On December 5, 2024, the Russell Kirk Center gathered at the Amway Grand Plaza with a full crowd for the inaugural McLellan Prizes free speech celebration with Greg Lukianoff, Samuel Goldman, Josiah Joner, Luke Sheahan, Susan Goldberg, Judge James Ho, Heather Mac Donald, and Governor John Engler.

The gathering honored the recipients of the 2024 McLellan Prizes, Greg Lukianoff (grand prize), and Josiah Joner and Samuel Goldman as the year’s two writing fellowship winners.

For those unable to join us for this memorable evening celebration, we’re pleased to share a complete recording of the event program below. To help navigate the video, here are some useful timestamps:

• 3:00 – introduction from Kirk Center CEO Jeff Nelson
• 14:00 – remarks from Gov. John Engler
• 27:07 – Academic Prize winner Sam Goldman’s remarks
• 37:26 – Academic Prize winner Josiah Joner’s remarks
• 47:45 – Grand prize winner Greg Lukianoff’s remarks
• 62:07 – panel discussion with Luke Sheahan, Greg Lukianoff, Susan Goldberg, and Sam Goldman

The Richard D. McLellan Prizes is a unique educational program administered by the Russell Kirk Center. Its aim is to help reshape the national conversation on issues surrounding the durability and prospects for the American tradition of free speech and expression as guaranteed in the U. S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

The McLellan Prizes draw attention to the central importance of the free speech tradition, particularly recognizing those doing the most important and exciting work in that area. These Prizes seek to support talented thinkers, creators, and communicators capable of rearticulating the perennial importance of the First Amendment, and transmitting a better understanding of the freedoms it secures for all.