Oscar Winner Marlee Matlin speaks at Marquette graduation

Marlee Matlin was the featured commencement speaker for Marquette's Class of 2023 this morning.

image: Variety video

Her son, Brandon Grandalski, was among the graduates. Matlin gave her entire speech in ASL with interpreter Jack Jason translating to spoken English. She told students:

“The life waiting for you after you leave Marquette is still a classroom. What you began here continues out there. The language we use, American Sign Language, is more wonderous than any spoken language. It is a means of communication that goes beyond the spoken word to convey time, place and emotion; oftentimes simultaneously.I am a proud member of a vibrant deaf culture. The language we use, American Sign Language, is more wonderous than any spoken language. It is a means of communication that goes beyond the spoken word to convey time, place and emotion; oftentimes simultaneously.”

TMJ4 News in Milwaukee has a video report filed before the event.