USC Annenberg awarded doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees to almost 800 graduates on May 16 at the 2008 commencement ceremonies on a morning that featured inspirational speeches, life-long memories and an endless supply of water bottles and handheld fans to battle the heat. The Huffington Post co-founder and editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington (pictured, below left) and Oscar-winning actor and gender-equity advocate Geena Davis (below, right) delivered keynote speeches at the School of Journalism and School of Communication ceremonies, respectively.

"Be fearless in the decisions you make in your life and careers," Huffington told the School of Journalism's newest graduates. "Don't let voices in your head or from the outside keep you from your dreams."

Davis started her speech by drawing laughs from the School of Communication for her advice on how to become a movie star: "First step. Get really big parts in major motion pictures."

She then spoke about serious gender research being done at USC Annenberg that shows a vast underrepresentation of female characters in popular TV and media. About 200 USC Annenberg undergraduate students, including more than 50 research assistants sitting in the audience as new graduates, helped in the research done in partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

"Research and education are the cornerstones of affecting change," Davis said.

USC Annenberg trustee Wallis Annenberg told students she has one piece of advice for them: "Risk, risk, risk in every area of your life."

Dean Ernest J. Wilson III (pictured, top) said he has learned a lot from the students in his first year at the School.

"There really is something called the Trojan Family and the Annenberg Family," Dean Wilson said. "This is not just rhetoric."

He told the School of Journalism that media is changing dramatically, and the new graduates must keep up with the changes and help invent the future of the field.

"We must keep journalism strong so that democracy in America can also be strong," he said. "Independent press equals democracy."

Huffington told the students that media doesn't always have to be completely balanced.

"Truth is not always in the middle," Huffington said. "The world is flat. There aren't two sides to slavery and the holocaust. Global warming is real. Stand up for the truth, even if that means sacrificing access. It's not worth it."

USC Commencement
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