Announcement of Pitzer College 2025 Commencement Keynote Speaker

Dear Pitzer Community,

I am pleased to announce that Shaquem Griffin, who made history as the NFL’s first one-handed player and who now seeks to inspire others to overcome adversity, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2025 at this spring’s Commencement ceremony on May 17. Following Pitzer's long-standing tradition of graduating students making the selection, the senior class chose him as the commencement speaker.

As a child Shaquem experienced a rare condition called amniotic band syndrome, and his left hand had to be amputated. Shaquem’s family offered him unwavering support on his path to become a professional football player. Shaquem was a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks and played for the Miami Dolphins before retiring from the NFL in 2022.

Shaquem shows that becoming a history maker requires more than a dream—it requires persistence and resilience. He has unrelentingly lived out his belief that nothing worth having comes without fighting for it. Pitzer College resonates with Shaquem’s mission of social advocacy, and we are honored to invite him to campus this spring to share his message of inclusion and building bridges.

Shaquem’s story has been told in an Emmy award-winning NFL short film, NFL 360: I am Shaquem Griffin. He also partnered with his twin brother and fellow NFL player Shaquill Griffin and New York Times-bestselling author Mark Schlabach to write the biography Inseparable: How Family and Sacrifice Forged a Path to the NFL.

Shaquem’s collegiate honors include his selection as first-team All-American Athletic Conference linebacker, AAC Defensive Player of the Year, National Champion and Peach Bowl MVP. He is also the winner of the NFL Game Changer and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Awards for his remarkable leadership, integrity, and sportsmanship.

I look forward to hearing more of Shaquem’s story of how a strong belief in oneself combined with tangible community support can change the game. See you there!

Provida Futuri,

Strom C. Thacker
President