My Last Lecture Award

Thursday, April 15
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Moore Hall 100

Fifty years ago, notable UCLA professors were given the chance to put all of their life lessons and advice for students into one “last lecture.”

This year, the Alumni Scholars Club (ASC) is bringing back this tradition through the My Last Lecture Award. This award was established to honor a UCLA professor who is an inspiration to students. The winner will be announced near the beginning of March.

On April 15, ASC will host an award ceremony in Moore Hall where the award recipient will then give his or her own lecture on the question posed to the original lecturers 50 years ago: What would you tell your audience if you had but one lecture to give - your last lecture on this earth?

This lecture is open to the public. A reception will follow.

• Nominate your favorite professor by Feb. 26.
• Watch one of UCLA’s best professors give a lecture on life lessons.

History of My Last Lecture

In 1955, UCLA featured six lectures from notable figures across campus. Sponsored by the University Religious Center, these lectures lasted from early October to late December, featuring distinguished UCLA figures such as philosophy professor Abraham Kaplan, chemistry professor Kenneth Trueblood and renowned coach John Wooden. The topic given to each of these lecturers was, “What would you tell your audience if you had but one lecture to give - your last lecture on this earth?”

What followed were six insightful lectures from six very different perspectives, each lecturer expressing their own life philosophy through their interests, discipline and personal experiences. This event, a rare circumstance where professors were able to engage their students in the most puzzling conundrum, life, was called The My Last Lecture Series.

Great minds have struggles, triumphs and breakthroughs in their respective studies, and also in their own lives. Sharing those experiences and imparting the knowledge they have gathered throughout their lives does more than give comfort and advice to students. It further enriches the intellectual discourse and adds depth to the relationship between teacher and student.