Jeff Bauman, Carlos Arredondo Will Give Commencement Speeches at Fisher College

Photo via Associated Press

Graduation day is months away for students in the class of 2014, but those set to get their diplomas from Fisher College already know who will conduct their commencement speech, and it promises to be a powerful one.

On Monday, the school announced that Boston Marathon victim Jeff Bauman, who lost both of his legs in the April attack, and Carlos Arredondo, “the man in the cowboy hat” credited with helping save Bauman’s life, will take center stage to address the graduating class during Fisher College’s 110th Commencement ceremony on May 10. The ceremony will be held at the John Hancock Hall in Boston. It will be the first time that the school will have two speakers for the event.

“Fisher College is located just a couple of blocks from the finish line and many of our students and faculty members were at the marathon when the bombs went off. The tragedy is personal to us as it is to all Bostonians,” said Dr. Thomas M. McGovern, president of Fisher College. “Carlos Arredondo and Jeff Bauman are true heroes and will provide our graduates with a unique and valuable message about meeting their greatest challenges and reaching their goals.”

Bauman, who has a memoir coming out, is credited with helping police identify the two alleged bombers in the aftermath of the attack. Bauman and Arredondo have made regular appearances together—since a photo of the pair rushing from the scene of the April bombing became an iconic symbol of the mayhem that day—including sitting alongside Michelle Obama during the president’s recent State of the Union address, and on the ice with the Bruins last year. They have also been invited to Fenway Park on more than one occasion, and Bauman even got to throw out the first pitch during a game.

In a statement, Arredondo said he hopes the speech will help graduates become better prepared for life.

Bauman said his mission is to “help others find their own strength to assist themselves and those less fortunate in their communities,” which he hopes will be relayed to students during the graduation ceremony.