After Wednesday’s announcement about former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s visit to OU, we reflected on the notable speakers who have visited our campus recently.

We enjoy having well-known, intelectually stimulating speakers on campus and have been happy to hear from inspiring speakers like international political analyst Fareed Zakaria, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts and controversial evolutionary theorist Richard Dawkins.

Last year, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Goodwin Kearns spoke at commencement. Though she totes an impressive resume, she didn’t have graduating seniors and their families anxiously awaiting her address.

We don’t mean to degrade Kearns, but after years of studying, graduates deserve a commencement speaker worthy of their efforts who can offer a fresh perspective and a laugh.

We’ve compiled a list of our top choices and hope President David Boren will use his connections to bring one of these to the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on May 13.

Paul McCartney (Rock 'n' roll icon)
From his time as a boy band heartthrob to his later role as counterculture icon, Paul McCartney has crossed the globe, filling arenas with screaming fans. He has done it all. Parents may find this music legend to be too liberal for a commencement speech at a state university, but we are the ones who sat in the classes and earned the grades to earn us our degrees.

Jon Stewart (Television comedian)
The beloved comedian turned political commentator of “The Daily Show” would give us a speech that not only motivates, but will have us laughing out loud. Stewart’s popularity amongst the college crowd is not a secret. Plus, his Comedy Central cohort Stephen Colbert is already booked for Northwestern University’s commencement.

Bill Clinton (Former U.S. president)
Clinton was the first president many remember in office. He appealed to the youth vote by appearing on MTV and was the hippest president in the last 40 years. He may have had issues with a sexual scandal, but it’s hard to deny the political mind that left America with a budget surplus. Clinton would offer insight into the political climate and educate students with a perspective emboldened by experience.

Russell Simmons (Entrepreneur)
Probably the least known candidate on the list, he is best known for being the brother of Run-DMC’s Rev Run, Simmons is a self-made millionaire, the co-founder of the record label Def Jam Records and the creator of Phat Farms clothing line. Well spoken, he’s always looking to inform the younger generation about his road to success and how they can pave their own.

Betty White (Entertainer)
It’s hard to imagine a television comeback when you’re pushing nine decades, but Betty White managed to do it. Thanks to a widely recognized Super Bowl ad last year and a much-watched Saturday Night Live performance, Betty White is back. Once a Golden Girl from St. Olaf, Minn., White makes being a senior citizen cool.

George Clooney (Actor/activist)
Give us a chance to explain before you dismiss this candidate. George Clooney is very passionate about humanitarian efforts in Darfur. Talking about the atrocities in Darfur is a bit depressing for a graduation speech, but it would be an important message for the furture leaders prior to going off into the real world.

Barack Obama (U.S. president)
About halfway through his first term as President, he undoubtedly has a few interesting stories to share. If you have ever watched one of Obama’s speeches, no matter what your political affiliation, you have to give the man some credit for his ability to hold an audience. The only potential problem is if he turns his commencement speech into a campaign rally.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (U.S. Supreme Court justice)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is the second woman to be nominated to the bench. She graduated first in her class at Cornell, but her route to the Supreme Court was initially rebuffed. Despite a recommendation from the dean of Harvard Law School, Justice Felix Frankfurter refused her application to clerk because she was a woman.