Octavia Spencer isn’t coming cheap.
The Academy Award-winning actress who will deliver the commencement address at Kent State University on May 13 will be paid $100,000.
The university also will pick up the tab for first-class airfare for two, first-class ground transportation, first-class hotel accommodations and meals.
The speaking fee and other expenses will be paid for by donors and the Kent State University Foundation, the university said.
The speaking contract, provided to the Beacon Journal, notes that Spencer, who won an Oscar for best supporting actress in 2012 for The Help and was nominated in the same category this year for Hidden Figures, will pose for photos with 25 to 30 VIPs before the ceremony.
In all, her schedule on campus covers three hours.
It’s the first year that Kent State will host a university-wide graduation ceremony and the first year it’s paying a graduation speaker. Large research universities typically pay big speakers for such events, Kent State spokesman Eric Mansfield said.
“For these ceremonies, it is common to bring in nationally recognized speakers with a powerful message that will last long after the ceremony concludes,” he said. “Octavia Spencer’s personal journey as one of seven children whose mother was a maid in Alabama, to attend and graduate from college will resonate with our graduates as they themselves accept the challenges and opportunities that await them following graduation.
“We know she will inspire the audience with a message that encourages each graduate to be their authentic selves as they set out to change the world.”
He added that the school has received positive feedback about her visit and hasn’t received any complaints about the speaking fee.
The American Program Bureau, which arranged the speaking engagement for Spencer, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The Newton, Mass., company represents speakers ranging from actor Jeffrey Tambor to NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President and CEO Cornell William Brooks.
It’s not unusual for celebrities to command big dollars to serve as graduation speakers.
The Associated Press reported that actor Matthew McConaughey was paid $166,000 in 2015 to speak at the University of Houston. Meanwhile, Katie Couric pulled in $110,000 from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 and Toni Morrison took home $30,000 from Rutgers University in 2011, the Washington Post reported.
The University of Akron traditionally has not paid for an outside speaker, with the president delivering the address. President Matthew Wilson will serve as the commencement speaker this year at UA’s six graduation ceremonies set May 12-14.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .