Renowned author, playwright, actress and poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou will deliver the 2008 Cornell Convocation address to graduating seniors Saturday, May 24, at noon in Schoellkopf Stadium.

Angelou, who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and is the recipient of more than 30 honorary degrees, authored the best-selling autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Bantam, 1970), as well as 11 other books. In 1993, she became the second poet in U.S. history to have the honor of writing and reciting original work at a presidential inauguration.

The event is open to the public unless the weather is inclement and the event moves into Barton Hall, in which case tickets will be required due to limited seating. These tickets have already been mailed to graduating Cornell seniors, and there will be none available to the public.