This year’s University of Wisconsin graduates will hear from UW alumnus and comedian Anders Holm, who is set to speak at this spring’s commencement ceremonies.
Holm graduated from UW in 2003. He is a co-creator, writer and star of the Comedy Central show Workaholics. The show, currently in its third season, has an average of 1.4 million viewers, and the network has renewed it for a fourth and fifth season, the statement said.
“I can tell them about the first 10 years out of college, what I think I did wrong, what I think I did right,” Holm said in the statement. “I’m only 10 years older than these guys, and these are the years where you really plant your foot and you go right or you go left. If I was 55 or 60 years old, I might not be as in touch with those formative years.”
The senior class officers recommended Holm to be this year’s commencement speaker, according to Secretary of the Faculty Joe Farrenkopf. He said there is no set criteria and added that senior class officers are not instructed to find someone in a particular field or who has accomplished something specific.
Senior Class President Betsy Pike said senior class officers wanted to find someone the student body would want to listen to, who would be fun and exciting and fit what the student body would want from its commencement speaker.
“Most importantly, we were looking for a speaker who would be exciting, relevant and someone who could provide wisdom for the graduating seniors,” Pike said. “We thought Anders would be a fantastic choice.”
Holm represents a transition between being a student and becoming a Badger alumnus, according to Pike. She said a focus of commencement weekend is to celebrate being a Badger and sharing Wisconsin experiences.
Pike said the university experienced a very positive response to the announcement Tuesday. She said the statement the university released “blew up” on social media, gaining over 5,000 shares on Facebook that day alone.
“The class officers and I are extremely excited to have Anders back on campus and we are really enthusiastic about the positive reaction we have received so far,” Pike said. “We are hoping everyone enjoys [him].”
Secretary of the Faculty Emeritus David Muslof, who retired from the position at the beginning of this year, said it is his experience – serving over the past 20 years – that the senior class officers will select commencement speaker nominees.
Muslof said senior class officers strive to select individuals to speak at commencement with which graduates will be able to identify with. He said they look for someone who will have a good message for graduates as they contemplate their lives beyond the university.
“The relevant thing is that Anders was invited and he has agreed to speak and we are all happy about that,” Musolf said.
Holm will only be compensated for travel and lodging expenses, according to Farrenkopf. He said the university does not pay for its commencement speakers.
