Kermit The Frog To Deliver UMD Commencement Speech

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland on Wednesday announced that beloved Muppets character Kermit the Frog will deliver the school's 2025 commencement address this May.

After a sold-out visit to campus in Fall 2024 as part of the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Lecture Series, Kermit will return to the university on May 21 to address the summer 2024, winter 2024 and spring 2025 graduates, the college said in a statement.

Kermit's visit stems from the history between UMD and Muppets creator Jim Henson, who graduated from the university in 1960. Henson, a home economics major, invented Kermit by building the original frog puppet out of one of his mother’s coats and a ping-pong ball cut in half.

“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,” UMD President Darryll J. Pines said in a statement. “I sincerely thank the Muppets Studio, Disney and their creative teams for making this possible.”

Meanwhile, Kermit said "nothing could make his feet happier" than to speak at UMD.

"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!” the famous frog said.

More details about the campuswide ceremony are available at commencement.umd.edu.