Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

“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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns spoke to graduating Vanderbilt seniors during Senior Day and was awarded the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal. Read More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

As Commencement and Senior Day approach at Vanderbilt, they bring with them annual traditions such as the chancellor's address to students, The Party and a special speaker for Senior Day. Read More

Preparations are underway for Commencement 2016, scheduled for May 11-13, and many details of the three-day event are available on the newly re-launched Commencement website. Read More