ceremony in Middletown, Conn., where his stepdaughter will be among the graduates. The commencement exercises also coincide with 25th reunion festivities for his son Edward Kennedy Jr. Kennedy was diagnosed this week with a malignant brain tumor, which was discovered after he had a seizure last Saturday. He was released Wednesday from Massachusetts General Hospital and has... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019867/posts#comment Thu, 22 May 2008 20:36:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013345/posts Around Martinsville, in eastern Nacogdoches County, country roads trail past farms and ranches. It's a place where people used to talk about hay yields. Now discussion has turned to politics. Protest signs reading, " No Trespassing to Trans Texas Corridor hang on their fences and gates. This week's discussion centers around a rally on the day Governor Rick Perry will be in Nacogdoches delivering a commencement speech. He may need more luck than the graduates. Trans Texas Corridor opponent, Larry Shelton said, " We want to send a message loud and clear to the governor that we are tired of... KTRE.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013345/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 00:10:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013068/posts The Gathering of Eagles, a patriotic organization dedicated to honoring our men and women in uniform and those who are honorable veterans, announces our latest event in honoring the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy by welcoming their families and supporters to their graduation ceremony on May 21, 2008. We will be in front of the entrance on Mohegan Ave, at the intersection of Williams and Mohegan from 7 AM to 1 PM that day, waving flags, carrying patriotic signs and singing patriotic songs in an effort to welcome the families to what is a most honored event; the graduation... Self http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013068/posts#comment Thu, 8 May 2008 15:50:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2011827/posts Well, here you are at your college graduation. And I know what you're thinking: "Gimme the sheepskin and get me outta here!" But not so fast. First you have to listen to a commencement speech. Don't moan. I'm not going to "pass the wisdom of one generation down to the next." I'm a member of the 1960s generation. We didn't have any wisdom. We were the moron generation. We were the generation that believed we could stop the Vietnam War by growing our hair long and dressing like circus clowns. We believed drugs would change everything -- which they did,... Los Angelas Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2011827/posts#comment Tue, 6 May 2008 06:24:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011143/posts President Bush speaking to graduating class Greensburg, KS-one year after tornado ksn http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011143/posts#comment Sun, 4 May 2008 20:17:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010671/posts Folks, I want to invite all Freepers and Lurkers in good standing to attend the rally to welcome the families of the graduating cadets of the Coast Guard Academy on May 21, 2008. Vice President Dick Cheney will be the honored speaker. Gathering of Eagles http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010671/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 13:49:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960968/posts Wallingford, Conn. (AP) -- Following protests from students, former presidential adviser Karl Rove has withdrawn as this year's commencement speaker at a prestigious prep school, the school's headmaster said Monday. The choice of Rove as speaker for the June commencement at Choate Rosemary Hall had led some students to plan to walk out of the ceremony. Others had sought to bring comedian Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternate speech. Instead of commencement, Rove now will speak at the school on Feb. 11, headmaster Edward J. Shanahan said. Shanahan said he will deliver the commencement address at the school, the... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960968/posts#comment Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:06:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959564/posts Wallingford (AP) _ Students at the Wallingford prep school Choate Rosemary Hall are protesting the choice of former presidential adviser Karl Rove as this year's commencement speaker. Some plan to walk out, while others are trying to bring comedian Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternative speech. The campus paper has urged the school to reject Rove. Others say they're interested in hearing what Rove has to say but are not sure the school's June commencement is the best venue because they are afraid he will overshadow the graduates. Choate trustee Bruce Gelb, former ambassador to Belgium, helped secure Rove... WTNH Television http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959564/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:49:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1889590/posts DENVER — A student who said she was told she wouldn't get her diploma unless she apologized for a commencement speech in which she mentioned Jesus has filed a lawsuit alleging her free speech rights were violated. The school district contends its actions were "constitutionally appropriate." Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2006. All were invited to speak for 30 seconds at the graduation ceremony. When it was Corder's turn, she encouraged the audience to get to know Jesus Christ. Corder had not included those remarks during rehearsals. [snip] The lawsuit said Brewer would... Foxnews via AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1889590/posts#comment Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:03:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840839/posts CHARLESTON, S.C. - Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani called for boosting the Army by another 35,000 troops, saying the nation must project strength and better handle the aftermath of war. Auburn (NY) Citizen http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840839/posts#comment Mon, 28 May 2007 11:37:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839951/posts WHITE PLAINS - The mere presence of Vice President Dick Cheney does not turn West Point into a public forum and is not an "open invitation" to protesters, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. Cheney is scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy today, and about 1,000 people had hoped to march onto the campus for an anti-war demonstration. But the Army denied permission, a federal judge in White Plains agreed, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused on Friday to issue a preliminary injunction that would allow the march...The protesters' attorney, Stephen... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839951/posts#comment Fri, 25 May 2007 23:45:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839763/posts Court: Protesters Can't Enter West Point For VP's Speech POSTED: 1:11 pm EDT May 25, 2007 UPDATED: 1:13 pm EDT May 25, 2007 WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The mere presence of Vice President Dick Cheney does not turn West Point into a public forum and is not an "open invitation" to protesters, a federal appeals court said Friday. Cheney is scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy on Saturday and about 1,000 people had hoped to march onto the campus for an anti-war demonstration. But the Army denied permission, a federal judge in White Plains agreed... WNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839763/posts#comment Fri, 25 May 2007 17:27:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836888/posts http://www.regent.edu/events/commencement/2007/video_high.cfm The clip of Mitt begins at 29:00. It's an excellent, well-delivered speech, even moving. Much better than a lecture on the Palestinian rights I received at mine. Some excerpts: "You know, I don't remember when it was exactly when I went beyond the sandbar. My family had a cottage on the shores of one of the Great Lakes. For the first 40 feet or so, the lake is shallow, warm, and protected from the big waves by a sandbar. That's where I spent most of the hot summer days as a boy. I liked it there. One day, my... Regent University website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836888/posts#comment Sun, 20 May 2007 23:23:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836198/posts Commencement today marks new beginning for school he founded LYNCHBURG -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell planned to save America through his students, 3,598 of whom will graduate today from Liberty University inculcated with his evangelical, conservative vision. "The reason he built this place was to change the world," said Liberty student Mark Krom. "It's easy for me to buy into that. He was training champions for Christ." Falwell, 73, died from a heart condition Tuesday in his campus office. Thousands have come to the campus to view his body over the past several days. Falwell, in repose in a coffin... InRich http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836198/posts#comment Sat, 19 May 2007 07:23:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836370/posts LYNCHBURG, Va. - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Liberty University's graduating class Saturday to honor the spirit of school founder Jerry Falwell by confronting "the growing culture of radical secularism" with Christian ideals. Gingrich, who is considering a 2008 presidential run, quoted Bible passages to a crowd of about 17,000 packed into the university's football stadium four days after Falwell's death. Despite the somber tone of the day, graduates who covered the football field chanted "Jerry! Jerry!" in tribute to Falwell. "A growing culture of radical secularism declares that the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836370/posts#comment Sat, 19 May 2007 17:54:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1833249/posts Thank you very, very much, General Rosa. And thank you very much for the degree. It wasn’t as hard as what you had to go through to get it. And I should correct you, I was Cum Laude at New York University Law School, not Magna. But it’s an honor to stand before you and a great honor to be able to say congratulations to the 438 graduating cadets from The Citadel Class of 2007. And particularly congratulations to all of the people, who really made this day possible. Your parents—who I saw you all got up and very warmly... The Citadel Web Site http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1833249/posts#comment Mon, 14 May 2007 14:32:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832941/posts May 12, 2007 White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Encourages 2007 Graduates to Love. Addresses CUA's 118th Annual Commencement. WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Tony Snow gave the newest graduates of The Catholic University of America several rules for living — emphasizing the power of love and prayer — at the university’s 118th Annual Commencement exercises, held May 12, 2007. “Think not only of what it means to love but what it means to be loved,” Snow said in his commencement address. “I have a lot of experience with that. Since the news that I have cancer again, I’ve... The Catholic University of America Office of Public Affairs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832941/posts#comment Sun, 13 May 2007 20:04:53 GMT