We are excited to announce the return of the Follin Speaker Series beginning in early 2025.  This endowed series has given Webb students, faculty, and parents the opportunity to be exposed to world-class speakers, authors, performers, coaches, and educators.  Our next special guest will be author V.J. Smith, who will be sharing on Webb's campus on Thursday, January 9th.

V.J. Smith is a professional speaker and best-selling author who graduated from South Dakota State University in 1978 and spent the decade of the 1980s working for the Allied Signal Aerospace Company in Kansas City.  He returned to his alma mater in 1990, working for six years in the SDSU Athletic Department.  He was appointed Executive Director of the SDSU Alumni Association in 1996.  In January 2007, he left that position to pursue a career in professional speaking.  Smith travels the country and makes over 100 speaking appearances a year. He has spoken in more than 500 schools throughout the country.

Meeting and Conventions Magazine named V.J. as one of the favorite speakers of meeting planners throughout America.  He is the author of the best-selling book, The Richest Man Town. The book details Smith’s relationship with a little old man who ran a cash register at a local Walmart.  “That guy changed my life,” Smith says.

He authored two other books and was a two-time finalist in Toastmasters International's "World Championship of Public Speaking.  Smith served in the State Senate of South Dakota from 2019-2023, and is currently the President of Life's Great Moments.

V.J. Smith will be giving his talk at two different times on January 9th - at 11:30AM and 1:30PM.  Parents, Alumni, and anyone from the community-at-large are invited to either presentation.  Both talks will occur in Follin Chapel on Webb's campus.  Free admission.