Commencement Speaker Information and Application
Presenting the student commencement address at a Central Piedmont graduation ceremony is a great honor and an opportunity to inspire, engage with, and share common experiences with your peers.
Please review the following guidelines for submissions then use the form below to submit your application to be the commencement speaker for the May 2026 commencement ceremony. The application window is open now and submissions will be accepted until March 6.
Speaker Criteria
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The application is open to students graduating in spring 2026.
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Applicants must be registered and cleared by the graduation department.
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Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and be passing their current coursework.
Application
To apply, log into your Microsoft account and complete the Student Commencement Speaker Application form.
As part of the application, you will be prompted to upload an audition video. In your video, please introduce yourself, describe how attending Central Piedmont impacted or changed you, and explain why you would like to be the commencement speaker.
Interview and Selection
Once all application materials have been received by the committee, the committee will invite selected candidates for an interview. Students selected for an interview must prepare a FULL written speech on their college experience and the message they would like to convey to their fellow graduates. Following the interviews, all candidates will be notified of a decision.
The chosen speakers will receive guidance, rehearsal, and support to prepare their remarks for the big day.
Speech Content Guidelines
The topic and format of the speech are left to the discretion of the speaker. However, speeches must adhere to the following guidelines.
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The speech must not be disrespectful and may not contain profanity of any kind.
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The speech should be no longer than five minutes.
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The speech presented in the interview/audition should be as close to the final speech as possible.