Jennifer Lopez presided this week over a graduation ceremony of a different sort: Students at PS 37 loved to rock out to J-Lo's hit "Let's Get Loud," so their teachers taught them the lyrics and all the dance moves from the video. After they wrote to J-Lo asking for an autograph, they got a visit from the Bronx-born singer herself, who spoke to students at their 4th-grade graduation.

Potential benefit to visiting an elementary school? No need to prepare a long speech: Those attention spans are too short! And she probably didn't have to wear any silly robes, although given that Lopez gave birth to twins very recently, she may have craved the camouflage.

After her appearance at PS 37, she and those twins, along with husband Marc Anthony, hopped a private plane to Belgium for a little family time.

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· J-Lo Visits Elementary School Graduation [AP, via Yahoo]
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· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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By her own admission, she left school one credit short and didn't finish for 22 years, but Oprah Winfrey was deemed more than qualified to address graduating students at Stanford University yesterday. Winfrey told the grads to find what makes them happiest, but the media mogul had something to celebrate: Her goddaughter Kirby Bumpus, daughter of BFF Gayle King, was among the Stanford Class of 08 and got a special shout out:

After four years, I finally get to see her room. Love you, Kirbycakes.

The talk show host did not repeat her one-time stunt of giving a car to everyone in the audience, but she did leave the grads two of her favorite books to read--and neither of them was Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Oprah and long-time man friend Stedman Graham later took a walk on campus (with her security detail), quietly observing a number of the festivities including the American Studies and Religious Studies department ceremony.

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· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Commencement Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> egw 2008-06-16T10:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/6/104722/8180

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling donned the proud crimson robes as she picked up an honorary degree after her recent speech at Harvard.

Rowling joked before reflecting on her own graduation and journey from single mum to publishing-industry savior:

All I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners and fool myself into believing I am at the world's best-educated Harry Potter convention.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke also spoke during the commencement activities in Cambridge, which: No fair! Save some celebs for other schools!

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· Commencement Travel: That's Doctor Silver Hammer to You [Jaunted]
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Former Beatle and recent divorcé Paul McCartney just got an honorary degree from Yale University. Those robes just make everyone look better!

And there's no rest for the other weary stars working the commencement circuit. Harvard has invited Harry Potter author JK Rowling. After last year's backlash about "Lost" actor and alum Matthew Fox, Columbia University went the straight-and-narrow and picked New York City school superintendent Joel Klein--only to see sister school Barnard College nab Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

President Bush is doing double duty this weekend at the US Air Force Academy and Furman University in Georgia, and tiny Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois continued its tradition of getting high-wattage speakers by snagging Madeline Albright. (Both Bill Clinton and Stephen Colbert have spoken there in recent years.)

If you want to chase down your favorite star, USA Today has a great list. Stay tuned for our report from Planet Oprah in June!

Related Stories:
· Students Are Getting a Say in Commencement Speakers [USA Today]
· Putting the Hard Day's Night Hotel into Context [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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