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The biggest commencement speakers of 2013 President Obama, Kerry Washington, the Dalai Lama, Stephen Colbert, Nate Silver, Cory Booker and “Mary Poppins” are among those confirmed. Here’s where.
May 19, 2013
Delivering a commencement address at Morehouse College, an all-male private liberal arts college in Atlanta, President Obama spoke in deeply personal terms about the “special obligation” he feels as a black man to help those left behind.
President Obama
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European Pressphoto Agency
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Michelle Obama
In her May 17 commencement speech, the first lady encourages the Bowie State University Class of 2013 to live up to the legacy of their university's founders and the leaders of the civil rights movement by promoting the importance of education in the black community.
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Mitt Romney
The former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee spoke at Southern Virginia University on April 27. His remarks drew attention for his encouragement to students to marry in their 20s and have a ''quiver full'' of kids.
Brad Zinn
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Gabrielle Gifffords
The former U.S. representative from Arizona will deliver the commencement at Bard College, along with her husband, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. Giffords, who was nearly killed in early 2011, will receive an honorary degree for her public service.
Joshua Lott
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Bill Clinton
Howard University says the former president will deliver the school's commencement on May 11. The university’s president cited Clinton's example as a leader, humanitarian and advocate. At left, Clinton at New York University's commencement in 2011.
Slaven Vlasic
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Getty Images
Kerry Washington
A star of ABC's ''Scandal'' and Quentin Tarentino's ''Django Unchained,'' Washington will deliver the commencement May 19 at her alma mater, George Washington University. The ’98 alum graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Danny Feld
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ABC
Vice President Biden
The vice president will deliver the commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. Biden is pictured at the Cypress Bay High School graduation in Miami in 2012.
Wilfredo Lee
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AP
Cal Ripken Jr.
Hall of Famer and former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. will deliver the commencement speech at the University of Maryland.
Rob Carr
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Getty Images
Mikhail Baryshnikov
The ballet legend will be delivering the commencement speech at Northwestern University, where his daughter attends school.
Wayne Guenther
President Obama
It's a big year for the president on campus. He'll be speaking at the U.S. Naval Academy, Ohio State University and Morehouse College, the traditionally black school whose alums include Martin Luther King Jr. Obama is pictured at Notre Dame's commencement in 2009.
Carolyn Kaster
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AP
Oprah Winfrey
Harvard University announced that Oprah Winfrey will speak on May 30 during commencement day’s afternoon exercises. "She has used her extraordinary influence and reach as a force for good in the world,'' said Harvard President Drew Faust. Winfrey is pictured at Spelman College's commencement in 2012.
Rick Diamond
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Getty Images
Dalai Lama
The Tibetan spiritual leader heads to New Orleans on May 18 to speak at Tulane.
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AP
Stephen Colbert
The University of Virginia will host the TV host on May 18. Colbert's wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, graduated from U-Va. in 1985, with majors in English and drama. With Colbert, expect the unexpected. At Knox College in 2006, Colbert pooh-poohed immigrants work in building America: “Here's the thing — it's built now. I think it was finished in the mid-’70s sometime. At this point it's a touch-up and repair job.”
Michael S. Williamson
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The Washington Post
Melinda Gates
Melinda Gates, who earned her bachelor's degree in computer science and economics at Duke in 1986, returns to Durham, N.C., to speak on May 12. Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation with husband/Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, also got her Master of Business Administration degree from Duke's Fuqua School of Business.
Anthony Bolante
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Reuters
Nate Silver
The statistician, author and creator of the FiveThirtyEight blog will be speaking at Ripon College in Wisconsin. We hesitate to predict what he'll speak about.
Nam Y. Huh
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AP
Julie Andrews
"The Sound of Music'' and "Mary Poppins'' actress will speak at the University of Colorado at Boulder on May 10. With the Rockies as a backdrop, are you expecting a "Climb Every Mountain'' theme?
Evan Agostini
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AP
Cory Booker
The Newark mayor and possible U.S. Senate candidate will be Yale's Class Day speaker on May 19. Booker, a 1997 Yale Law graduate, "is an extraordinary young leader who has done a tremendous job in Newark,'' said Yale President Richard Levin. Last year's Class Day speaker? Barbara Walters.
Mel Evans
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AP
Toni Morrison
The Nobel laureate and author of "Beloved'' and "Home'' will be speaking at Vanderbilt's Senior Day on May 9.
Bebeto Matthews
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AP
Drew Houston
Houston, the co-founder of chief executive of Dropbox, will speak to MIT's graduating class on June 7. The online-file-storage king graduated from the Cambridge, Mass., school in 2005.
Johannes Simon
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Getty Images
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