(The Center Square) – Actors, artists, former astronauts and even President Donald Trump were all announced as those who would give 2025 commencement addresses at various schools. At the University of Maryland, a fictional character is delivering the address: Kermit the Frog.
“The beloved Muppet and legendary frog will address summer 2024, winter 2024 and spring 2025 graduates, family and friends during the ceremony at SECU Stadium,” a University of Maryland news release said of Kermit the Frog’s upcoming speech.
Weather permitting, the commencement address is set for Wednesday, May 21, according to the school.
“After a sold-out visit to campus in fall 2024 as part of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Lecture Series, Kermit the Frog returns to the university from The Muppets Studio, part of the Magic of Disney, to share an inspiring message with this year’s graduates,” the University of Maryland’s (UMD) news release said.
The fictional amphibian’s UMD speech also is occurring because of a connection between the frog’s creator and the school.
“Kermit the Frog’s appearance honors the long history between UMD and Muppets creator Jim Henson, who graduated from UMD in 1960,” the news release said. Henson was a home economics major.
UMD President Darryll J. Pines said in the news release: “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.”
Pines did not respond to a request for comment from The Center Square.
“Our pride in Jim Henson knows no bounds, and it is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus, 65 years after Mr. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland,” Pines said in the release. “I sincerely thank The Muppets Studio, Disney and their creative teams for making this possible.”
The UMD news release stated that Kermit the Frog’s comment is: “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!”
When reached for comment on how Kermit’s address came about and if a Muppet has ever given a commencement speech before, senior publicist and communications manager at Walt Disney Imagineering + The Muppets Studio Frank Reifsnyder did not respond by publishing time.
An automatic response notified The Center Square that Reifsnyder is out of the office on business, so his responses may be delayed.
According to a Chronicle of Higher Education article dated 1996, Kermit the Frog spoke at Long Island University’s Southampton College commencement in 1996.
The fictional character also lectured at Harvard in 1982, Jim Henson’s daughter attending the school at the time.
Besides honoring Henson with a speech by Kermit the Frog, UMD also hosts a Jim Henson Statue and Memorial Garden, featuring statues of both Henson and Kermit on a bench.
Other commencement speakers at schools across America include actor Steve Carell at Northwestern, musician Usher at Emory, and former astronaut Charles Frank Bolden Jr. at Ohio State.
Additionally, Trump was the commencement speaker at both West Point and the University of Alabama.
UMD media relations has not responded to The Center Square’s request for comment.
UMD is a public university with over 40,000 students, according to its website.
