Amphibious address

May is graduation season in the United States and some celebrities have been invited to address commencement exercises of colleges and universities.

The USC Marshall School of Business in California will hold its commencement for both undergraduate and graduate students on 17 May at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a very familiar music artist as the speaker.

“A commencement is not just a milestone — it’s a launching point. It’s about stepping into your purpose, applying what you’ve learned, and making an impact that matters. I look forward to welcoming them into the next chapter of their journey as leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” Snoop told RTT News.

Meanwhile, another “animal character” will speak at the graduation ceremony at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park on 21 May.

The university described the speaker as an environmental advocate, best-selling author, international superstar, and amphibian in a promotional video announcing the high-profile booking, New York Post (NYP) reports.

UMD president Darryll J. Pines in a statement said, “It is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus,” and he thanked “The Muppets Studio, Disney and their creative teams for making this possible,” according to NYP.

Kermit the Frog, whose current puppeteer is Matt Vogel, was created by UMD alumnus Jim Henson who graduated from the university 65 years ago, said Pines.

“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,” he added.