Kermit the Frog — Southampton College, 1996
America's favorite Muppet gave the graduation speech at Southampton College, and was even awarded a doctorate of amphibious letters for his speech — an honorary degree for his contribution to raising environmental awareness, The New York Times reported in 1996. Environmental and marine sciences is a big part of the college's curriculum.
Kermit started his speech like many esteemed graduation speakers do — reflecting on his childhood. He said:
"When I was a tadpole growing up back in the swamps, I never imagined that I would one day address such an outstanding group of scholars. And I am sure that when you were children growing up back in your own particular swamps or suburbs, you never imagined you would sit here on one of the most important days of your life listening to a short, green talking frog deliver your commencement address. All of us should feel very proud of ourselves ... and just a little bit silly."
While most of the student body were supportive of the choice of Kermit as their graduation speaker, not everyone felt that way.
"I've been here laboring for five years and now we have a sock talking at our commencement," Samantha Chie, a marine biology major, told The Times. "It's kind of upsetting."
