BBC and Others Cover Wellesley’s Commencement and Special Guest Oprah Winfrey

Viewers around the globe got a glimpse of how Wellesley College celebrates Commencement through outlets including the BBC that attended the ceremony. Special guest Oprah Winfrey, who was on hand to cheer on a student from her Leadership Academy, added to the day's excitement.

The BBC coverage, which aired nationally and internationally, noted Wellesley is the alma mater of Hillary Rodham Clinton '69 and featured students talking about presidential politics as well as footage from various segments of the ceremony. BBC World Service Radio also broadcast a segment on the Commencement. The Class of 2016, and those gathered to celebrate them, sang "America the Beautiful," and the correspondent ended his report with the question, "[W]hen Hillary Clinton makes her next visit to her alma mater, will the band be playing 'Hail to the Chief?'"

On the web, Time magazine ran the speech by Commencement Speaker Lulu Chow Wang '66 on their website Motto where Wang is in good company. Others speakers the site include: President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Jane Goodall, Michael Bloomberg, Condoleezza Rice, Sheryl Sandberg, Steven Spielberg, and Madeleine Albright '59.

A film crew from CNN's documentary film division also attended. The crew is working on a documentary, scheduled to air sometime later this summer, on Clinton’s historic run for the presidency. While on campus they also interviewed Alan Schechter, professor emeritus of political science and Clinton's mentor during her years here, and toured campus to film spots important to Clinton.

The Boston Globe "Names" column noted Winfrey's attendance and called speaker Lulu Chow Wang "among the most influential women in the world of investing and philanthropy." The Globe also ran a round-up of tweets from the day that featured audience members reacting to Winfrey’s presence.

On Thursday, the day before graduation, Wang took part in a special event with seniors at the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center, affectionately known on campus as simply "The Lulu." Playfully dubbed "Lulu at the Lulu," the event gave the Class of 2016 a chance to meet Wang in person and snap a selfie with her. Seniors lined up for more than an hour to get their photo taken. The Swellesley Report covered the event, and Wellesley Media filmed it.

See photos from the day, and learn more about this year's speaker Lulu Chow Wang '66.