Pete Buttigieg to headline the 2026 First Amendment Awards Event
By Susan Geier
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications is pleased to announce that Pete Buttigieg will serve as keynote speaker for the 2026 First Amendment Awards Event on Monday, September 21, at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.
Recognized as New Hampshire's premier celebration of the First Amendment, the annual event brings together business, civic, media, education, and community leaders to celebrate the freedoms that strengthen our democracy and to recognize New Hampshire individuals whose leadership exemplifies those constitutional freedoms.
Buttigieg served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. Previously, he served two terms as mayor of South Bend, IN, and was an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve for seven years, deploying to Afghanistan in 2014. He holds degrees in history and literature from Harvard University and in philosophy, politics, and economics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
He joins a distinguished list of previous event speakers, including well-known journalists and elected officials such as U.S. Representative Liz Cheney and both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
This year's event will also recognize Howard Brodsky, chair and co-founder of CCA Global Partners, with the Quill & Ink Award for advancing First Amendment education in the Granite State. He and his late son, Jeffrey, co-founded the annual Brodsky Prize for Excellence in High School Journalism in 2018.
The recipient of the 2026 First Amendment Award will be announced following the public nomination process.
Supporting the Loeb School's Mission
The First Amendment Awards Event is the Loeb School's signature annual fundraiser, supporting educational programs that promote First Amendment freedoms, journalism, and effective communication. Proceeds help the School provide accessible, expert-led classes and workshops for students, professionals, journalists, nonprofit leaders, and community members from across New Hampshire.
Join Us in the Celebration
The First Amendment Awards Event will be held on Monday, September 21, at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
The evening includes:
5 p.m. – VIP Reception
5:30 p.m. – Networking
6:30 p.m. – Awards Program
Learn more about the event, sponsorship opportunities, and tickets.