Twice a year, the Commencement Advisory Committee conducts auditions and selects one graduating senior to deliver the commencement address at the December and May graduations. For this year’s fall graduation, the committee chose Will Langley, a senior in political science and parks, recreation and tourism management, to represent the Class of 2006 and deliver the commencement speech Dec. 20.

“I just thought it would be something neat to do to be able to be in front of my whole class and be able to offer them something,” Langley said. “It’s a pretty neat situation.”

To apply for the honor, candidates had to fill out paperwork and deliver their speeches in front of the Commencement Advisory Committee a few weeks ago.

“At auditions, we are listening to select the best speaker, but also the one to represent the class,” Susan Matney, chair of the Commencement Advisory Committee, said. “It’s a huge audience at the commencement with alum, parents and students, and we look for the best student speaker to speak to that group.”

Langley said he didn’t really practice his speech much before the auditions but was really focusing on the content of his speech.

According to Matney, the members of the committee base their selection on the senior who best delivers his or her speech.

“It really is the speech, the delivery, as well as the content – all of the things that are looked at in a public speaker – and just everything put together,” Matney said.

Langley said he decided to write his speech about “how the world is at our fingertips; we can do anything we want; to always think better and to always push harder.”

He said he wanted to have a speech that would have a serious message to it that students would listen to, appreciate and laugh a little when hearing.

Before commencement, Langley must meet with Victoria Gallagher, a communication professor, to work with her and prepare for the speech delivery.

“I work with the speaker once they’re selected to help them polish and deliver the speech the best possible way,” Gallagher said. “I have not yet met [Langley] or heard the speech, but we will start working on it shortly.”

Langley said he is not sure how many students he competed against for the honor. However, fewer students apply and audition for the opportunity during fall graduation than at spring graduation, according to Matley.

According to Langley, he was thrilled when he received the news that he was chosen as the speaker.

“I felt privileged and I was excited,” he said. “The first thing I did was call my grandma and told her. To hear how excited she was, was worth everything,”

Matley said the student commencement speaker has an opportunity to send a message to all his or her classmates.

“It’s a great opportunity and I encourage students to think ahead on their graduation date that [they] would be the person that would be able to audition and be selected as commencement speaker,” she said. “So, I would encourage students to pay attention to that message they get in their senior year and to participate in this process.”