Experience Judging at Vermont’s Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation

Vermont’s Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of serving as a judge for the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation’s national oratorical evaluations, part of the selection process for one of the most competitive full-ride scholarships in the country.

What I witnessed was impressive. Students from across the nation, many heading to places like Yale, Stanford, and Harvard, stood up and delivered thoughtful, disciplined interpretations of the words of Calvin Coolidge. But it wasn’t just about where they’re going. It was about how they think, how they communicate, and how seriously they take the idea of leadership.

And it got me thinking. Why shouldn’t more of that energy, talent, and ambition be here in Vermont?

The Coolidge Foundation is rooted right here in our state, preserving the legacy of a president who believed in character, humility, and service. Their work isn’t just about honoring history, it’s about helping building the future. They’re identifying young people who are driven, ambitious critical thinkers!

Vermont should be a magnet for that kind of person.

We have the environment, the community, and the values to develop leaders in a way that bigger, faster places often can’t. That means creating opportunities, supporting institutions like the Coolidge Foundation, and making it clear that ambitious young people don’t have to leave to succeed.

They can come here. They can stay here. They can build here.

Being part of this experience reminded me that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. If we want Vermont to thrive in the years ahead, we need to make sure we’re not just appreciating the next generation of leaders, we’re actively bringing them into our communities and giving them a reason to call this place home.

- Javen