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Awards

Franklin K. Houston Speaking Contest

Among the many gifts to Vanderbilt University from the late Franklin K. Houston, life trustee, was an endowed fund to provide prizes for public speaking.

Mr. Houston grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and took public speaking while he was a student at Vanderbilt. When he became CEO of the Corn Merchants Bank in New York City, he established this competition to encourage competent public speaking, as he believed that his experience at Vanderbilt had made a very real difference in his own life.

The Houston speech competition is held every semester. Watch past student speeches from the Houston contest.

Past Recipients

Spring 2023:
Madelina Huffman
Cory Wurtenberger

Spring 2022:
Andres Hernandez
Blair McDonald
Payton Frankiewicz

Fall 2021:
Matty Templeton
Alisha Saluja
Jana Li

Fall 2019:
Veronica Smith
Cecilia Williams
Tommy Oswalt

Spring 2019:
Max Raphael
Cassidy Kortze
Devon Shewell

Fall 2018:
Yolanda Ye
Douglas Finnegan
Tim Rice

Spring 2018:
Mary Catherine Cook
Lin Reish
Samantha McCormick

Fall 2017:
Veronica Smith
Sasha Pines
Zachary Buchta

Spring 2017:
Claire Barnett
Matthew Austin
Max Schneider

Fall 2016:
Jonathon Segal
Eve Moll
Miguel Moravec

Spring 2015:
Rebecca Chandler
Apurva Kunte
Jordan Klein

Fall 2014:
Darby Hobbs
Alex Swanson
Hana Crandall

Spring 2014:
Rebecca Lauer
Peter Lin
James Cribbs

Fall 2013:
Jesse Golomb
Jonathan Meneses
Monica Peacock

Spring 2013:
Michael Olson
Jeremy Bolin
Michael Zoorob

Fall 2012:
Marc Rosen
Samuel Adkisson
Elliot Scher

Spring 2012:
Arjun Pillai
Errol Norman
Wade Longmire

Fall 2011:
Hannah Sills
Zachary Goldman
Michelle Weinman
Ben Hareza

Spring 2011:
Allison Deissler
Leigh Ware
John Rice

Fall 2010:
Shana Lowenthal
Jenny Gildner
Greg McMillin

Spring 2010:
Matt Moore
Brittney Johnson
Cheng Yu

Fall 2009:
Nicholas Brown
Brian Donelan
Lindsey Elkin

Spring 2009:
Catherine Wearn
Brant Bonetti
Marshall Kerns

Fall 2008:
Brad Lawrence
Lauren Kinzer
Tyler Sanchez

Spring 2008:
Benjamin Popper
Lindsay Wuller
Ashley Williamson

Fall 2007:
Matthew Orton
Andrew Schlanger
Dafna Bareket

Spring 2007:
Glenn Thomas Rideou
Kathryn Levene
Devin Lyon
Mary Hollis

Fall 2006:
Roy Stone
Martha Legg
Laura Raba

Spring 2006:
Sarah Sharp
Carlie Gotlieb
Samantha Martin

Fall 2005:
Edward O’Neal
Mallory McGill
Abigail Collier

Spring 2005:
Rob Weller
Matthew White
Danielle DiBenedetto

Fall 2004:
Abigail Martin
Aden Johnson
Joseph Zakierski

Spring 2004:
Drake McCrary
Katherine Lannom
Marvin Figueroa
Elizabeth Davis

Fall 2003:
Jamie D. Frazier
Michael Wilt
Megan Daniel

Spring 2003:
Brooks Ching
Erin Steinbruchel
Jonathan Ida
Jon Scruggs

Fall 2002:
Skylar King
Tyler Simpson
Auston Heim
Erin Guy

Spring 2002:
Conrad G. Lucas II
Sam Jones
Kendal Van Wagner
Bruce Hawkins

Fall 2001:
Kimberly Erin Olvey
Katie Betzwieser
Matthew Syzmanski
Stephanie Trautwen

Spring 2001:
Katy Clabo
Heather Souder
Jonathan O’Toole

Fall 2000:
Stephanie Kate Sweeten
Katherine Garrety
Julia Ellis

Spring 2000:
Kao-Ping Chua
Stephanie Keiber
Maggie Arvelund

Fall 1999:
Phil Zimmerman
Leslie Kennerly
Rebecca Templeton

Spring 1999:
Amy Dassler
Stephanie Patterson
Megan Guernsey

Fall 1998:
Bryan Kelly
Shawna Rasul
Nathaniel Morrow

Spring 1998:
Zachary Jackson
Georgia Cole
David Koloski

Fall 1997:
Marcia Larson
Robert Wehmeyer
Daniel Shay

Spring 1997:
Jennifer Young
Carolyn Stewart
Todd Richardson

Fall 1996:
Whitney Barker
Steven Decaluwe
Christopher Sadowski

Spring 1996:
Kale Ness
Tysha Stephens
Jennie Lukens

Fall 1995:
Ilona Kewychyj
Michael Bruno
Ingrid Schuster

Spring 1995:
John Esterhay
Amanda Albright
Elissa A. Rivas

Fall 1994:
Connie Flood
Erika Grote
Greer Redden

Spring 1994:
Michele Creech
Melinda Lewis
Steve Barnes

Fall 1993:
Catherine Feretti
Traci Dunn

Spring 1993:
Laura Manning
Anna Glass
Jennifer Mantey

Fall 1992:
John Vaughty
Paige Sudderth
Sean Roach

Spring 1992:
Emily Alson Skone
Adema Gee
Erica Davis
Susan Hayes

Fall 1991:
Mary Antony
Jordan Bette
Jay Ballard

Spring 1991:
Kimberly Royer
Holly Tomchey
Harry Baudry

Fall 1990:
James Davies
Joseph Gilbert
Douglas Jones
Caitlin Noe

Spring 1990:
Lori Bean
Nina Shetty
Kim McCreery

Fall 1989:
Jennifer Horn
Sam Feist
Charles Brickley

Spring 1989:
Deborah Ann Maynard
Kim Held
Beth McCarthy

Fall 1988:
Todd Hennings
Andrea Kirsten Albert
Steven Patterson

Spring 1988:
Samuel Lloyd Shelby
Ashley Cassandra Paul
Keven T. Kroner

Fall 1987:
Heather Lynne Malogrides
Caleb Paul Stevenson Finegan
Joy Ruth St. Clair

Spring 1987:
Julia Mitchell
Barry Goheen
Kimberly Weller

Fall 1986:
Thomas Coleman Strawn III
Eleanor Harper Copeland
Dena Lynn Laurent

Fall 1985:
Tammy Lyn Veazey
Joseph Stearns Ellis
John Galen Giddings

Spring 1985:
Katherine Peterson
Kathryn Lazenby
Kirk Manz

Fall 1984:
Patrick Bryant
Brian Lemaster
Lawrence Taube

1984 Spring:
Nancy Johnston
Nicholas Hansen
Michael Jabaley Jr.

1973:
Kenneth Sisk
Mark Houck
Anne Jeffery

1972:
James Dowden
Charles Danner
John Logan

1971:
Douglas Sandage
Zachary Holmes
Doris Daughtery

1969:
Elizebeth Urban
Darryl Berger

1968:
Douglas Bates
Richard Knapp

1967:
Thomas Graves
Lee McKnight

1966:
Charles Ivie
Thomas Graves

1965:
William Kelly
Charles Ivie

1964:
John Brinsfield Jr.
William Richardson

1963:
Lionel Barret Jr.
Frank Woods

1962:
Nancy Krider
Grady Wade

1961:
Latham Sturdivant Jr.
Osborne Green Jr.

1960:
Michael Krawcheck
Frank Boehm

1959:
Joe Roby
James Patrick

1958:
Joe Sills Jr.
Cynrhia Hastings

1957:
Chester Burns
Paul Michael

1956:
Carl Stem
Robert Gooldman

1955:
Johnie Bozeman
Gloria Polk

1954:
John Ferguson
John Marshall

1953:
Carp McQueen
William Baker
Albert Pennybacker Jr.

1952:
Henry Diamond
Robert Harlin
Albert Pennybacker Jr.

1951:
Hansel Harrison Jr.
Frances Farris
Henry Diamond

1950:
Smith Jones
James Harland Jr.

1949:
George Cate Jr.

1948:
James Kirby Jr.

1947:
Hardy Clark

1942:
Walter Snell

1941:
Wayne Dehoney

1940:
Frank Clement

1939:
Robert Landis

1938:
Edward Harris

1937:
Frank Farris Jr

1936:
Edward Steele

1935:
Hugh Helm

1934:
Henry Hart Jr.

1933:
Herbert McConnell

1932:
Wendell Ensor

1931:
George Dominick

1930:
Charles Hudson Jr.

1929:
D. Rusby Seabaugh

1928:
Joe Williams Jr.

1927:
David Caldwell

1926:
Marion Tillman

1925:
John Norman

1924:
Nolan Carter

1923:
Leo Bearman

1922:
Alfred Taylor

1921:
Walton Whitwell

 

Founder’s Medal for Oratory

Since 1877, a gold medal has been awarded annually to the top graduating student from each school in honor of founder Cornelius Vanderbilt, who endowed the awards. In addition, Cornelius Vanderbilt established the Founder’s Medal for Oratory, which was first awarded (1976) before the other original Founder’s Medals (1877).

The tradition of Founder’s Medals lives on today with a medal still given for “oratory,” as well as for top honors in Vanderbilt’s 10 schools and colleges.

Past Recipients

2023: Sojourner Rouco-Crenshaw

2022: Keely Wilson

2021: Sael Soni

2020: Erich Remiker

2019: None given

2018: Kaylee Kohlmaier

2017: None given

2016: None given
2015: Amit Rajendra Bilgi
2014: George Watson Williford
2013: Saad Chaudry Rehman
2012: None given
2011: Nick Brown
2010: Campbell Glenn
2009: Houston Shaner
2008: Phil Rappmund
2007: Matt Earnest
2006: Kate Patricia Ryzoc
2005: Mark Philip Kendall
2004: India Rachel McKinney
2003: Christine Susan Parker
2002: James Thomas Almon
2001: Adam David Rosen
2000: James Arthur Porter IV

1999: Kale Alan Ness
1998: Gabrielle Prisco
1997: Jamie Elizabeth Ryan
1996: Karly Alyce Randolph
1995: Rebecca Michael Goforth
1994: John Deery Crocetti
1993: Garv Craig Lemel
1992: James Gregory Waller
1991: Kimberly Michelle Held
1990: Jennifer Kate Rubin
1989: Denise Lynn Urzendowski
1988: Evy Michale Jarrett
1987: Thomas Edward Parmer
1986: Laura Marie Hardy
1985: Not Awarded
1984: Lee Tarte
1983: James Alan Scharf
1982: Lewis Gerard Alder
1981: William Shane Walton
1980: William Breece Brannan
1979: Paul Steven Kratsch
1978: William Edwin Young
1977: John Warren Titus
1976: Kathryn Margaret Zickert
1975: James Kimble Sebenius
1974: Kenneth Dennis Sisk
1973: Douglas Staley Sandage
1972: Sandra Kay Wagoner
1971: James Taimage Walker Jr.
1970: Richard Stephen Knapp
1969: Elizabeth Anne Urban
1968: Walter Floyd Pratt, Jr.
1967: Charles Clay Ivie
1966: Thomas Henry Graves
1965: Not Awarded
1964: William Walter Richardson
1963: John Wesley Brinsfield, Jr.
1962: Not Awarded
1961: Richard Neal Batson
1960: William Harvey Dobelle
1959: Chester Burns
1958: Not Awarded
1957: L. Vastine Stabler
1956: John Marshall
1955: Robert L. Goldman
1954: Franklin Cole Ferguson
1953: Carol Ann McQueen·
1952: William Robert Baker
1951: Carl Jelenko
1950: Morele Kay
1949: Thomas Ross Ballew
1948: Douglas Murrey Fisher
1947: James Cordell Kirby, Jr.

1946: Not Awarded
1945: Not Awarded
1944: Not Awarded
1943: Not Awarded
1942: James C. Burns, Jr.
1941: Phyllis Pear
1940: James A. Weems
1939: Robert L. Landis
1938: Wallace C. Eblen
1937: Wayne W. Dehaney
1936: Richard C. Dunn
1935: Henry C. Hart
1934: Hugh Helm
1933: Parker Holt
1932: Samuel Lewis Meyer
1931: Julia Frances Gibson
1930: Joe V. Williams
1929: Claude Wilson Callicott
1928: Marion Monroe Tillman
1927: Herschel Collins Finger
1926: David G. Caldwell
1925: John Edward Norman
1924: Jen Lin Huang
1923: Robert Dwight Ware
1922: Leo Bearman
1921: Richard D. Gleaves
1920: James David Rhea, Jr.
1919: Robert Elmo Thompson
1918: Thomas W. Schlater, Jr.
1917: Sylvan H. Gottschall
1916: Hugh D. White
1915: Louis F. Sperry
1914: Charles D. McGehee
1913: C.C. Gregory
1912: H. H. Jones
1911: Gilbert R. Combs, AB.
1910: Fred Taylor Wilson
1909: Charles Cason
1908: John William Frazer, AB.
1907: Hugh Allen Locke, B.S.
1906: Edwin Marvin Steele
1905: Gates Phillips Thruston, Jr.
1904: Louis Clausiel Perry
1903: Glenn Flinn, B.A.
1902: Hoyt McWhorter Dobbs, AM.
1901: Charles Yun Marshall
1900: Charles Crawford Jarrell

1899: Charles Gideon Hounshell, AM
1898: William Peter King, AM
1897: Griffin M. Lovelace
1896: Granville M. Pritchett
1895: F.M. Oliver
1894: William K. Mathews
1893: S.J. Rucker
1892: J.A. Robins
1891: F.S. Brockman
1890: G.C.G. Murchison
1889: E.H. Rawlings
1888: Charles N. Burch
1887: E.E. Barthell
1886: J.H. Watkins
1885: Walter Stokes
1884: W.H. Cotton
1883: J.M. Price
1882: AC. Cruce
1881: T.A. Atchison
1880: C.H.E. Hardin
1879: Julien Clement Brown
1878: William Reed Richardson
1877: J.J. Tigert, Jr.
1876: Robert James Craig