Stanford University Commencement

Stanford University Commencement is a significant event that marks the culmination of academic achievements for students at Stanford University, a prestigious institution founded by Leland Stanford and Jane Lathrop Stanford. The commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition that brings together students, faculty, and distinguished guests, including Nobel laureates such as Al Gore and Malala Yousafzai. The event is often addressed by prominent figures, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey, who have all spoken at the Stanford Memorial Church. The ceremony is a celebration of the academic accomplishments of students from various schools, including the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford Law School, and Stanford School of Medicine.

● History of Stanford Commencement

The history of Stanford University's commencement dates back to 1892, when the first class of students graduated, including Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st President of the United States. Over the years, the commencement ceremony has evolved, with notable speakers such as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower addressing the graduating class. The ceremony has also been attended by other prominent figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google. The Stanford University Archives preserves the history of the commencement ceremony, including speeches, programs, and photographs from past events, such as the 1960s counterculture movement and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

● Notable Commencement Speakers

The Stanford University Commencement has featured a wide range of notable speakers, including Winston Churchill, who spoke about the Iron Curtain and the Cold War, and Nelson Mandela, who discussed apartheid and social justice. Other notable speakers have included Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google. The ceremony has also been addressed by prominent women, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Michelle Obama, who have all spoken about women's rights and social equality. Additionally, speakers such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Reid Hoffman have discussed innovation and entrepreneurship.

● Commencement Traditions

The Stanford University Commencement features several traditions, including the Wacky Walk, a procession of graduating students who dress in creative costumes and perform skits, often referencing Silicon Valley and tech culture. The ceremony also includes the Conferring of Degrees, where students are awarded their diplomas by the Stanford University President, currently Marc Tessier-Lavigne. The event is often attended by family and friends of the graduating students, including celebrities such as Will Smith and Julia Roberts. The commencement ceremony is also streamed live online, allowing alumni and others to participate remotely, including those from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of California, Berkeley.

● Ceremony Details

The Stanford University Commencement ceremony typically takes place in mid-June, on the Stanford University campus, and is attended by thousands of guests, including faculty members from Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. The ceremony includes a range of events, including the Procession of the Faculty, the Conferring of Honorary Degrees, and the Student Address, often delivered by a student from Stanford University School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences or Stanford Graduate School of Education. The event is organized by the Stanford University Commencement Committee, which includes representatives from various schools, including Stanford School of Medicine and Stanford Law School.

● Past Commencement Events

Past Stanford University Commencement events have included notable moments, such as the 1967 commencement address by Lyndon B. Johnson, who spoke about the Vietnam War and civil rights movement. The 1981 commencement address by Steve Jobs is also famous, in which he discussed innovation and entrepreneurship, referencing Apple Inc. and NeXT. Other notable events have included the 1993 commencement address by Al Gore, who spoke about climate change and sustainability, and the 2013 commencement address by Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, who discussed women in technology and leadership. The Stanford University Library archives these events, including speeches, videos, and photographs, which are available to researchers and alumni from Stanford University and other institutions, such as University of Oxford and California Institute of Technology.