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Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Information

Nomination Information for the RSBC Commencement Student Speaker for the Class of 2025

The Rutgers School of Business–Camden’s Commencement Convocation is held each year in May. One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be selected for the role of student commencement speaker for the Commencement Convocation. Being chosen as a speaker is one of the highest honors a graduate can achieve and carries tremendous responsibility. Graduates from any Program offered by the School of Business–Camden, regardless of location (day, evening, off-campus, or online), are eligible to be nominated as a Commencement Student Speaker.

The Student Speaker Selection Committee will review the submission packages from all finalists and will select the chosen speakers.

  • One student will be selected to speak at the Honors Ceremony: Mon., April 28 at 11:20 am
  • One student will be selected to speak at the RSBC Commencement Convocation: Wed., May 21 at 10:00 am

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated, in addition to academic excellence, qualities in professionalism, civic engagement, and leadership during their studies at the School of Business–Camden and ideally campus-wide.

Please review the Commencement Student Speaker Selection Process before reaching out to RSBC faculty and staff for nominations or submitting a self-nomination!

The Commencement Address

The commencement address should speak primarily to the graduating students, as well as be inclusive of family and friends in attendance. The graduating students include students from all Rutgers School of Business–Camden campus locations, including online. Creativity is encouraged. Speakers should keep in mind the mission and values of the School and the University and should speak to the unique experience of being a Rutgers School of Business–Camden student.

Additionally, since the commencement convocation is a celebration of student achievement and accomplishments of our graduating class, Commencement Speakers should have the ability to give a positive, meaningful, and inspirational address to the graduating class and their families. Therefore, nominees should be skilled public speakers.

Student Speaker Eligibility

  • All undergraduate and graduate students graduating in the Class of 2025 from the Rutgers School of Business–Camden are eligible to be the Commencement Speaker. The student should have submitted a diploma application or have been approved for degree candidacy, if the student completed her/his coursework in August or December.
  • The ideal student will be graduating with Latin Honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude).
  • The candidate must be in good standing with the School and the University.
  • The candidate must embody the spirit of the graduating class and represent the School and the University well.
  • The ideal candidate will possess strong public speaking skills and be able to deliver a strong message to the graduating class and to the Rutgers University community.
  • In addition to academic excellence, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated qualities in professionalism, civic engagement, and leadership during their studies at the School of Business-Camden and ideally campus-wide.

How it Works

1-Student Nominations (Student can be nominated by Self or Faculty/Staff)

  1. Student Self-Nomination: To be eligible for a self-nomination, a student must have support from two (2) School of Business–Camden faculty and/or staff, of which at least one (1) faculty is required. Student is to provide information to those faculty/staff members in the below box explaining why they are the ideal candidate for commencement speaker.
    Note: A nomination does not ensure acceptance.

     

  2. Nominations by Faculty and Staff: To nominate a student, School of Business–Camden faculty and/or staff must submit the Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form – Faculty.
    Note: A nomination does not ensure acceptance.
Self-Nomination
Nomination by RSBC Faculty/Staff


2-Review of Nominations
Based on the nominated students’ eligibility and the strength of the nomination itself, the Student Speaker Selection Committee, made up of Rutgers School of Business–Camden faculty and staff, will review all nominations.

3-Submit Draft Speech
Once semi-finalists are identified by the Student Speaker Selection Committee, candidates will be asked to submit a draft of his/her/their speech and a copy of his/her resume to the Committee, directed to:

The content and style of the draft speech submitted will be the primary criteria used by the Student Speaker Selection Committee to select the finalists. The delivery time of the speech must be no longer than four (4) minutes. Notable speeches are often those that: a) have the most meaning for the largest number of persons in attendance, b) reflect on the common educational experiences, and c) share, in a personal way, the value of the education received at Rutgers School of Business–Camden.

Draft speeches and a copy of the student’s resume must be emailed to ASO (undergraduate students) and the Graduate Program (graduate students).

Hard copies or digital copies are acceptable, but digital copies are preferred. In the email, clearly identify yourself, your intention, your major, and your undergraduate/graduate student status; include your email and phone number. These identifiers will be recorded and then removed from your submission for an unbiased review by the Student Speaker Selection Committee. Members of the Student Speaker Selection Committee will then review the unidentified copies of the speeches to determine the final pool of finalists who will be invited for in-person auditions.

 4-Finalists Selected
The Student Speaker Selection Committee will review all draft speech submissions. In selecting the best submitted draft, the Student Speaker Selection Committee rates the submitted speech along the criteria below:

  • Clarity of ideas
  • Appropriateness of topic and suitability for the event
  • Relevancy to and embodies the “spirit” of all SBC students
  • Possesses and tells a compelling and interesting story
  • Overall quality of the speech and the speaker

5-Auditions
Once finalists are identified by the Student Speaker Selection Committee, candidates will be asked to make a speech (audition) to the Committee.

NOTE: The Committee encourages applicants to view previous student commencement speeches from Rutgers University and other prestigious schools to gain a clear understanding of the assignment that you are requesting.

6-Commencement Student Speakers Named
The Student Speaker Selection Committee will review all finalist submission packages and will select the chosen speakers for the following events:

  • One undergraduate and one graduate student will be selected to speak at the Honors Ceremony: Monday, April 28 at 11:20 am
  • One undergraduate and one graduate student will be selected to speak at the Commencement Ceremony: Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 am

The chosen Student Speakers will receive assistance from selected faculty and staff of the Rutgers School of Business–Camden in preparing the final version of their speeches prior to the Honors Ceremony and Spring Commencement Ceremony.

Final approval of the speech is required from the Rutgers School of Business–Camden. Additionally, the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Commencement Speakers will have a seat on the dais with School officials and honorees during Commencement Ceremony. Family members of the Commencement Student Speaker may sit in the reserved section.

All finalists who audition will receive a memento from the School in appreciation of their effort.

Timeline

  • Nominations from RSBC Faculty and Staff are due by Monday, February 17
  • Semi-Finalists will be asked to submit a draft speech with video by Thursday, February 27 by 5:00 pm
  • Finalists will be contacted for auditions; auditions will occur March 6-10
  • Announcement of Commencement Student Speakers will shortly follow the auditions approx. March 14
  • Rehearsal(s) times/information will be sent to speakers the second week of April
  • RSBC Honors Ceremony will be held on Monday, April 28 at 11:20 am
  • RSBC Commencement Ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 am

Writing a Commencement Speech is a challenging and rewarding task. If you have additional questions or concerns about appropriate content or the selection process, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel Tomlinson, Director of Operations (rachel.tomlinson@rutgers.edu) or:

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BLDP Executive Shadowing Application v2

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If I am chosen and matched with an executive, I will follow through and prepare a one-page report giving honest feedback about the experience. The written summary is due by the start of the next semester. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

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Priority will be given to applications received by November 18. Applications are accepted until all seats are filled. Space is limited, so apply early!

The seminar application process is our gateway for entry into the program. Upon acceptance into BLDP, students will be emailed their acceptance letter plus a special permission number allowing registration for the BLDP seminar.

Requirements

Seminar applications are solicited each semester and require the following:

  1. Completed application form (at the bottom of this page),
  2. For students with GPA 3.0 – 3.49, two (2) letters of recommendation (one academic; one other)

Rutgers-Camden students are invited to apply to apply for enrollment in the BLDP seminar. All applicants are expected to meet both of the following selection criteria:  (1) have sophomore standing or above and (2) have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. First-semester transfer students will be evaluated based on their GPA earned at Rutgers. Students who fail to meet these admission criteria may still be allowed to apply for (and possibly enroll in) the BLDP seminar, but they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The director balances evaluations to make final decisions on people accepted for the seminar (up to a maximum of 15-20 each semester).

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