2025 SMC Graduation Student Speaker Application

2025 SMC Graduation Student Speaker Application

Every year, Santa Monica College selects an exceptional graduating student to give a 3-minute speech at the Commencement Ceremony to challenge and inspire their fellow graduates. Are you our next student speaker? Want to know what this speech looks like? Check out the 2023 student speaker, Monique Johnson's speech.

**Remember, your speech should be of your own making, your own ideas!

Submissions Due: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM (NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED)

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 3.0 GPA
Must submit a draft of your proposed speech
Campus involvement preferred, but not required
Must have either:
Petitioned and be eligible to graduate with an Associate or Bachelor degree in spring 2025
Received a degree in summer or fall of 2024
Must be available on Tuesday, April 22 2025 between 12 PM - 4 PM to audition proposed speech before a panel.
Alternate dates cannot be arranged
Must participate in the Commencement Ceremony on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025

Process Leading to Audition

Proposed speeches will be read by members of the Commencement Planning Committee and speeches determined to best reflect the theme and criteria above will be selected to audition. Selected students must then audition their proposed speech before a panel. Auditioning students will be notified of the panel’s decision via SMC email. The selected student will work with a Santa Monica College faculty or administrator to refine their speech and delivery. The Student Speaker will also be featured in the Commencement program with a profile.

Your Name (first and last)*

Your SMC student email (@student.smc.edu)*

Your Phone Number*

Your SMC Student ID Number*

Please list any activities (on or off campus) in which you have participated and what your role is/was*

Did you graduate Summer 2024, Fall 2024 or graduating Spring 2025?*

Must have either:

Petitioned and be eligible to graduate with an Associate or Bachelor degree in Spring 2025
Received a degree in summer or fall of 2024

If you have not petitioned to graduate, please go to http://www.smc.edu/forms and complete the petition to graduate before submitting this form

Select

I understand that by submitting this application, and if I am selected as a finalist, I will be available to participate in the Tuesday, April 22nd between 12 PM - 4 PM audition. Notification of your specific audition time will be sent to your SMC email account by Tuesday, April 9*

Select

Please provide a typed version of your proposed 3-minute graduation speech.*

The speech should challenge and inspire your fellow graduates. Applications submitted without a 3-minute speech will not be considered for this opportunity.

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