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.
Lillian Tracy ’29 was crowned Spencer champion that evening. Watch her speech, along with her fellow finalists, below.
Lillian Tracy: “The Quantified Self”
Winner of the 2026 Spencer Prize Championship, Lillian Tracy is a first-year student from New York City.
Brianna Acosta-Garcia: “Twinkle Toes: The Shoes that Support Society”
Brianna Acosta-Garcia is a first-year student from New Jersey.
