Speakers

A highlight of the Founders' Celebration activities are two speeches given by Stanford students, who have be selected by a group of student colleagues in this year's Founders' Celebration Student Speaker Contest. Once again, in hopes of increasing student awareness and participation in the Founders' Celebration, President Hennessy has decided to provide each student speaker with $1,000 cash award.

Here are the Student Speaker Contest winners biographies listed below.

Jessica Richman
Dual Degree Candidate, Economics AB and
Science, Technology & Society BS

Jessica is a current Stanford senior, studying Science, Technology &
Society and Economics. Before coming to Stanford, she was an
entrepreneur. Jessica was chosen for the 2007 USA Today All-USA
Academic First Team, a Truman and Marshall Finalist, and the Cap &
Gown Honor Society. She has been published in the Stanford Daily, the
Washington Undergraduate Law Review, Dartmouth Law Review, and The New
York Times. She enjoys writing, wrestling, traveling, and learning new
things.

John Russ
M.B.A. Candidate, Graduate School of Business

John was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, along with his brother David, was raised by his mother Flossie.  He attended The University of Michigan, graduating with honors from the Business School and receiving an inaugural award for his additional work in theological studies. 

Upon graduation, John began his career in marketing at Unilever, where he worked on some of the worlds largest personal care brands and then moved on to General Mills, where he helped lead a turnaround of a major fruit snacks business and then managed a large channels role.  He came to Stanford to attend the Graduate School of Business and will graduate this summer with an MBA.