Every year, the lineup of commencement address speakers seems to run the gamut of political and industry leaders to fan favorite comics and pop culture icons.
A new poll from Fluent, a marketing agency geared toward the millennial generation, suggests that is exactly what those graduates walking the stage want.
According to USA Today, Fluent gave more than 60,000 students a ballot with 50 speakers on it and asked them to vote on who they would like to give their commencement address. 25 were real people and 25 were fictional characters.
The real-life speakers accurately reflect some of this spring's most talked-about speakers, especially since multiple names on the list actually have given - or are going to give - commencement addresses. Some have even given more than one.
As for the list of fictional characters, the list also reflects its partner. It has industry leaders (Tony Stark, Olivia Pope), political figures (Frank Underwood), funny people (Michael Scott, Barney Stinson) and inspirational figures (Harry Potter, Forrest Gump, Katniss Everdeen).
The top 10 in each category are as follows:
Prospective speakers who actually exist
1. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Barack Obama
3. Bill Gates
4. Tina Fey
5. Jimmy Fallon
6. Oprah Winfrey
7. Stephen Colbert
8. Beyoncé
9. Will Ferrell
10. Elon Musk
The speakers who could only show up if the actor was down for it
1. Iron Man/Tony Stark
2. Harry Potter
3. Olivia Pope
4. Yoda - hologram/robot, anyone? MIT or CalTech could make it happen.
5. Michael Scott
6. Forrest Gump
7. Frank Underwood
8. Ron Burgundy
9. Barney Stinson
10. Katniss Everdeen
