Each spring, colleges around the country invite luminaries and public figures to speak to their graduating class. Here are this year’s most notable speakers:
The Dalai Lama, UC San Diego
The spiritual leader is expected to offer graduates advice about living untethered from earthly possessions, at least until the job market picks up a little
Sheryl Sandberg, University of Virginia
Facebook’s COO will remind the class of 2017 that no matter where life’s journey might lead them, Facebook owns them
Bernie Sanders, Brooklyn College
Sanders plans to drive home the point that all of this could have been free
Billie Jean King, Northwestern University
As a former tennis champion, King will provide insight about keeping your chin up in the face of a returned serve low to your left side
Hillary Clinton, Wellesley College
Clinton is scheduled to speak to graduates of her alma mater, though critics are already condemning her for not scheduling more commencement speeches in Wisconsin
Tim Cook, MIT
Apple’s CEO is expected to unveil a slightly smoother updated version of his GWU 2015 commencement speech
Mike Pence, Notre Dame
Vice President Pence has agreed to speak under the condition that female graduates wear full-body mortarboards
Steven Levitan, University Of Wisconsin
The Modern Family creator will talk openly about overcoming the struggles he faced as a member of the 18-34 demographic
Barack Obama, Monsters University
In one of this year’s most anticipated speeches, the 44th president will address the nation’s scariest students
Steven Van Zandt, Rutgers University
By speaking about his years as a guitarist in The E Street Band and cast member of The Sopranos, Van Zandt will inspire graduates with the absolute best case scenario for never getting out of New Jersey
Oprah Winfrey, Skidmore College
She’s always good at this kind of shit
