This post was written by Lauren French and Sarah Scire.

Update, 3:50 p.m. Emanuel will be the Commencement speaker, the University confirmed in a news release. Jeanne Narum, president of Project Kaleidoscope and the Independent College Office, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science, and GW alumnus and sculptor John Safer will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.

In the release, University President Steven Knapp said the three honorees “exemplify the University’s ideals of excellence, leadership and service.”

Original Post. Rahm Emanuel, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, will be this year’s Commencement speaker, two sources directly involved in the keynote speaker selection process told The Hatchet Tuesday evening.

Nothing has been confirmed by the University or Emanuel’s office, and both sources asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. A source provided The Hatchet with an e-mail from Senior Vice President and General Counsel Beth Nolan to the Special Advisory Committee on Commencement Speakers stating Emanuel had accepted University President Steven Knapp’s invitation to speak at the ceremony on May 17.

University spokeswoman Tracy Schario declined to confirm Emanuel was the speaker in an interview shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. Schario did not deny that the former Illinois congressman had accepted the invitation, however.

“I can’t confirm anything related to the Commencement speaker yet,” Schario said.

One committee member, Associate Vice President of Student and Academic Support Services Peter Konwerski, said in an interview Tuesday evening that he knew they had been considering someone in the Obama administration, but he had not yet read Nolan’s e-mail. Konwerski added Wednesday morning that the committee had nominated Emanuel, among other candidates, for Knapp’s approval.

The White House press office did not immediately return requests for comment as of Wednesday morning.

Eric Roper contributed to this report.