I have a close friend in the speaking profession who has an amazing personal story of overcoming obstacles, achieving high levels of success and living with resilience. He is a powerful communicator with an important message.

A well-known college contacted him about potentially speaking at the commencement for their education department. These were future teachers about to embark on careers shaping the lives of students. 

I believe he would have been a terrific fit, providing an uplifting message and ideas that would serve them well as they faced the inevitable challenges and opportunities ahead.

He was later contacted by the university. The graduates had decided on a different speaker.

A humanitarian or leader in the public sector? Or perhaps a distinguished educator?

No. They had chosen Snooki, notorious and badly behaved reality celebrity of The Jersey Shore.

Entertainment and celebrity trumped education or enrichment. And the selection decision was made by the ostensibly educated.

On the off chance your child gets a freshly minted teacher at his or her school next year, ask the teacher who spoke at graduation.