Bright Note
2026 Speaker – Coming Soon
A Bright Note inspires community.
Bright Note is a new signature for the John T. Vucurevich Foundation’s annual speaker series that brings nationally and internationally recognized thought leaders to Rapid City to share inspiring ideas and meaningful conversations with the community.
In 1993, John T. Vucurevich had an idea–what if our community could connect to and understand the world better from right here in Rapid City. As a voracious reader, John understood the power of a global perspective and bright ideas. The series began with legendary astronomer Carl Sagan, and lives up to its reputation with annual speakers who make a big difference with actions that shine through. Since day one, tickets cost just $7 (or $3 for students) because John believed the event should be accessible to all. The remainder of the balance is picked up by the Foundation as a gift to our community.
Bright Note is an opportunity to dream big, ask questions, and take note of ways to make a piece of our community a brighter place.
Be the first to know about upcoming speakers.
Past Speakers
2025
Kevin Bacon
Actor, Musician & Philanthropist
2024
Adam Cheyer
Co-Founder of Siri
2023
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President of Liberia
(2006-2018)
2022
Mike Massimino & Garrett Reisman
An Evening With Two Funny Astronauts
2019
Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D.
Oncologist, cancer researcher and Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer
2018
JB Straubel
Co-Founder of Tesla
2017
David Cameron
British Prime Minister
(2010-2016)
2016
Itzhak Perlman
Virtuoso of the Violin
2015
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and host of Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey
2014
David Brooks
New York Times Columnist and Author
2013
Steve Wozniak
Co-Founder of Apple, Inc.
2012
Robert Gates
Former Secretary of Defense
2009
Steve Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Best-Selling Authors of Freakonomics
2010
Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Legendary Duke Basketball Coach
2008
Gen. Tommy Franks, USA (Ret.)
Former Commander of U.S. Central Command
2007
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author & Presidential Historian
2006
John Walsh
Host of America’s Most Wanted
2005
Dr. Sylvia Earle
Marine Biologist
2004
Dave Barry
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist
2003
Benazir Bhutto
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
2002
Ehud Barak
Former Prime Minister of Israel
2001
Dr. Beck Weathers
Mt. Everest Survivor
2000
Dr. James Watson
Scientist & Nobel Prize Winner
1999
Carol Burnett
Comedian
1998
Colin Powell
Former U.S. Secretary of State
F.W. de Klerk
Former President of South Africa
1997
Dr. Jane Goodall, PhD, CBE
Primatologist
1996
Sandra Day O’Connor
Former Supreme Court Justice
1995
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Physician, Author
1994
Margaret Thatcher
Former Prime Minister of Britain
1993
Carl Sagan
American Astronomer
Adam Cheyer
Co-Founder of Siri
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President of Liberia (2006-2018)
Mike Massimino & Garrett Reisman
An Evening With Two Funny Astronauts
Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D.,
Oncologist, cancer researcher and Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer
JB Straubel
Co-Founder of Tesla
David Cameron
British Prime Minister (2010-2016)
Itzhak Perlman
Virtuoso of the Violin
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and host of Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey
David Brooks
New York Times Columnist and Author
Steve Wozniak
Co-Founder of Apple, Inc.
Robert Gates
Former Secretary of Defense
Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Legendary Duke Basketball Coach
Steve Levitt & Stephen Dubner
Best-Selling Authors of Freakonomics
Gen. Tommy Franks, USA (Ret.)
Former Commander of U.S. Central Command
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author & Presidential Historian
John Walsh
Host of America’s Most Wanted
Dr. Sylvia Earle
Marine Biologist
Dave Barry
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist
Benazir Bhutto
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Ehud Barak
Former Prime Minister of Israel
Dr. Beck Weathers
Mt. Everest Survivor
Dr. James Watson
Scientist & Nobel Prize Winner
Carol Burnett
Comedian
Colin Powell
Former U.S. Secretary of State
F.W. de Klerk
Former President of South Africa
Dr. Jane Goodall, PhD, CBE
Primatologist
Sandra Day O’Connor
Former Supreme Court Justice
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Physician, Author
Margaret Thatcher
Former Prime Minister of Britain
Carl Sagan
American Astronomer
Kevin Bacon
Actor, Musician & Philanthropist