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Wednesday, March 16, Noon, Goddard Chapel
The Wendell Phillips Award was established in 1896 to honor Boston’s great orator and advocate for abolition and women’s and Native People’s rights. The award is given annually to a senior who demonstrates both marked ability as a speaker and a high sense of public responsibility. Selected by the Committee on Student Life, the winner is the one graduating senior invited to offer a speech as part of Commencement, and the speech takes place during the Baccalaureate Service. It is intended to deliver a social justice message for our time.

On Wednesday, March 16, each finalist will present a 3-5 minute speech on the following topic:

“There must be a few times in life when you stand at a precipice of a decision. When you know there will forever be a Before and an After…I knew there would be no turning back if I designated this moment as my own Prime Meridian from which everything else would be measured.” – Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

Discuss a situation, either personal or public, which represents a “Prime Meridian” for either you, for others, or for all of us.

All are welcome to attend. The 2016 finalists include Aniket De, Abuzar Royesh, Janna Karatas, and Sharad Sagar.

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