This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/us/cuttyhunk-jenny-slate-graduation-speech.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jenny Slate Will Give a Graduation Speech to a Class of One | Jenny Slate Will Give a Graduation Speech to a Class of One |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| On Cuttyhunk Island, a tiny place just off Cape Cod, the only graduating eighth grader, Gwen Lynch, is the talk of the town. | On Cuttyhunk Island, a tiny place just off Cape Cod, the only graduating eighth grader, Gwen Lynch, is the talk of the town. |
| Gwen’s graduation ceremony from Cuttyhunk Elementary on June 17 will include a speech by a celebrity: Jenny Slate, best known for her role on “Parks and Recreation” and as the voice of “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” | |
| That’s right. Ms. Slate will be addressing a class of one. | That’s right. Ms. Slate will be addressing a class of one. |
| This won’t be the first time that has happened on the island. Last year, when Gwen’s older brother, Carter, graduated, the commencement speaker was Cady Coleman, a retired astronaut. | This won’t be the first time that has happened on the island. Last year, when Gwen’s older brother, Carter, graduated, the commencement speaker was Cady Coleman, a retired astronaut. |
| Cuttyhunk Island, which is 2.5 miles long and west of Martha’s Vineyard, has a year-round population of about a dozen. But that number swells in the summer with vacationers. | Cuttyhunk Island, which is 2.5 miles long and west of Martha’s Vineyard, has a year-round population of about a dozen. But that number swells in the summer with vacationers. |
| “It’s awesome. I’m so excited!” Gwen, who is 13, said by phone Tuesday. | “It’s awesome. I’m so excited!” Gwen, who is 13, said by phone Tuesday. |
| She is not just the only graduate this year. She is the last student enrolled for the time being at the island’s one-room schoolhouse, built in 1873. | She is not just the only graduate this year. She is the last student enrolled for the time being at the island’s one-room schoolhouse, built in 1873. |
| Before the actress signed on for the job, Gwen sent letters to Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey asking if they would deliver remarks. | Before the actress signed on for the job, Gwen sent letters to Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey asking if they would deliver remarks. |
| However, word soon came down that the speaker would be Ms. Slate, who is best known for playing Mona-Lisa Saperstein in 10 episodes of the NBC sitcom. (Her character’s catchphrase was “Money, please!”) | However, word soon came down that the speaker would be Ms. Slate, who is best known for playing Mona-Lisa Saperstein in 10 episodes of the NBC sitcom. (Her character’s catchphrase was “Money, please!”) |
| “At first I was a little confused,” Gwen said. “I couldn’t put a name to a face. And then I looked her up, and I was like ‘Oh my God! This lady’s actually coming to talk to me.’ I was kind of blown away.” | “At first I was a little confused,” Gwen said. “I couldn’t put a name to a face. And then I looked her up, and I was like ‘Oh my God! This lady’s actually coming to talk to me.’ I was kind of blown away.” |
| Last year’s speaker was secured by a former Social Security Administration commissioner, Michael Astrue, who lives on the island a third of the year. In January, he agreed to search for another notable name. The stakes were high, he said. | Last year’s speaker was secured by a former Social Security Administration commissioner, Michael Astrue, who lives on the island a third of the year. In January, he agreed to search for another notable name. The stakes were high, he said. |
| “I’ve sort of become the speaker-getter,” Mr. Astrue said Tuesday. “It’s hard because they don’t pay anything. It’s hard to get to, and there’s only one student.” The island can be reached only by boat or plane. | “I’ve sort of become the speaker-getter,” Mr. Astrue said Tuesday. “It’s hard because they don’t pay anything. It’s hard to get to, and there’s only one student.” The island can be reached only by boat or plane. |
| After some reflection, Mr. Astrue remembered he knew Ms. Slate’s father, Ron Slate, a poet, and sent him an email. | After some reflection, Mr. Astrue remembered he knew Ms. Slate’s father, Ron Slate, a poet, and sent him an email. |
| Ms. Slate feels honored to be chosen. “I felt some pressure here,” she said Wednesday, “For some reason I just felt like: ‘Oh my God. This is really intense. This is really important. Are you sure they want me?’” | Ms. Slate feels honored to be chosen. “I felt some pressure here,” she said Wednesday, “For some reason I just felt like: ‘Oh my God. This is really intense. This is really important. Are you sure they want me?’” |
| The actress grew up in Massachusetts and shares a connection to the island. Her boyfriend, Ben Shattuck, runs the Cuttyhunk Island Writers’ Residency. | The actress grew up in Massachusetts and shares a connection to the island. Her boyfriend, Ben Shattuck, runs the Cuttyhunk Island Writers’ Residency. |
| In the last few days, she and the graduate have bonded over email and in person. | In the last few days, she and the graduate have bonded over email and in person. |
| “It was really important to me to try to get to know her a little bit,” Ms. Slate said of Gwen, “so I could say something to her that’s more than a cliché” or a “directive coming from an adult who’s a stranger.” She added, “I wanted to try to at least be her companion a little bit in this.” | “It was really important to me to try to get to know her a little bit,” Ms. Slate said of Gwen, “so I could say something to her that’s more than a cliché” or a “directive coming from an adult who’s a stranger.” She added, “I wanted to try to at least be her companion a little bit in this.” |
| The comedian has given commencement speeches before. “You want to say something worthwhile to these very, very young adults who are going into the world,” she said. “But to give a full graduation speech to one girl, one young woman, it’s an honor and something I take really seriously.” | The comedian has given commencement speeches before. “You want to say something worthwhile to these very, very young adults who are going into the world,” she said. “But to give a full graduation speech to one girl, one young woman, it’s an honor and something I take really seriously.” |
| Gwen, who dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer and is a big fan of the pop-punk band Panic! at the Disco, is also prepping a speech of her own. | Gwen, who dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer and is a big fan of the pop-punk band Panic! at the Disco, is also prepping a speech of her own. |
| “I’m kind of talking about how I grew up here and how the years have been and everything,” she said. “How my schooling has changed over the years. Just like a big thank you to everyone who’s been here to support me.” | “I’m kind of talking about how I grew up here and how the years have been and everything,” she said. “How my schooling has changed over the years. Just like a big thank you to everyone who’s been here to support me.” |
| The pair won’t be alone, of course. This year’s ceremony is expected to draw close to 100 people and will end with a community potluck. | The pair won’t be alone, of course. This year’s ceremony is expected to draw close to 100 people and will end with a community potluck. |
| In September, Gwen will leave the island to attend the Tilton School, a private boarding school in New Hampshire. | In September, Gwen will leave the island to attend the Tilton School, a private boarding school in New Hampshire. |
| Ms. Slate offered some words of advice about that next chapter. | Ms. Slate offered some words of advice about that next chapter. |
| “Her confidence is something that I hope she continues to shine out with brightly,” she said. “And she’s really one of those rare people that you say, ‘Man, I hope you really go out there and grow, but I hope essentially that you don’t change. Because you are already firmly, firmly, in your own success story just by being who you are.’” | “Her confidence is something that I hope she continues to shine out with brightly,” she said. “And she’s really one of those rare people that you say, ‘Man, I hope you really go out there and grow, but I hope essentially that you don’t change. Because you are already firmly, firmly, in your own success story just by being who you are.’” |