You didn’t make it to North Carolina, Louisiana or Colorado? Not to worry. We’ve gathered here a few of the nation’s most notable commencement speeches of 2008.

DUKE UNIVERSITY, MAY 11

Barbara Kingsolver: "The best I can think to tell them is quit smoking and observe posted speed limits."

TULANE UNIVERSITY, MAY 17

James Carville: "The first thing you taught me is … the age of cynicism is dead. You drove a stake right through the heart of it."

Carville was introduced by his wife, Mary Matalin: "The political process is the premier vehicle for solving problems and forging progress."

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, MAY 18

Craig Newmark: "There are crazy people out there … but, you know, you gotta’ deal with them."

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, MAY 25

Barack Obama filling in for Ted Kennedy: “I’d like to start by passing along a message from Ted: ‘To all those praying for my return to good health, I offer my heartfelt thanks. And to any who’d rather have a different result, I say, don’t get your hopes up just yet!’”

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, MAY 28

George W. Bush: "You now leave this academy to take your place in this great struggle."

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, May 30, 2008

Will Shortz: "Figure out what you enjoy most in life and then go after it."

Part I

Part II

Click here to read "Class of 2008 Facing Perils of the 1930s PLUS Terrorism, Possible Nuclear Annihilation."