Graduate Send-Off: 2014 Commencement Speakers

John Legend, T.J. Holmes, the Obamas, and more offer advice.

John Legend - Another graduation season is upon us. BET.com runs down prominent folks who are delivering commencement speeches in 2014. — Natelege Whaley  Singer John Legend returned to his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, on May 19 as commencement speaker. He received an honorary Doctor of Music. (Photo: John Legend Via Instagram)

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John Legend - Another graduation season is upon us. BET.com runs down prominent folks who are delivering commencement speeches in 2014. — Natelege Whaley  Singer John Legend returned to his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, on May 19 as commencement speaker. He received an honorary Doctor of Music. (Photo: John Legend Via Instagram)

Photo By Photo: John Legend via Instagram

T.J. Holmes - Journalist T.J. Holmes delivered the commencement address for Clark Atlanta University on Monday, May 19. (Photo: TJ Holmes via Twitter)

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T.J. Holmes - Journalist T.J. Holmes delivered the commencement address for Clark Atlanta University on Monday, May 19. (Photo: TJ Holmes via Twitter)

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was the commencement speaker at Morgan State University on May 17. "In the wake of Brown v. Board, people of all ages — and from every corner of our nation — were inspired and emboldened by the courage, the conviction, and the persistence of those who risked so much in the fight for freedom and justice. Today, as you walk across this stage, each of you will take your rightful place as heirs of these pioneers," said Holder.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was the commencement speaker at Morgan State University on May 17. "In the wake of Brown v. Board, people of all ages — and from every corner of our nation — were inspired and emboldened by the courage, the conviction, and the persistence of those who risked so much in the fight for freedom and justice. Today, as you walk across this stage, each of you will take your rightful place as heirs of these pioneers," said Holder.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sean Combs - Sean Combs, a.k.a. the man with ever-changing names, delivered the commencement speech and received an honorary doctorate at Howard University on Saturday, May 10. "I didn't take the conventional route back home. Sometimes I made you proud and sometimes I didn't. But I made the decision to keep going; to keep trying; even if it meant that sometimes I would fail!" he said. (Photo: Diddy Instagram)

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Sean Combs - Sean Combs, a.k.a. the man with ever-changing names, delivered the commencement speech and received an honorary doctorate at Howard University on Saturday, May 10. "I didn't take the conventional route back home. Sometimes I made you proud and sometimes I didn't. But I made the decision to keep going; to keep trying; even if it meant that sometimes I would fail!" he said. (Photo: Diddy Instagram)

Jeh Johnson - U.S. Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson returned to his alma mater ,Morehouse College, and led their commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Jeh Johnson - U.S. Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson returned to his alma mater ,Morehouse College, and led their commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Michelle Obama  - First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at Dillard University's 2014 commencement on May 10. “We’re the lucky ones and we can never forget that we didn’t get where we are today all on our own,” Obama said. “We got here today because of so many people who toiled and sweat and bled and died for us.” (Photo:Jonathan Bachman/AP Photo)

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Michelle Obama  - First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at Dillard University's 2014 commencement on May 10. “We’re the lucky ones and we can never forget that we didn’t get where we are today all on our own,” Obama said. “We got here today because of so many people who toiled and sweat and bled and died for us.” (Photo:Jonathan Bachman/AP Photo)

Gov. Deval Patrick - On May 9, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was the commencement speaker at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Your education here at UMass is about more than being prepared to be good employees. It's about preparation for citizenship itself," Patrick told the graduates. (Photo: AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

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Gov. Deval Patrick - On May 9, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was the commencement speaker at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Your education here at UMass is about more than being prepared to be good employees. It's about preparation for citizenship itself," Patrick told the graduates. (Photo: AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

President Barack Obama - President Obama will be the commencement speaker at the University of California, Irvine on June 14. (Photo: Ricardo Brazziell-Pool/Getty Images)

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President Barack Obama - President Obama will be the commencement speaker at the University of California, Irvine on June 14. (Photo: Ricardo Brazziell-Pool/Getty Images)

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller - Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller will be the commencement speaker at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, on May 24. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller - Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller will be the commencement speaker at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, on May 24. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Bill Clinton - The former president was the unexpected guest of honor at a County Cork, Ireland wedding in 2012. The one time Commander-in-Chief was in the country meeting with philanthropic groups when he spotted the wedding at the resort where he was staying. Rather than have the Secret Service whisk him away, Clinton agreed to pose for a photo with the happy couple. "I thanked him for everything he has done for the peace process and for being a friend of Ireland," later said the groom.(Photo: Niall Carson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

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President Bill Clinton  - Former President Bill Clinton will make history as the first commencement speaker ever for New York University Abu Dabhi on May 25. (Photo: Niall Carson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

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Shonda Rhimes - The Grey's Anatomy creator, who adopted her second child Emerson Pearl in April, credits motherhood with jumpstarting her career. "Ten years ago in June, when I was in my house with a small, small baby, that's when I started really watching television," the small-screen mogul says. The rest, as we know, is primetime history.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Shonda Rhimes  - Shonda Rhimes will be speaking at the commencement ceremony for Dartmouth College on Sunday, June 8.   (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Theodore M. Shaw - Civil rights activist Theodore M. Shaw is giving the commencement speech at Wesleyan University on May 25.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Theodore M. Shaw - Civil rights activist Theodore M. Shaw is giving the commencement speech at Wesleyan University on May 25.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Photo By Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Wynton Marsalis - Musician Wynton Marsalis gave the commencement speech at Tulane University on May 17. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Wynton Marsalis - Musician Wynton Marsalis gave the commencement speech at Tulane University on May 17. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images