Commencement student speaker auditions
Berkeley Engineering is currently hosting auditions for the May 2025 commencement student speakers. One speaker will be selected for each of the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral ceremonies.
Your audition video and a PDF copy of your written speech must be submitted here by Friday, April 4. You will be notified by Friday, April 25 regarding the status of your audition submission.
Eligibility
- Only submissions from graduates registered for the 2025 Berkeley Engineering Commencement will be considered
- The selected speaker must be in good standing with the College and the University
Speech will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Length: Speech is between four to five minutes when read aloud
- Tone: Content and delivery convey enthusiasm, optimism and inspiration, as well as reflect the celebratory nature of the event
- Theme: Should be original, as well as forward-looking
- Audience engagement: Speech should be accessible, enjoyable and relatable to everyone present at commencement (graduates from multiple Berkeley Engineering departments, family and friends) which means keeping it simple, with no acronyms or technical jargon
- Content: Speech should include the following elements:
- Have a personal connection to the Class of 2025 and contain some nostalgia
- Include relatable experiences and anecdotes relating to your time at Cal
- Potentially relate to Berkeley Engineering’s mission and values (not a requirement)
- Presentation:
- Delivery is engaging, clear and well-paced
- Speaker is comfortable in their delivery
- Content is well-organized
Audition submission details:
- Any video longer than 5:10 minutes will not be considered
- You do not need to memorize your speech in your video submission (or when delivering your speech at commencement, if selected)
- You do not need to be in regalia in your video submission
- We encourage you to record your speech while standing in a well-lit area
Questions? Email engineeringcommencement@berkeley.edu.