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It may not even be June yet, but there has already been plenty of pomp and circumstance this year as college grads are ceremonially ushered into the abyss of adulthood. We’ve compiled this year’s commencement speeches from major media players from journalist stalwarts like Katie Couric and Tom Brokaw to social media mavens like Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel and Adam Bain from Twitter.
Many of the speakers seem fully aware they’re talking to a generation that grew up online. Bain encouraged his audience to keep their phones on to Tweet during his speech. Apple CEO Tim Cook and former Hulu CEO Jason Kilar took photos and selfies during their speeches. Of course, there was also plenty of sage life advice to never give up or to never take no for an answer.
Here’s a list of who’s who in our video montage of this year’s commencement speakers:
Katie Couric, Journalist, UW-Madison on May 16.
Jorge Ramos, Journalist, USC Annenberg School of Journalism on May 15.
Evan Spiegel, Snapchat CEO, USC Marshall School of Business on May 15.
Tom Brokaw, Journalist, High Point University on May 9.
Adam Bain, Twitter, Miami University on May 16.
Sage Steele, Journalist, Indiana University May 9.
Stephanie “Flo” Courtney, Actress, Binghamton University on May 17.
Jason Kilar, fmr. Hulu CEO, UNC-Chapel Hill on May 10.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, George Washington University on May 17.
Stephen Colbert, Comedian, Wake Forest University on May 18.
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