Skip to Main Content
The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon

The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon

The student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Rubicon

senior speech advisors. Among many changes this year, seniors are able to discuss their ideas and writing with fellow cohort members, which is meant to create a stronger network and provide support from classmates.

The Class of ’24 will deliver shorter speeches written with cohort support

Eliza Farley, The Rubicon October 1, 2023
See the thought process behinds the changes to senior speeches.
MY UNCLE. Audrey Senaratna gets emotional while telling the tragic and unjust story of her uncle’s passing. She wanted to remember him happily and allow him to be the main character of his story. “I am lucky to have had an uncle like Eric Rivers,” she said.

First day of speeches bring senior voice to the stage

Thomas Chen, RubicOnline September 24, 2023
The first four speakers of the year took the stage Friday. Check out how it all went down.
HUSS SPEECHES This year's senior speeches take place in the Huss auditorium, all seniors must complete their speech to graduate.

The senior speech: a decades-old tradition, but unique each year

Ivy Raya, RubicOnline April 4, 2023
As the Class of 2023 presents their last few weeks of speeches, seniors, advisers, and alumni/ae look back at what has been in past years.
The current senior speech guidelines limit certain language and references to make speeches appropriate for the broader community. Some seniors have had their speeches modified to meet these guidelines.

The current senior speech guidelines are fair in most situations

Sonia Kharbanda, Staff Writer February 25, 2023
With all the recent talk about "censorship" from the senior speech stage it's a good time to look at the reasons for edits.
A MOMENT TO REMEMBER. Every senior shares this expansive view into Huss as they give their senior speech.

Changes to senior speech format benefit community

Tommy Verhey, Director of RubicOnline October 7, 2022
Continuing changes to the format of senior speeches show promise for the future of the program experience.
Senior Tommy Verhey gives an update on this week’s current events.

[60 SECOND NEWS] Hurricane Ian rampages Florida, measles on campus, fall sports playoffs begin

Tommy Verhey, Director of RubicOnline October 5, 2022
Senior Tommy Verhey gives an update on this week’s current events.
Students may feel anxious about the quality of their speech by the audience's reaction.

Standing ovations should not define the quality of speeches

Hazel Waltenbaugh, The Rubicon October 27, 2021
While it’s important to have compassion for these speakers, we shouldn’t justify their hardships over others.
The upper school gathers in the Huss auditorium before a senior speech assembly. There are usually four senior speakers per assembly, which happens once or twice a week.

Draft-by-draft preparation goes into senior speeches

Hazel Waltenbaugh, The Rubicon October 26, 2021
Senior speech advisor Andrew Inchiosa and members of the class of 2022 reflect on how they turn their ideas, beliefs, and experiences into meaningful speeches.
Senior Sophie Cullen delivers her speech in the Huss Center Auditorium. As she is among the few first speakers of the year, Cullen was determined to send an impactful message to the audience about the academic culture at SPA.

[Q&A] Sophie Cullen gives insight into the senior speech process

Zekiah Juliusson, RubicOnline October 13, 2021
Senior Sophie Cullen talks about her experiences writing her senior speech and gives advice to future speech givers.
Senior Sydney Therien holds the final copy of her senior speech.

Senior speeches begin today: here’s the first speaker’s story

Lara Cayci, RubicOnline September 13, 2019
Senior Sydney Therien explains her senior speech writing process.
Sophomores Karla Garcia and Tana Ososki introduce the songs played at each Blue & Gold Assembly.

Intercultural Club diversifies assemblies with music choice

Liv Larsen, Interactive Storytelling Team October 31, 2018
Every week, the music gurus of SPA's Intercultural Club choose songs to play at each assembly
In an issue of The Rubicon from 1987, an editorial was written from the staff about how students should direct complaints about Blue/Gold assemblies to administration and not to themselves.

Blue/Gold assemblies hold unknown significance

Mimi Geller, RubicOnline Editor April 29, 2017
With the class of 2017 being finished with speeches, taking a glimpse into the history of speeches offers insight on how they have changed.
Load More Stories