Cal Poly graduates may recognize the voice reading their names as they cross graduation stage next week Jamieson Price, the voice actor for the infamous line “Finish him!” in the video game series Mortal Kombat, will read the names of the outgoing Mustangs.
Price’s role came as a welcome surprise for animal science senior Roberto Hernandez.
“You wouldn’t expect a video game announcer to do that,” Hernandez said.
Recently, Glendale Community College in Arizona used an AI system to announce graduates’ names. The system made multiple mistakes. Hernandez heard about that incident, along with similar stories involving AI announcers.
He was relieved to learn that no robot would be reading his name this year and instead, two professionals that care.
Price alongside announcer David Markus will join forces in reading the names of graduates as they take their turns receiving their diplomas. Markus and Price have announced names for Cal Poly Commencement for over a decade.
They understand how important the moment is for students and year after year, they take their job seriously, making sure to announce each and every name loud and proud, Price said.
“It’s a real moment of accomplishment and achievement for the students and a rite of passage in some ways,” Price said in a Cal Poly press release.
More information about commencement, including schedules, how to livestream the event and other details, can be found on Cal Poly’s commencement page.