Kermit The Frog Revealed To Be University Of Maryland's Commencement Speaker

TV & Film

Mar 27

The modern world can be quite a strange place, and with the graduation of thousands of students across America approaching, it is about to be a little stranger. The University of Maryland has announced, alongside a tongue-in-cheek video, that their commencement speaker for their 2025 ceremony will be…Kermit the Frog. No, this is not an early April Fool’s Day prank.

Now, this isn’t completely out of the blue, as Jim Henson (creator of the Muppets) graduated from the university in 1960, where he majored in home economics. But generally, commemoration speakers are people, not characters, and the choice of Kermit may seem to be a strange one. The video from UMD, though, highlights Kermit’s many notable characteristics, from his celebrity status to his friendship with animals, alongside his support for imagination and creativity.

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In a statement, Kermit noted how pleased he was to speak at the university, though a statement from UMD President Darryll J. Pines sheds further light on this choice. 2025 will mark the 65th anniversary of Jim Henson’s graduation from the university, and it appears this unique collaboration is in honor of the anniversary.

Kermit isn’t unfamiliar with unique collaborations either. Over the years, he’s stood alongside many stars of every industry, and just last year, in 2024, he appeared onstage at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion concert to perform “Rainbow Connection” in a duet with the country singer.

Considering Disney isn’t doing much with Kermit these days, it’s good to see him getting out, and it will be intriguing to see what he says at the commencement.

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