Class of 2025 treated to laughter, dancing and wisdom at the United Center

It doesn’t hurt to be kind

In Hollywood, it doesn’t take much to be considered “nice,” Carell joked. “I embody a base line human decency, which, I believe, should not be celebrated, but expected,” he said. “Everyone should be at very least, ‘pretty nice.’”

The trick to being a decent human is to donate your time and/or money to a worthy cause and performing acts of service, Carell advised.

“Return your shopping cart in the parking lot… Someone’s got to do it. Why not you? Better yet, return yours, and also return a stray cart that you didn’t even use,” he said. “Now we are talking about next level ‘pretty niceness.’ And remember to wash your hands, because some gross person probably touched that cart before you.”

Carell also emphasized the importance of taking care of yourself, adding that he and his wife tell their children to remember the little things: Laugh when you have the opportunity, and cry when necessary.

“You’re not alone. As badly as you feel about the state of the world, your parents probably feel worse,” he said, pivoting seamlessly to a joke. “Use that. Take advantage of that. Now is the perfect time to exploit your parents’ guilt, to emotionally blackmail them. They might even let you live in their basement for an extra six months.”

The art of listening

Carell led the graduates in a mid-speech dance break to “That’s Not My Name” by Ting Tings, a move that brought great joy to the room as he danced with School of Communication Dean E. Patrick Johnson.

“I was a ‘Cherub’ in the Northwestern Summer High School Institute for Theatre, and it was there that I was first introduced to improvisation, when several Northwestern students gave us a master class. That inspired me to later move to Chicago and to pursue a career at The Second City,” he said.

The actor’s dive into improvisation as a college student is what he said taught him how to be a good listener.

“An improv scene goes nowhere unless everyone listens to one another,” Carell said. “The best way to see and understand another human being is to listen to them. To listen is to show respect.”

Carell concluded his speech by wishing all the dads in the crowd a Happy Father’s Day and sharing a few final thoughts to send the graduates on their way, reminding them it’s always worth it to be a good, considerate person.

“Don’t use chat GPT for personal emails. That’s just sad,” he teased. “Hold the door for people regardless of gender, age or political affiliation. Just dance sometimes and, lastly, you’ll never regret maintaining relationships with the people who went through such a defining experience with you. Keep in touch.”

Bryana Barry, graduate student speaker, echoed Carell’s sentiments.

“As we step into the next season of our lives, let’s carry this context with us,” she said. “Let’s stay connected to the people who shaped our time here, and let’s give second chances to the connections we might have missed. Wherever we go, let’s show our purple pride and honor the experiences and the people who brought us to this moment.”

Cheers for honorary degree recipients and exceptional teachers

Along with Carell, three distinguished individuals received honorary degrees from Northwestern at the ceremony: poet Toi Derricotte, Admiral (Ret.) Lisa Franchetti ’85, and pathbreaking biochemist and cell biologist Marc Kirschner ’66.

The University also bestowed honors upon four high school teachers who inspired graduating seniors and had a lasting impact on their lives with the Northwestern Schapiro Award. The award — formerly known as the Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Award — recognizes teachers from around the world who were nominated by members of the graduating class.