Jo Koy, of course, brought the funny. The stand-up comedian drew laughs as he delivered the keynote speech at the Cal State LA Commencement ceremony shared by the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Natural and Social Sciences at the historic Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday, May 21.
He also brought words of inspiration.
“It’s not easy getting to where you want to go,” Koy said. “It takes a lot of hard work, it takes a lot of sacrifice. It takes a lot of falling flat on your face, and that’s when you find out who you really are. That’s when you build the grit, the heart, and the strength to keep pushing.”
Cal State LA conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts on Koy, who has built a strong global following with his success in the international comedy scene. He is known for his relatable humor inspired by a Filipino American upbringing.
More than 5,500 students participated in Cal State LA’s nine college-based Commencement ceremonies from Monday, May 19, to Wednesday, May 21. Graduating students were automatically assigned to a ceremony based on their college, department, and major.
Koy told the graduating students of his ceremony that his mother’s dream—one shared by other Filipino moms for their children—was for him to become a nurse. He had other ideas.
“I was dreaming about being a comedian,” he said. “I was in love with it. My path wasn’t a traditional path. You guys sit in classrooms, and study for your finals, and pull all-nighters writing papers. My schools were bad nightclubs that did comedy on Tuesdays, and I would go anywhere that would give me five minutes. That was my school.”
Koy related the story of his first time on the stage, when he bombed and lost his confidence, only to be propped up by a fellow performer who impersonated singer Lionel Richie.
“He looked at me and says, ‘Hey, man, I don’t know what it was, but I like watching you. You were good. Don’t stop,’” Koy said.
The comic warned the students that they too might face disappointments and setbacks in pursuit of their own passions, and he then urged them to persevere through the challenging times, just as the impersonator had done for him decades ago.
“No matter how many times you bomb, it doesn’t matter,” Koy said. “Just don’t give up. Keep showing up, keep believing in yourself because you don’t need everyone to believe in you. Just you. Believe in you. And if there’s a Lionel Richie impersonator that likes you too, that’s also good.”
Koy had one more piece of advice: Don’t mess with President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, who shared her own inspirational story of perseverance at the beginning of the ceremony.
“She’s the president,” Koy said. “She can take all your diplomas away today. Today. So don’t mess up. Don’t side-eye her. Don’t do any of that. She’s got the power.”
Koy consistently ranks among the top 10 highest-grossing comedians, selling out such venues as the Kia Forum, Madison Square Garden, and the Mall of Asia Arena. His hit Netflix specials—including Live from Brooklyn, Comin’ In Hot, and Jo Koy: In His Elements—have earned international critical acclaim.
In 2022, he starred in Easter Sunday, the first major studio film to feature a predominantly Filipino cast. Offstage, Koy has championed Filipino representation as executive producer of the documentary Nurse Unseen and Broadway’s Here Lies Love. He also authored the bestselling memoir Mixed Plate and is currently on his Jo Koy: Just Being Koy tour.
“Jo Koy is a self-made Filipino American superstar in entertainment whose contributions to comedy and support for Filipino American artists have made a significant impact,” said Jose Antonio Vargas who along with fellow California State University Trustee Wenda Fong hooded Koy during the ceremony.
In addition to Koy, Cal State LA also bestowed honorary degrees on biotech leader and philanthropist Kevin Xu and actor and comedian Ken Jeong in separate ceremonies on May 20. Xu received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and Jeong an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.
The Class of 2025 consisted of 6,501 students, with 5,255 receiving bachelor’s degrees, 1,215 master’s degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
