Join us Friday, October 9, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for OBU’s Lamppost 2026 Literary Conference. This day of learning is beneficial for anyone teaching the Great Books, whether that be in a school, in a co-op, or in your own home. We want to equip you to share with your students the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness found in the great texts of the Western tradition.
This year’s conference theme is “Take Up and Read” which comes from Augustine’s classic Confessions, a book with much to say about reading. Augustine’s life was dramatically changed when he picked up Paul’s epistle to the Romans in the garden one day, but his life was touched by his reading even before that. Virgil awakened the young Augustine to the beauty of language. Later, Cicero’s Hortensius awakened him to the pursuit of wisdom. Lamppost 2026 will explore the way Great Books can change our lives and shift our priorities.
The keynote speaker for Lamppost 2026 is philosopher and advocate for the liberal arts, Jennifer Frey.
Dr. Jennifer Frey is a philosopher, writer, and host of the Sacred and Profane Love podcast. A nationally prominent advocate for the Liberal Arts, Frey has written for The Wall Street Journal, First Things, The New Times, and other publications. She is a faculty fellow at the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America and a Newbigin Interfaith Fellow with The Carver Project. She previously held academic positions at The University of Chicago, The University of South Carolina, and The University of Tulsa. She recently joined the faculty at The University of Virginia.
Conference Schedule
Subject to Change
| Time | Educator Track |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration Opens |
| Welcome Session | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome Geiger Center, Rooms 219–220 |
|
Breakout Sessions include both a teacher track and student track offered separately yet simultaneously. |
|
| 9:10-9:50 a.m. | Breakout #1 |
| 10:00-10:40 a.m. | Breakout #2 |
| 10:55-11:45 a.m. | Breakout #3 |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch featuring keynote speaker Jennifer Frey |
| 1:20 p.m. | Awards and comments |
| 1:45 p.m. | Great Book Panel for teachers attending |
| 1:50 p.m. | Scavenger Hunt for students attending |
| 2:40 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 2:50 p.m. | End of Day |
Breakout Sessions
The day will include breakout sessions by OBU faculty, who will help you tackle specific important books. We will also offer a panel discussion on Great Books and classical education in the twenty-first century.
If you are unsure where to begin with the Iliad or the Divine Comedy, or if you have been teaching them for a long time and just want to dig a little deeper, then Lamppost is for you.
Teacher Session Topics include:
- The Iliad and the Odyssey
- The Divine Comedy
- Don Quixote
- The works and thoughts of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- The poetry of T.S. Eliot
- Homeschooling the Literary Way
Student Breakout Session Topics include:
- Homer’s Odyssey
- Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy
- Writing short stories
Lamppost 2026 is a free literary conference facilitated by OBU’s Division of Language and Literature.
Registration is now open for this enriching day of learning.