If you are a bachelor’s or master’s degree student who graduated in August 2024, or who will be graduating in January, February, or June 2025, we invite you to apply to become the Student Speaker at the May 2025 CUNY SPS Commencement ceremony. 

This is a unique opportunity to represent the class of 2025 to the family and friends of our graduates, as well as to the greater CUNY SPS community.

Your application must include responses to two questions about your experience as a CUNY SPS student, as well as a 5-minute speech draft (roughly 750 words). The graduating class of 2025 includes students from all of the School’s degree and certificate programs, and your speech should be tailored to this entire group and your remarks should be appropriate to the occasion.

The Student Speaker selection process consists of several milestones, outlined below. Please be sure to read through the timeline before beginning an application.

As the Student Speaker, you will work with a virtual speech coach provided by the School to practice the delivery of your speech.

The selection committee consists of members of the Student Association and the School’s administration. Graduating members of the Student Association who have submitted an application themselves are not able to take part in the selection committee.