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Glen Powell to Deliver Keynote Address at UT Moody College Graduation

The rising star will share the lessons he’s learned throughout his career with graduating University of Texas students on May 5

Top Gun: Maverick star and Austin native Glen Powell will deliver the keynote address at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication Graduation Ceremony in May.

Powell enrolled at UT in 2008 to study Radio-Television-Film before moving to California to pursue a career in acting and filmmaking. He has since appeared in movies like Hidden Figures, Set It Up and Devotion, as well as television shows like Scream Queens and NCIS, but he is arguably best-known for his role as “Hangman” in the worldwide phenomenon of Top Gun: Maverick, which was released in May 2022.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Glen Powell to our Graduation Ceremony to share his incredible story with our Moody College graduates,” says Moody College Dean Jay Bernhardt. “His hard work, persistence and devotion to craft will inspire our graduates as they start their next chapters.”

Powell has worked with a number of fellow local heroes, including University of Texas alum Robert Rodriguez and Austin-based, Academy Award-nominated director Richard Linklater. In fact, Powell’s first film role came in Rodriguez’s Spy Kids 3: Game Over. Additionally, Powell has frequently collaborated with Linklater on titles such as Everybody Wants Some!!, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood and Hitman, a yet-to-be-released movie that Powell co-wrote and produced.

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The star appeared on the cover of Tribeza in December 2022, sharing the inspiration behind his recent projects, his passion for Longhorn football and his longstanding love for his hometown of Austin.

“I spend a lot of time in Austin,” Powell shared with Tribeza. “I don’t let Austin get too far away from my heart. I always want to be drinking the Austin water, being a part of Austin culture and being around Austin people.”

Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) and Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) in “Devotion.”

Another accomplishment to add to Powell’s résumé — licensed pilot. After his extensive training for Top Gun and Devotion, the Texan finished flight training with the support of Tom Cruise himself.

Thanks to his many achievements and deep commitment to his passions, Powell will surely inspire Moody College graduates when they hear from him at the college’s graduation exercises, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at the Moody Center.

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