This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

May and June are the months whenmost American high schools and colleges hold their graduationceremonies. Elementary and middle schools also hold ceremonies forchildren finishing those levels of education.

And much older people may be completing their education, too. Menand women in their seventies and eighties receive high schooldiplomas or college degrees. Last year, in California, a high schoolin San Francisco awarded an honorary diploma to a woman ninety-sevenyears old.

Traditionally at graduation ceremonies, the students wear darkcolored caps and gowns over their clothing. Most graduations includespeakers. Schools often invite famous guests or former students whobecame highly successful. Or both.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the Supreme Court spoke atStanford University in California. That was where she went tocollege.

Universities often want speakers who can comment on world events.Vice President Dick Cheney spoke at Florida State University lastmonth. President Bush spoke at three graduations this year. He spokeat Concordia University in Wisconsin and Louisiana State University.He also spoke at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Well-known reporters often speak at graduations. For example, TedKoppel spoke at the University of California, Berkeley, last month.He has a nightly news program on national television.

Entertainers are also popular choices for graduation speakers.One very busy speaker this year is the actor and comedian BillCosby. He spoke at the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts andat Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. He also spoke at TempleUniversity, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bill Cosby has spoken atTemple University many times. That is where he went to college.

Bono was also in Philadelphia. Thesinger from the Irish rock band U2 spoke last month at graduationceremonies at the University of Pennsylvania. University officialspraised Bono for using his popularity to help developing nations andfight against AIDS. He also received an honorary doctorate degree.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Steve Ember.