The Oxonian Award – The Guild’s Highest Honour

 

The Oxonian Award – The Guild’s Highest Honour

The Oxford Guild is proud to continue our fine tradition of hosting some of the most inspiring people in the world, with the launch of our highest honour, The Oxonian Award, to celebrate and recognise luminaries across sectors. We have an unparalleled history, hosting global leaders from almost every field. Previous speakers have included President Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Malala Yousafzai, Bill Gates, Woody Harrelson, Stormzy, as well as the CEOs of Google, Credit Suisse, Barclays and Deutsche Bank to name just a few. From businesspeople, entrepreneurs, politicians and world leaders to actors, musicians, scientists, artists, human rights activists, and Nobel Prize winners, amongst others, we have hosted many of the most high profile guests int he world. Our event with Kanye West in 2015 was the most oversubscribed of any in Oxford in the past 20 years, whilst our online events during Covid-19 that we opened up beyond Oxford to students globally had as many as 20,000 people watching live and hundreds of thousands after.

The Oxonian Award recognises the extraordinary lifetime-achievements of luminaries who represent the very best values, ideals and the culture of excellence that embody the University of Oxford and its illustrious history. For nearly 1,000 years, Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, has led the way as one of the most pioneering institutions globally, with an unrivalled track record for leading innovation, cutting edge research and intellectual discussion, that others have sought to emulate. No other institution can compete with Oxford’s legacy as the premier breeding ground for many of the world’s most successful people, kickstarting their prominent careers across nearly ever field. The Guild’s Oxonian Award takes its name from the Latin expression for students of the university and the city’s inhabitants, and seeks to embody the values our talented, diverse, multicultural community hold dear: a commitment to excellence, to pushing boundaries and overcoming obstacles in everything that do and to contributing to betterment of the world around us. The award and recognition offer a fitting testament to this heritage and sends a message to the world that its recipients are amongst the most inspiring, accomplished, and influential leaders not just in their fields but across the planet.

We are delighted that our inaugural recipients in 2022 have been Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and former US President Jimmy Carter. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accepted the Oxonian Award which we had issued to her in honour of her Platinum Jubilee, prior to her passing. President Carer accepted the Oxonian Award which we had issued to him in honour of decades of service and the work of his foundation.

We cannot think of more fitting inaugural recipients and are excited to continue to recognise and celebrate the lifetime achievements of some of the greatest figures in our world. We look forward to celebrating our future recipients!

Published on 5th September 2022