Since 2009, Amy Poehler and fellow cast members in the NBC hit comedy Parks and Recreation have captured the hearts of millions of Americans as wildly motivated mid-level bureaucrats in the fictional Southern Indiana town of Pawnee. The series put the Hollywood spotlight back on the State of Indiana, which had received little mention in entertainment since the 1979 blockbuster film Breaking Away. The inspiring film on Indiana University Bloomington's Little 500 Race has provided a source of history and pride for the college town as Parks and Recreation has done for Southern Indiana, which mentioned Bloomington often throughout its 125-episode series. Amidst its satirical portrayal of Southern Indiana (often nicknamed "Hoosier Nation"), the series has been a long time favorite of area residents and students alike. *[SPOILER ALERT]* In the final scene of the series finale, which aired on February 24, 2015, Poehler (as Indiana Governor Leslie Knope) serves as the speaker for IU Bloomington's Commencement Address. Governor Knope, an IU Bloomington graduate from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), closes her address, as well as the series, in an appropriate showcase of her undying optimism and motivation to a room of graduates as they prepare to enter the real world. Poehler's success is similar to that of Knope's character as both women repeatedly prove that life's hurdles will never be enough to stop you from pursuing your wildest dreams. Some may question the appropriateness of having an actress address the graduating class of a prestigious university like IU. When compared to the highly-decorated speakers of past commencement ceremonies at IU Bloomington, Poehler's credentials are just as impressive. Co-founder of the Smart Girls organization for youth empowerment and recipient of countless awards and nominations, Poehler is an inspiration to many Hoosiers, including those in the world-recognized Jacobs School of Music and Department of Theatre and Drama. The creation of Smart Girls is an especially notable achievement for Poehler, as the work of her brainchild has inspired teen girls and women across the world to achieve their most sought-after aspirations. Considering the unique connection IU Bloomington has made with Amy Poehler and her Parks and Recreation character as Leslie Knope, it is only appropriate upon the series finale that IU Bloomington seek Amy Poehler as speaker for their 2016 Spring Commencement Address on Saturday, May 7, 2016. This selection would be even more fitting as the university prepares to welcome Nick Offerman for a stop on his standup tour at the IU Auditorium this spring. Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson in NBC's Parks and Recreation, will be added to a noteworthy list of celebrity guests to Bloomington as the university recently welcomed actress Meryl Streep to IU last spring. It is without a doubt that the selection of Amy Poehler as the speaker for IU Bloomington's 2016 Commencement Address would be welcomed by all with open arms and the Hoosier hospitality she portrayed so appropriately for the past 7 years.