Put together a PPT that highlights the history including the aspect of necessity, frugality and creativity. Then note that even today quilters look to resuse materials while expressing their creativity.
Point out how the actual quilting has become an art by itself and how through appliques and paper piecing and other new quilting and cutting tools quilters can create artwork at at much more reasonable time. (Show always an example of what you are discussing)
Also, show a simple block can be arranged differently to create a new design. Note that quilters utilize new fabrics and colors that are in style at given time in fashion and home decor. Thus quilters go along with current fashion and home decor trends.
Finally, show examples of some of the newly created fabrics and how they allow even greater creativity.
Of course if you actually show how to do it or even better hand out pieces (or picts of ) they can manipulate into a pattern your audience will be actively engaged and understand how appropriate quilting is today.
Congrats upon your graduation and continued best wishes!

Since you are an accountant, the statistics of quilting may be important. You could also reference the enormous online marketplace of products for sale- not just thread and fabric but online classes, tutorials, DVDs, & customizable quilting furniture, the hundreds if not thousands of 20 somethings to grannies and everyone in between blogging about their hobby (many with sponsorship from fabric manufacturers) & YouTube videos. First of all let's not skip Eleanor Burns... And who would have thought you could have a career writing fictitious books around the hobby of quilting? Jennifer Chiaverini, Beverly Lewis, and others... And what about the men in the industry from the country singer and quilt designer, Ricky Tims, to the men who are great longarmers? Quilting is not just a stereotypical little old lady ANYMORE! We are men, women, different colors, races, religions and occupations but we are a charitable group of folks. I would highlight the national charity quilt programs, the call for quilts in disaster situations (tornado, floods, earthquake/tsunami in Japan), local church groups, etc. It is a worldwide industry full of opportunities and fun.

Here are some blogs and websites:

http://heartlandbeat.com/2012/04/hen...on-quilt-show/
http://www.quiltdad.com/ or if you are doing Power Point showcase Donisewman from QB
http://blackthreads.blogspot.com/
http://tttl1998.blogspot.com/
http://projectlinus.org/

I would start with, "Who do you see standing here before you? A student? Yes. A soon to be graduate? Yes. (Add a few other things that apply, then continue with..) What you won't guess is that I am a quilter! Yes folks, quilting is not just something your grandmother did anymore. Children as young as 8 are taking up this fulfilling... etc, etc.

Be sure to comment on how many of us use quilt donations as our way of remaining a contributing member of our community and of society in general!!! You go girl!!

The suggestion to check out why quilts matter was a great idea. My local PBS station has been playing excerpts from that for some time. Did you know that quilting is a $3 billion dollar industry? I have been thinking about purchasing the Why Quilts Matter DVD for my own collection.

Quilting has really evolved from a standpoint of expressiveness and creativity through basic need to one of creativity for the joy of creation, with a multitude of reasons in between. But simply put, quilting satisfies the need that both men and women have to create something of beauty that can also be functional.

The art of quilting is both visual and tactile. We love to look at quilts and we love the feel of quilts, both for their warmth and just because the fabrics feel good.

In the process of learning to quilt, life skills are learned - patience, the ability to follow directions, mathematical skills, the visual ability to choose various fabrics that will be pleasing when cut up and sewn back together.

Quilting is theraputic - when we are immersed in the work of quilting, whether cutting, ironing, piecing, or the actual quilting of the whole, our minds are at rest from worrying about all the trials life brings.

Quilting binds generations and families together, marking important milestones such as births, marriages, and deaths.

Imagine for a second what a 100 year old quilt could tell us about its life and that of its owners if it could talk!

And because of quilters, a multi-million dollar business has arisen, driven by the needs of quilters, by innovative quilters, writers, and creators.

But the overarching truth about quilting is that it is just plain fun!

You might also consider discussing the wonderful groups of quilters that dedicate many hours to making quilts for Quilts of Valor and Wounded Warriors as well as many homeless shelters, battered womens shelters, prayer quilts and quilts for children who are ill. The amount of love that goes into these worthwhile charities is beyond measure and shares a love of quilting like no other way.

Hey Michele! Small world. Good look with your project.

Quilting has become painting with fabric from landscapes to geometrics and traditional patterns. Something for everyone. Good luck on your speech and the CPA exam.

I had an art class and they told us to do a paper on any kind of art. I asked if I could sew a quilt and they said yes. I did a doll quilt and did a paper giving the history of quilting and why people made quilts. I also said that people used what they had available such as old clothing. At the end of my paper I told how some people made or left imperfections as it was bad luck to have a perfect quilt. One of my classmates asked if that was why I made my quilt crooked. I laughed and said no I hadn't even noticed it was crooked.

My daughter just presented her senior project for collage, it was on quilting. She is going into middle school math and designed a quilt square for her collage.After weeks of reshearch she picked a block.That was hung last week on the music building at Lenior-Rhyne university You can talk about how the quilt trail blocks has put a new twist on a old way of life, how much math plays a part in ,the need for having a eye for colors how they blend and play off each other. How history is told in some blocks and the quilters ability to create art from fabric and thread Good Luck>