Vanderbilt alumnus and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus will be the keynote speaker at Senior Class Day on May 10 at 10 a.m. on Alumni Lawn.
"This is more than just a speech," said Vanderbilt spokesperson Mike Schoenfeld. "It is a very significant commemoration of public service, an opportunity to speak in front of the entire senior class and the acceptance of a cash grant of $100,000 endowed by Ed and Janice Nichols."
The administration consulted broadly with the Vanderbilt community regarding the recipient of the honor, Schoenfeld said.
According to Schoenfeld, Chancellor Gordon Gee approached Dr. Yunus and he enthusiastically agreed to speak.
After earning a Ph.D. in 1971 through Vanderbilt's Graduate Program in Economic Development, Dr. Yunus returned to his native Bangladesh where he developed the concept of microcredit and founded the Grameen (meaning "rural") Bank in Jobra.
Yunus' fundamental idea made money available to poor people on appropriate terms in which "these millions of small people with their millions of small pursuits can add up to create the biggest development wonder."
According to a press release, after 30 years of operation the Grameen Bank has lent nearly $6 billion to 6.61 million borrowers, and 99 percent of the loans have been repaid. The bank now has 2,226 branches, which furnish their services to more than 71,000 villages in Bangladesh.
Yunus, in conjunction with the Grameen Bank, received the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2006 for his efforts.
Senior Elizabeth Rissman said she remembers hearing Yunus speak two years ago.
"His story about opening the credit bank in Bangladesh was really inspiring," she said. "I would strongly encourage anyone who hasn't already heard his story to attend."
"I've studied his work with the Grameen Bank in several of my economics courses," said senior Jean-Louis Castro-Malaspina. "It is quite an honor to hear the words of a man who has empowered and inspired so many."
Senior Meredith Toole said she is glad to see a speaker outside of the political arena invited to campus.
"I really look forward to attending Senior Day this year and learning about something outside the typical range of keynote speaker topics," she said.
"To be honest, I don't know much about Muhammad Yunus, but from what I hear it should be a great speech," said senior Ashley Wood.
The attendance for the event annually ranges from 10,000 to 15,000. The speech is free and open to all members of the Vanderbilt community. However, tickets are required due to space limitations and must be reserved no later than April 27.
