2025 Graduation cap held near the Saint Xavier University arch The Xavierite
As another academic year starts to wrap up, Saint Xavier University (SXU) is preparing to recognize its upcoming graduates this May. Lots of things go into this celebratory time, one being the annual commencement speech.
While graduating college is a big accomplishment in itself, the commencement speech is a celebratory addition meant to capture all of the hard work and dedication that students put into this chapter in their lives.
SXU’s Student Life sent out an email on March 7 to state everything that students need to know about the commencement speech and the process of choosing a speaker.
In the email, it states the requirements that speakers must follow. This includes being scheduled to graduate in May 2025; having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and up; being in good disciplinary standing; and having a record of outstanding achievement, involvement, or service. Applicants must also have a draft ready to submit and be prepared to give it in-person if chosen to do so.
For the speech itself, applicants were asked to answer a list of questions. These went over the SXU mission, what it means to have a Mercy education, personal experiences tying into one’s educational journey, and more. This also detailed how the student feels about the future and how they might be prepared to change the world or make their own unique impact.
As the students who will be graduating represent a diverse group of individuals ready to step out into the world, the final speech should be able to appeal to such a crowd. It should not only capture the attention of a broad audience but be representative of the modern college experience, highlighting attributes unique to select schools like Saint Xavier, such as our Mercy education. There will be a limit of roughly three to four minutes in length.
I asked a couple of graduating seniors what they would like to hear in the commencement speech.
Megan Gillson, a nursing student, commented, “I would like to hear from the commencement speech some things about our time here at SXU over the past four years. Our time to enter the real world is nearing, and we are all going to follow a different path for our own success. Yet SXU has tied us all together, giving us some things in common that we can look back on forever.”
Monica Darrow, an elementary education major, explained, “I would love to hear reassuring words about our next chapter. The real world is scary. We are all essentially starting over again for the first time, so it would be nice to hear something positive about these next steps.”
A lot of graduating students can agree on this aspect: the real world is approaching whether we are ready or not, and this is a scary thing.
The requirements appear to touch on SXU as a whole, while also appealing to these other messages that can help to inspire students through all of the emotions they will be experiencing during and after graduation.
With these requirements being shared, applicants were expected to submit their ideas by March 20. However, on March 25, the semi-finalists were chosen and invited to perform the in-person delivery of their proposed speech.
The selection committee consists of students, faculty, and staff, chaired by the Dean of Students. They will review the applications and then invite select individuals to a presentation before the committee. They will then make their final selection of who will be this year’s commencement speaker.
On top of the requirements for the original applications, there are some things the committee will be looking for. The speech should give a thoughtful reflection on the student’s time at Saint Xavier with a Mercy education, provide specific examples with effective language to help illustrate the bigger message, and appeal to the broad audience of people who will be in attendance.
Speakers should also be able to maintain the audience’s attention with effective speech-giving, have appropriate diction, use eye contact, and be confident speaking before an audience.
They will make their final decision this Friday, March 28. The commencement speech speaker will officially be selected, with other applicants receiving notification via email.
For any questions on the final selection process, contact deanofstudents@sxu.edu.