In addition to the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, one additional senior will be selected to speak at graduation.
If you are interested in speaking at graduation:
Submit a speech to THIS FORM using the template provided. Fill out the template completely. You will be expected to briefly explain why you want to speak at graduation.
The deadline to submit your speech is Thursday, April 2 at 3:30pm. Submissions will NOT be accepted after the form is closed.
Speeches should be three and a half to four minutes long.
You will be notified by Friday 4/17 if you have been selected to audition with the Speech Selection Committee.
Auditions with the speech committee will be held on Wed, April 22 at 3:15pm in the LLLH. You will be expected to attend the audition if you are invited. If you cannot attend, you will forfeit your opportunity to audition.
You do not have to memorize your speech. Speakers at the audition and at graduation will read from a printed copy of their speech.
Contact Mr. Kuninsky prior to March 27 if you would like to discuss ideas for a speech or receive feedback on a preliminary draft.
Tips for constructing your graduation speech:
Remember your audience - you will be speaking to seniors, faculty, administrators, parents, relatives, friends. Make sure what you say will mean something to the entire audience. Overreliance on inside jokes or internal GSMST knowledge can hinder this.
This is a formal ceremony, make sure your topics, language, and presentation are appropriate for this venue.
Avoid shout-outs to individual friends or specific teachers.
Avoid the use of inside jokes or references to events that a small number of individuals will be familiar with.
It is ok to use humor as long as it is appropriate for the ceremony and contributes to your overall message.
Think about what you want your message to the graduating class to be, organize and focus your speech around that central theme or point.
Keep your speech positive and forward focused. This is not the time to list complaints or frustrations with your time at GSMST. It is ok to discuss obstacles you have overcome with a view to how you grew, persevered, learned from the experience.