On June 4, U.S. Senator Cory Booker will deliver the Class Day address at Princeton University. Held the day before Commencement on historic Cannon Green, Class Day is being organized by members of the graduating class and is one of Princeton’s oldest traditions.

The ceremony also includes remarks by class members, the recognition of seniors for their accomplishments, and the induction of honorary class members. “Sen. Cory Booker leads a life of incredible public service,” said Class Day Co-chair Miranda Rosen. “A strong advocate for bipartisanship, Sen. Booker consistently serves his constituents and the nation with integrity, honesty, and strength. Sen. Booker greatly embodies Princeton’s motto, ‘in the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity,’ and I am thrilled he is our Class Day speaker.”

“Sen. Booker’s journey is a reminder to all of us to engage the tough issues, to ask the difficult questions, and to remain curious about how our actions impact the world around us,” said Class Day Co-chair Arianna Brown. “His refusal to accept the criminal justice system as it is and his willingness to
engage in reform demonstrates his commitment to those in need.”

Booker was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Harrington Park, New Jersey, and attended Northern Valley Regional High School. He graduated from Stanford University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and earned a Master of Arts in sociology the following year. Booker was a tight end on Stanford’s football team, making the Pac-10 All-Academic team, and served as the class president his senior year. A Rhodes Scholar, Booker studied United States history at the University of Oxford. He received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1997.

Booker was elected mayor of Newark, in 2006 after serving on the City Council and working with various nonprofit organizations within the city. In 2013, he announced his candidacy for and was elected as a U.S. Sen. for New Jersey. In that role, he sits on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The Class Day ceremony will begin with a class procession at 10 a.m., with the ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m., unless severe weather necessitates a move into the University Chapel. It is a ticketed event for seniors and their four invited guests, with unticketed simulcast locations available at various sites around campus. The program will also be available for viewing via the University homepage.