Sen. Ted Cruz is scheduled to speak at Hillsdale College’s commencement ceremony on May 11, the college announced on March 8.
Cruz is a first-term senator from Texas whose rise to prominence in the Republican party has been both swift and definitive. He holds a position on the Armed Services Committee, among other Senate committees, and recently received national attention for his involvement in Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearing.
“He seems like a very eloquent, well-spoken kind of guy who understands our country and understands a lot of the principles that we hold dear at Hillsdale,” said Hannah Akin, vice president of the senior class.
Cruz, 41, was born in Canada to a Cuban father and Delaware native mother. He attended high school in Texas and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and his law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
During his time at Princeton, he competed for the American Whig-Cliosophic Society’s Debate Panel, a political, literary, and debating society. He received multiple recognitions for his work in the society.
Academia behind him, Cruz embarked on what became an illustrious law career, which includes clerking for Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, five years of private-practice in Houston, and appointment to the position of solicitor general in Texas. Cruz was the country’s youngest and longest serving solicitor general.
In 2011, Cruz joined the race for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat, pitting himself for the Republican nomination against heavily-favored establishment candidate Texas Lieutenant General David Dewhurst.
Despite being outspent more than two to one, Cruz defeated Dewhurst for the party’s nomination, thanks in large part to a grassroots movement and backing from conservative publications such as National Review. Cruz went on to win the Senate seat easily in the general race, defeating his Democrat opponent by a 16-point margin.
“I understand Sen. Cruz to be a man of strong character, keen mind, and high ability engaged in principled public service,” Provost David Whalen said. “I’ve not heard him speak, but I trust his address will reflect these virtues admirably.”
Cruz’s selection as the senior class commencement speaker is the end of process that began at the beginning of fall semester.
Seniors submitted letters of recommendation for their preferred speaker to the senior class officers. The officers then discussed the nominees, narrowed the list, and presented it to a committee of college faculty, including College President Larry Arnn, who had the final decision.
Senior Class President Lauren Grover said the speakers were considered based on four categories: whether they fit the mission of the college, their ability to give a speech, their celebrity status, and their academic credentials.
For students dubious about a politician delivering their commencement address, Akin insisted that Cruz is not simply “a political guy harping a political thing.”
“His politics grow out of his philosophy on life, which I think is super important,” Akin said. “And his philosophy on life I think matches up with the college’s.”
– Kelsey Drapkin contributed to this report.
