Nominations open for graduate student commencement speaker

Marquette University is inviting members of the campus community to nominate an outstanding graduate student to serve as a speaker at the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony.

The graduate student commencement speaker plays a meaningful role in celebrating the academic achievements, values, and shared experiences of the graduating class. Faculty and staff are encouraged to consider students who exemplify the Marquette mission and can thoughtfully represent their peers during this milestone event.

All submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee. A group of finalists will be identified and invited to participate in interviews and present their proposed commencement remarks. One student will ultimately be selected and announced as the Graduate Commencement Speaker later this spring.

Guidelines and timeline for submitting a nomination:

• Nominees should represent the Marquette mission.
• Nominees must be in good academic standing and be eligible for Spring 2026 graduation.
• Nominations must be submitted by faculty or staff; you may nominate more than one student.
• Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, March 20, 2026.

A selection committee will review all nominations and identify a group of finalists, who will be notified by March 27, 2026. All finalists will then be invited for in-person interviews with the selection committee the week of April 13th, which will include a presentation of the finalist's proposed speech. The speaker will also be required to make an appointment with the MIC Speakers Lab to practice, polish, and revise their speech prior to the May ceremony.

Graduate Commencement Speaker Nomination Form

For questions about the process, please contact [email protected].