Jenny Slate will give a graduation speech to a class of 1

The former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael Astrue, ensured the safety of last year's lecturer and lives on the island a third of the year. In January, he agreed to look for another notable name. The stakes were high, he said.

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"I have become the spokesperson," Astrue said on Tuesday. "It's difficult because they do not pay anything. It is difficult to go and there is only one student. The island can only be reached by boat or plane.

Upon reflection, Mr. Astrue recalled that he knew Mrs. 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 felt like," Oh, my God. It's really intense. It's really important. Are you sure they want me?

The actress grew up in Massachusetts and shares a connection with the island. Her boyfriend, Ben Shattuck, runs the writers' residence on Cuttyhunk Island.

In recent days, she and the graduate have established links by email and in person.

"It was really important for me to try to get to know her a little bit," said Slate about Gwen, "so that I can tell her something that is more than a cliché" or "a directive from of a foreign adult. She added, "I wanted to try to at least be a little companion in this area. "

The actor has already delivered opening speeches. "You want to say something interesting to these very very young adults who are going into the world," she said. "But giving a graduation speech to a girl, a young woman, is an honor and it's something I take very seriously."