Student Speakers Take the Stage

Public speaking is alive and thriving at Middlebury, thanks in large part to the College’s Oratory Now program—a student-driven, faculty-directed center for training and research in oral expression. The annual Spencer Prize, which takes place throughout J-term, has become a signature event for public speaking. In December, faculty and staff nominated 111 students, 46 of whom accepted the challenge. At the start of winter term, they participated in a speechwriting workshop to prepare them for the qualifying rounds of the competition. By the end of the term, just six finalists remained and gave their speeches at a festive evening in Wilson Hall, followed by a short a cappella concert by the Middlebury Mamajamas. The 2026 Spencer Prize was produced by Zane Malarkey ‘28, Yasmina Errahioui ‘28, and a team of 37 students from Oratory Now. Watch each of the finalists, below.