(1991) transcript: Richard Crandall presents the Vollum Award to Steve Jobs on behalf of Reed College

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:52:42 -0400

This is a link-post to an audio recording of Steve Jobs receiving the Vollum Award at his alma mater Reed College. The award, for “distinguished accomplishment in science and technology”, is presented annually at the convocation ceremony that kicks off Reed’s autumn semester. It is not restricted to Reed alumni; Bill Gates, for example, received it in 1984.

This recording starts with an introduction by the late Reed professor Richard Crandall, and ends after Jobs’ acceptance speech. Crandall’s speech is brilliant – full of endearingly arcane idiosyncrasies – and contains at least one killer quotation.

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(1991) transcript: Richard Crandall presents the Vollum Award to Steve Jobs on behalf of Reed College