Graduates of the University of Maryland will get a rare treat on May 22nd, a commencement speech by a frog. But not just any ol’ frog, no, this address is being given by “The Muppets”’ own Kermit the Frog. This will be his first commencement address in nearly 30 years!
“I’m so humbled by it,” Kermit said. “I’m kind of taking this seriously — as seriously as a singing, dancing frog can take anything.” His speech will focus on graduates taking a “leap” into opportunity, while underscoring that adulthood doesn’t mean losing your inner child.
The University of Maryland is the perfect place for Kermit to come out of commencement speech retirement. “The Muppets” creator Jim Henson graduated from there in 1960 with a degree in home economics. He even met his wife, Jane, at the college during a freshman puppetry class. The campus now has a statue of Henson and Kermit to commemorate the duo’s invaluable impact on pop culture and children’s programming.
“Maybe we’re at our best when we allow ourselves to continue to grow and learn something new every day,” Kermit said. “I kind of hope these graduates keep that sophisticated childlike sense of curiosity and imagination and innovation as they travel down their paths.”
Kermit will give the University of Maryland’s commencement speech on Thursday, May 22nd. We wish all the new graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors.
