2024 Commencement Student Speaker
Sixth College is seeking a dynamic student speaker to address the audience during this year’s Sixth College Commencement ceremony to be held on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. On that day, a graduating senior will have the opportunity to speak about their experience at the university and their hopes for the future of the graduating class. All members of the Sixth College graduating class in good academic standing are encouraged to apply to be the Commencement student speaker. To apply, send your speech to Jeanne Monahan at jmmonahan@ucsd.edu.
Application deadline: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Application Process
- Consider the content guidelines outlined in the “Selection Criteria” section below.
- Reflect on your time at UC San Diego and Sixth College, and any parting words you might like to share with fellow members of your graduating class at Commencement.
- Compose a draft of a speech that would take no more than three minutes to deliver, at most two double-spaced pages in length.
- Send your speech draft to Jeanne Monahan at jmmonahan@ucsd.edu by Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
Selection Process
- If your speech is chosen for final consideration, you will be asked to present it to the selection committee.
- You will be contacted to schedule a time to audition over Zoom.
- Your presentation will be evaluated according to the delivery guidelines outlined in the “Selection Criteria” section below.
Selection Criteria
Content
- Foregrounding of the spirit and mission of Sixth College
- Inspirational tone
- Creativity and originality
- Rhetorical effectiveness
- Quality of thought and expression, appropriate for the achievement of a bachelor’s degree
- Clarity and suitability of message, avoiding profane or inflammatory speech
- Relevance to the occasion and the audience
Delivery
- Stage presence: poise, confidence, and eye contact with the audience
- Rhetorical skill
- Articulation and projection
- Evidence of practice and preparation
