Student Speaker Competition

Thank you to everyone who participated. The selection process has now closed for the all-University Student Speaker.

Each year a committee comprising GW faculty, staff, and students host a competition to select the student speaker for the all-University Commencement on the National Mall.  THIS YEAR, THE COMPETITION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11, AT 2:00 PM IN RICE HALL, SUITE 504.   If you are interested in participating in the audition, please read the following instructions carefully.

Rules for participation:

Step 1:  Participation in the all-university commencement actually begins with winning a school competition or selection process.  Each school of the university selects the same number of candidates for the all-university audition as the number of school ceremonies on Commencement Weekend; thus, CCAS and the School of Business select two candidates and all other schools select one.  (In many schools, the candidate(s) for the all-university audition also serve as student speaker at the school ceremony.). Please contact your school for information on your school’s selection process or see below.
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Step 2:  If you are selected by your school, please notify Brittany Baron at (202) 994-1127 or bb9ron@gwu.edu with your name and contact information.

Step 3:  Appear for audition on FRIDAY, APRIL 11, AT 2:00 PM IN RICE HALL, SUITE 504 with your speech (criteria below). Special attire is not required for your try-out. What you say matters more than what you wear!

Requirements:

1:  You must be graduating in Spring 2008 (not Summer 2007, Fall 2007 or Summer 2008).

2:  Any student—whether an undergraduate, graduate student, or a student in one of the university’s professional schools (Law, Medicine, etc.)—who is graduating in Spring 2008 is eligible to be the student speaker on the National Mall.

3)  For the audition, please prepare a speech not to exceed two minutes on a topic of your choosing.  Since the audition is designed to evaluate not only your speaking skills but also such things as audience response to the student speaker’s presentation, the speech that you give at the audition should be the speech that you will give on the Mall.

FAQs:

Can I use the same speech for the school competition and the all-university competition?
Yes!

If yes, what if my school competition allows for a longer speech?
Edit the speech that you used at the school competition to fit the all-university competition requirement (a speech of two minutes).

Can I try out for all-University student speaker if I am not selected for or do not try out for my School Celebration student speaker or my school's audition process for selection of a representative to the all-University student speaker competition?
No – sorry.

I have a prior commitment on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 2 p.m. Am I still eligible to participate in the all-university competition if selected by my school?
Yes.  We will make alternate arrangements with you for your try-out.

What is my school's selection process?
Click here for specific information about your school.


All other questions concerning the all-University commencement student speaker should be directed to (202) 994-7129 or commencement@gwu.edu.  Questions concerning the School Celebration student speaker competition should be directed to the appropriate school. Click here for a list of phone numbers.