ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Washington University Chancellor Andrew D. Martin announced Wednesday that award-winning actress Jennifer Coolidge would be delivering the school's 2024 commencement address.
WashU posted a video to X confirming the news, and Coolidge spoke about the opportunity.
"If you don't know who I am, that's too bad because I'm coming to your campus on May 13," Coolidge said in the video. "... I can't wait to see all your beautiful faces."
The university's 163rd commencement ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 13 on Francis Olympic Field on the Danforth campus.
“I’m excited that the members of the Wash U Class of 2024 — some of the most brilliant, confident, principled and inspiring individuals with unique and unstoppable spirits — will get to hear from the inspiring, endearing and unstoppable Jennifer Coolidge,” Martin said
Coolidge is expected to address 3,400 members of the WashU Class of 2024, along with their friends and family. She will also be given an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the university.
Coolidge has an extensive career in creating comedic gold. She played in films like "American Pie," "Legally Blonde" and "Click." And more recently, she has played in TV shows like "The Watcher" and "The White Lotus." She also has just finished production for a movie based on the bestselling video game "Minecraft," which fans can expect to see in theaters in 2025.
“I have no doubt that Ms. Coolidge, a multiple award-winning actress with decades of scene-stealing, iconic roles in film and on TV, will provide the graduates with a witty, uplifting and memorable speech," the chancellor said.
Coolidge joins a legendary group of people who have spoken in front of the university's graduates, including Mae Jemison, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Lewis, Cory Booker, Anthony Fauci and Sterling K. Brown.
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