Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal
-
WATCH: Entrepreneur Reid Hoffman tells Vanderbilt Class of 2022 that cultivating close friendships ‘may be your life’s most important work’
Reid Hoffman, who played integral roles in founding the companies PayPal and LinkedIn, called on Vanderbilt University’s Class of 2022 to invest in true, substantial and enduring friendships as they set out on the next phases of their lives. Read MoreMay 13, 2022
-
Reid Hoffman, entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of LinkedIn, to deliver 2022 Graduates Day address
Reid Hoffman, an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, investor and philanthropist who has played an integral role in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when he delivers the Graduates Day address to the Class of 2022 on May 12. Read MoreNov 18, 2021
-
Caroline Kennedy urges Vanderbilt graduates to be ‘active citizens,’ embrace democratic values in Graduates Day address
Caroline Kennedy drew on inspirational remarks that her father, President John F. Kennedy, delivered at Vanderbilt in 1963 when she spoke virtually to the 2020 graduates and their families on April 30. Her Graduates Day address was postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read MoreApr 30, 2021
-
Dr. Anthony Fauci to deliver 2021 Vanderbilt Graduates Day address
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top leader in infectious disease research and a renowned biomedical scientist, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2021 when he speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families. Read MoreMar 3, 2021
-
Caroline Kennedy to deliver virtual Graduates Day address to Vanderbilt Class of 2020
Caroline Kennedy, a bestselling author, attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Japan, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to Class of 2020 graduates and their families at their Graduates Day celebration on Friday, April 30. Read MoreMar 3, 2021
-
Caroline Kennedy to deliver Vanderbilt Graduates Day address
Best-selling author, attorney and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy will receive the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to Vanderbilt graduating students and their families in May 2020. Read MoreNov 20, 2019
-
Chancellor’s Lecture to feature presidential historians Goodwin and Meacham
“Lessons of Presidential Leadership” will be the focus of a conversation between presidential historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham during a Chancellor’s Lecture Series event Oct. 31. Read MoreOct 14, 2019
-
Venus Williams to Vanderbilt graduates: Make mistakes, stay uncomfortable, help others
Tennis champion, entrepreneur and equal rights advocate Venus Williams imparted to Vanderbilt University’s Class of 2019 a well-tested list for success heavy on risk-taking, goal-making and optimism during remarks delivered Thursday in Memorial Gym as part of Senior Day. Read MoreMay 10, 2019
-
Global tennis champion Venus Williams to deliver Senior Day address
Venus Williams—an international tennis champion, entrepreneur and author—will receive the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2019, when she addresses graduating seniors at Vanderbilt and their families. Read MoreNov 30, 2018
-
Amal Clooney to graduates: ‘Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in’
In a Senior Day speech that brought a packed Memorial Gymnasium to its feet, Amal Clooney took the crowd through historic examples of courage, including Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumnus Rev. James Lawson. Read MoreMay 10, 2018
-
Senior Day address by Amal Clooney open to all VU students, faculty and staff
The entire Vanderbilt community is invited to hear British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney speak beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 10, in Memorial Gym. Clooney will receive Vanderbilt's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she addresses graduating seniors, their families and other members of campus during Senior Day. Read MoreMay 4, 2018
-
Chancellor Zeppos, Amal Clooney to address graduating seniors
Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will give his Commencement address to about 3,100 graduates Friday, May 11, the day after the students hear from international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Read MoreApr 30, 2018
-
International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to deliver Senior Day address
British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will receive Vanderbilt's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2018, when she will address graduating seniors and their families during Senior Day. Read MoreNov 30, 2017
-
Follow the better angels of their nature, grads are told
Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns spoke to graduating Vanderbilt seniors during Senior Day and was awarded the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal. Read MoreMay 11, 2017
-
A conversation with America’s historian, Ken Burns
Ken Burns, Vanderbilt University’s 2017 Nichols-Chancellor's Medalist and Senior Day speaker, took a break last month from editing his upcoming film, "Country Music," to talk with MyVU and share his insights on filmmaking, where America stands today, and some contemplative thoughts for seniors on the cusp of Commencement. Read MoreMay 8, 2017
-
Chancellor Zeppos, Ken Burns to address graduating seniors
Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will deliver Vanderbilt University’s traditional Commencement address May 12, the day after documentary filmmaker Ken Burns accepts a prestigious Vanderbilt award and offers his advice. Read MoreMay 1, 2017
-
Award-winning documentarian Ken Burns to deliver Senior Day address during 2017 VU Commencement
Critically acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns, who has produced some of the most-watched documentaries on public television, will address graduating seniors and their families during Senior Day. Read MoreDec 12, 2016
-
Nichols Humanitarian Fund celebrates 10th anniversary Oct. 20
The Office of Active Citizenship and Service, in collaboration with The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, will celebrate the milestone and recognize founders Edward and Janice Nichols at the annual Nichols Humanitarian Fund Reception on Oct. 20. Read MoreOct 13, 2016
-
Soledad O’Brien to seniors: Finding your passion can take time
Finding the inspiration to live a meaningful life is more a “slow, chip-away-at-it process” than a thunderclap of revelation, Senior Day speaker Soledad O’Brien told Vanderbilt’s Class of 2016 during her address. Read MoreMay 12, 2016
-
Watch Soledad O’Brien live at Senior Day
Television journalist and philanthropist Soledad O'Brien will give Vanderbilt's Senior Day address beginning at 11 a.m. today in Memorial Gym. Watch a live stream of the event on the Vanderbilt homepage, www.vanderbilt.edu. Read MoreMay 12, 2016