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In a move that’s sure to make this year’s graduation a bit greener (and a lot more memorable), the University of Maryland has named Kermit the Frog as its 2025 Commencement speaker.
On Tuesday, the university announced in a cheeky promo video that Kermit will take the podium this spring to deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2025. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21st, at SECU Stadium on the UMD campus.
In the promotional video, UMD highlighted its commencement speaker’s tremendous and plentiful honors: Environment Advocate, Best-Selling Author, Peabody Award Winner, just to name a few. The school also noted that “a friend to all creatures.”
In a statement, Kermit furthered his gratitude for the opportunity: “Nothing could make these feet happier than to speak at the University of Maryland. I just know the class of 2025 is going to leap into the world and make it a better place, so if a few encouraging words from a frog can help, then I’ll be there!”
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Adding to the significance of the announcement is the fact that Muppets creator Jim Henson graduated from the university in 1960; his memory is preserved in the form of a bronze statue and memorial garden on campus near the Stamp Student Union. Kermit and his performer Matt Vogel were also welcomed for a Q&A lecture at the College Park university last September. The Diamondback, UMD’s student newspaper, reported that Kermit performed beloved Muppets songs like “Rainbow Connection” while Vogel spoke to his career as a Muppeteer.
“I am thrilled that our graduates and their families will experience the optimism and insight of the world-renowned Kermit the Frog at such a meaningful time in their lives,” Darryll J. Pines, UMD’s President, said in a statement.
This isn’t Kermit’s first rodeo as an orator; he previously received an honorary doctorate of humane, sorry, amphibious letters from Southampton College in 1996. Southampton notably is devoted to environmental and marine studies, and bestowed Kermit with his doctorate for increasing awareness for the former.
Kermit the Frog was created by Jim in 1955. Henson voiced and performed as the amphibian until his death in 1990, and Vogel has been covering amphibious duties since 2017.
