2026 Honors Graduation Student Speaker Application
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 17 at 11:59 p.m.
Honors Graduation: Thursday, June 11 at 5:00 p.m.
The Honors Program invites graduating students to apply to serve as the student speaker at the 2026 Honors Graduation. This is a special opportunity to represent the Class of 2026 and inspire your peers by reflecting on the growth, learning, and community shaped through your experience in the Honors Program!
If you’re interested – please keep reading below to learn who can apply, how, and what to include. We are excited to review your applications!
Eligibility
- Students graduating in Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026
- BA/JD students completing their third year in Spring 2026
- CSH Accelerated 3+ Pre-Health students completing their third year in Spring 2026
- Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing
- Applicants must be available to attend the Honors Graduation on Thursday, June 11, 2026
Note: Rehearsal is not required for the Honors Graduation
Speech Guidelines
- Honors Focus: Center your speech on your journey in the Honors Program – courses, community, values, and unique opportunities that shaped your undergraduate experience.
- Inclusivity: Reflect the diversity of the Honors community, including students across colleges, majors, ages, backgrounds, and lived experiences.
- Representation: Your speech should represent the graduating class. It is not a valedictorian or award acceptance speech.
- Transformative Experience: Highlight the meaningful and transformative aspects of Honors, such as the program’s interdisciplinary nature, academic challenges and successes, faculty connections, leadership opportunities, and personal growth.
- Personal Stories: When sharing personal stories, connect them to shared Honors experiences, making them relatable to your peers.
- Uniqueness of Your Class: Consider what defines your Honors cohort. What challenges did your class face and overcome? What values or themes shaped your shared experience.
- Authenticity: We want to hear your human voice and story. Please do not use AI to write your speech.
Submission Process
Submit both a written draft and a video recording of you delivering your full speech via D2L.
- The speech should be 6-8 minutes in length (approximately 1000-1200 words)
- Video submissions should include a complete, uninterrupted delivery of your speech with clear audio
- Include your full name and DePaul ID# on your written draft
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 17 at 11:59 p.m.
Submission Path: D2L > Honors Program Points > Submissions > 2026 Honors Graduation Student Speaker Application
Selection Process
A selection committee comprised of Honors Program faculty and staff will review all applications and select one student to deliver their speech at Honors Graduation. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by Monday, June 1.
The selection committee will consider:
- Clarity of ideas
- Appeal to a broad audience and shared Honors experiences
- Quality of speech content
- Length and timing of the presentation
- Alignment with the mission and values of the University Honors Program
- Speaker’s delivery (preparation, engagement, vocal variety, stage presence)
Questions
If you have any questions, please email:
Priscilla Bautista pbautist@depaul.edu or HonorsProgram@depaul.edu
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