---
title: A Commencement Speech Fit for a King
date: 2023-05-23T16:00:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-commencement-speech-fit-for-a-king"
section: Articles
---
# A Commencement Speech Fit for a King

*May 23, 2023* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> News Anchor Gayle King ’76 Recalls Life, Love and Ledo on First Return to Campus

*Gayle King Commencement 05222023 SC 9048 1920x1080 — Gayle King ’76 revisited her dorm room in La Plata Hall on Monday. The “CBS Mornings” anchor returned to campus to deliver the keynote speech at the main commencement ceremony, and took some time before the event to visit some of her College Park stomping grounds. She rubbed Testudo’s nose for luck delivering her speech, and stopped to chat with Cameron Andrews ’23, who she later gave a shout out to in her address (below).*

Looking for encouragement in writing her first commencement speech—and at her alma mater—“CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King ’76 turned to fellow Terp Larry David ’70 for advice. And when the famously cranky comedian failed to deliver, she tried a more reliable source for inspiration: Testudo.

King rubbed his nose yesterday during a tour of old College Park haunts and the University of Maryland campus before delivering the 2023 Commencement address to an audience of thousands at SECU Stadium.


*Gayle King rubs Testudo statue's nose*


*Gayle King talks to a student, who is wearing graduation regalia*



**Sidebar note:**

Watch UMD's [full 2023 commencement ceremony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZiLLoEDsF0), which was livestreamed on YouTube. Gayle King’s remarks begin at [1 hour and 55 minutes](https://www.youtube.com/live/HZiLLoEDsF0?feature=share&t=6933).





**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Journalism](https://today.umd.edu/topic/journalism), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences)