A commencement address is a speech given during a graduation ceremony, typically given by a pillar of the community, or other influental individual.

In 2064, Zefram Cochrane gave the commencement address at Princeton University, discussing what really happened regarding the flight of the Phoenix. In 2153, Jonathan Archer recalled the address, and after some searching in the Starfleet database discovered a copy of it, in his attempt to uncover the origins of mysterious ship debris discovered at Earth's Arctic Circle. (ENT: "Regeneration")

In 2368, Jean-Luc Picard was given the duty of delivering that year's commencement address at Starfleet Academy. (TNG: "The First Duty")