February 2024

Dear Undergraduate Student of the Class of 2024:

At this year’s Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, a representative from the Class of 2024 will be asked to give greetings and a short address to those gathered for the occasion. You are invited to apply to be that representative provided you have graduated in January 2024 or have a graduation application on file for June 2024 or August 2024. (Note: If you plan to graduate in June or August, you must have a graduation application on file before you submit this form.) If you are eligible and interested in applying for this honor, you should do the following:

1. Prepare a detailed address designed to last no more than three minutes.  This address should extend greetings to the audience and contain remarks which are relevant to the occasion and of interest to a wide audience. You must submit the entire text of the speech. (See below for suggestions regarding things to consider when preparing your address.)
2. The only place your name should be added is on the Commencement Speech Proposal Data Form or you can request the link by emailing Ivy Payne at: ipayne@ramapo.edu.  The speech itself should NOT have your name on it. Any speech with a name on it will NOT be considered.
3. Complete the Data Form online.
4. Please email or mail a draft of your speech, and an audio recording* of you giving the speech as you would at Commencement to me at ipayne@ramapo.edu or mailed to: Ivy Payne, Student Affairs, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680. The above materials must be received by me no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 15, 2024. 

After the deadline of March 15, 2024 at 4:30 p.m., a Selection Committee will review the submissions. (Note: Members of the Committee review the written texts and are not aware of the writer’s name. Only after the group is reduced to a very small number of finalists does the Committee listen to the recordings, and review the personal information provided. The person chosen will be notified via email and will be offered assistance in completing the final draft of the speech.

*Please note: If you do not have access to the technology required to make an audio recording of your speech, or if you need a flash drive to save your speech, please contact me at: ipayne@ramapo.edu at your earliest convenience and accommodations will be made. If you require disability related accommodations, please contact me at least 48 hours before the submission deadline so those accommodations can be made.

Examples of what the Selection Committee is looking for in a speech:

1. Thoughtful and insightful writing and robust delivery
2. A speech that is no longer than 3 minutes
3. Understanding the mission, culture, and values of Ramapo as embodied in the experiences of the Class
4. Connection between Ramapo experiences and the future
5. Impact Ramapo has had on the lives of those in the Class
6. Relevant humor (no “inside” jokes)

This is a wonderful opportunity. I hope you will consider applying for this honor. If you have any questions, please contact me at (201) 684-7457 or via email.

Sincerely,
Ivy N. Payne
Student Affairs Coordinator