Kermit the Frog to deliver commencement address at the University of Maryland graduation

COLLEGE PARK Md AP Kermit the Frog knows it s not easy being green or graduating from college and entering the real world especially during a time of economic uncertainty and political turmoil Members of the University of Maryland s class of will receive their diplomas Thursday evening with sage advice from the amphibious Muppet ringing in their ears The university disclosed in March that Kermit who was created in and became the centerpiece of the Muppets franchise would be this year s commencement speaker He s also no stranger to the school Muppets creator Jim Henson graduated from Maryland in A home economics major he fashioned the original frog puppet from one of his mother s coats and a ping-pong ball cut in half according to a comment from the university Henson died in Related Articles US filings for jobless aid a proxy for layoffs inch down modestly last week as uncertainty lingers Small plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood setting homes and vehicles on fire Rapper Kid Cudi is set to testify at the Sean Diddy Combs trial Here s what we know about the DC shooting where staff members of the Israeli Embassy were killed Trump s big tax bill has passed the House Here s what s inside it A bronze statue of Henson and Kermit sitting on a bench is a well-known feature of the College Park campus In a video announcing the speaker pick Kermit is described as an environmental advocate a best-selling author an international superstar and a champion of creativity kindness and believing in the impossible His speaker bio calls him a star of stage screen and swamp whose simple mission is to sing and dance and make people happy I am thrilled that our graduates and their families will experience the optimism and insight of the world-renowned Kermit the Frog at such a meaningful time in their lives university President Darryll J Pines commented in a message The declaration also quoted the beloved frog himself Nothing could make these feet happier than to speak at the University of Maryland I just know the class of is going to leap into the world and make it a better place so if a sparse encouraging words from a frog can help then I ll be there