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THE MCCONNELL CENTER Where Teaching History & Making History Come Together THE MCCONNELL CENTER Where Teaching History & Making History Come Together 1 FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT RAMSEY It is the goal of every institution of higher learning to prepare its students to take their place on the local, state and national stages. For generations, students have found their political voices and a lifelong calling on college campuses and learned how public policy and advocacy shape our country. The University of Louisville has been proud to be the home of the McConnell Center for more than 20 years, exposing students to a variety of viewpoints from some of the most important and influential leaders of their time. In addition to learning from the best and the brightest, the center has provided more than 200 students with $3 million dollars in scholarship money over the last two decades. In the same way UofL strives to change and better the world around us, the McConnell Center has improved the university, while affecting the larger community in significant and lasting ways. The center’s high profile reputation and prestigious guest speakers continually shines a bright light on our city, while providing our future leaders access to insight and advice from national and international leaders. The center also has established a permanent lecture series, free and open to the public, on a variety of important public policy topics. As the center continues to expand its role on campus and in our community, I ask that you join me in lending our support to Dr. Gary Gregg and his team, now and in the years ahead. James R. Ramsey President, University of Louisville 1 2 A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Since 1991, the McConnell Center’s core mission has been to find, nurture and educate the most outstanding young leaders we can find in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In its first two decades, the center has given its students scholarships and opportunities to learn, grow and study around the world. Our graduates are now serving our state and nation in leadership positions in business, the military, medicine, education and politics. While some are still studying or serving in nations ranging from Great Britain to Thailand, more than 65 percent are now living and serving in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Because we believe in augmenting students’ modern university education with unique opportunities, in addition to focusing on the perennial concerns of liberal education, we think the former CIA Director David Petraeus got it right when he recently said, “We can be confident that leaders with the right skills and the right attitude are being developed here (the McConnell Center) to help lead us into the future—leaders who are comfortable in multiple arenas, and, more importantly, who are willing to embrace the unfamiliar and to confront dynamic situations.” As the McConnell Center continues to grow to better serve its students, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our nation, we will strive to be worthy of his confidence that we are producing the right young people to help lead us into the future. Gary L. Gregg, II Director, McConnell Center 3 4 TIMELINE OF MCCONNELL CENTER’S HISTORY • Established as the McConnell • First trip to the People’s • First conference, • First intellectual retreat for • Civic Education • Dedication of the U.S. Sen. Mitch Center for Political Leadership in the Republic of China “Winston Churchill: McConnell Scholars; Mecosta, MI Initiative established McConnell and Secretary Elaine L. University of Louisville’s Department • Logo created by McConnell Statesman of the • First Truman Scholar; Elizabeth • Center publishes special Chao Archives of Political Science Scholar (first logo) Century?” Sawyer (’04) edition of “George • Center celebrates Sen. McConnell’s • Paul Weber, PhD, named Director • First Fulbright Scholar; Chris Washington: A Photographic tenure as longest-serving U.S. senator • Center designated as a Kenner (’03) traveled to Germany Story of a Life,” by Lenny Hort, from Kentucky “Center of Excellence” by on a research scholarship foreword by Gary L. Gregg • Dedication of Ford the University of Louisville • First non-China international trip Hall renovation • Mitch McConnell Chair in • Center publishes “Books • McConnell Scholar for McConnell Scholars; Scholars Leadership endowed and the Founding Fathers,” Alumni invited to civic • First distinguished traveled to Scotland and England by George H. Nash education programs and speaker (George conferences Shultz) 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 • Center publishes • McConnell Center partners with “America’s Forgotten Harvard University’s Institute Founders,” edited by of Politics for civic engagement • Gary Gregg, PhD, named director • “Interview Weekend” for Gary L. Gregg and Mark and education initiative McConnell Scholars becomes David Hall • Paul Weber, PhD, becomes the first center Fellow • Center republishes “Hero • First McConnell Scholar • Chris Mattingly Award for a two-day process Tales from American History” Council created; Matt Outstanding Service to the • Website, www.mcconnellcenter.org, established • Center moves to new wing • Freshmen McConnell by Henry Cabot Lodge and Webster (Class of ‘96) Commonwealth established; in Ekstrom Library; includes • Center publishes first book, "The Senate: Great Scholar orientation begins in Theodore Roosevelt, with elected as first Chair Sherleen Sisney is first award offices, Henry Clay statue and Forum of Constitutional Liberty", by U.S. Sen. Washington, DC introduction by U.S. Sen. Mitch recipient (1998) desk and display cases in front Robert C. Byrd McConnell and Gary L. Gregg • Center publishes special of Elaine L. Chao Auditorium • Center’s first autographed Louisville Slugger, edition of “A Student’s • Center publishes “The Senate: • Center renamed “McConnell signed by U.S. Sen. Byrd Guide to American Political Great Forum of Constitutional Center”; new logo created; • Public lecture series begins Thought,” by George W. Carey Liberty” by U.S. Sen. Robert C. • First class of McConnell motto becomes “Leadership. Byrd, foreword and afterword Scholars matriculates • First graduate assistantships established Scholarship. Service.” • First "Fall Retreat" by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, • First trip to Washington, • Center publishes “The Senate: Great Forum of for McConnell • Moot court team is established; introduction by Gary L. Gregg DC; met President Constitutional Liberty,” by U.S. Sen. Robert C. Scholars held in Ky.; competed in first regional George H.W. Bush Byrd, foreword by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell now an annual event competition in St. Paul, MN 5 6 MCCONNELL CENTER BY THE NUMBERS The year U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Number of McConnell Center Fellows. These 1991 University of Louisville officials established nationally recognized academics lead Socratic the McConnell Center 5 seminars for McConnell Scholars, offer career advice and guide students through China. 253 Number of McConnell Scholars, past and present 1,200 Number of community service hours McConnell Number of Kentucky counties represented Scholars complete every year 74 by McConnell Scholars Money spent annually on professional Percentage of McConnell Scholar alumni who $200,000 development programs for Kentucky social currently reside in the Commonwealth. Sen. studies teachers, grades K-12 65% McConnell said the original vision of the center was to "keep Kentucky's best and brightest in Kentucky." Number of seminars offered each year to Total scholarship money distributed to Kentucky McConnell Scholars. Past topics include military $3 million students to attend the University of Louisville 33 leadership, religion, gender, political philosophy, race, economics, politics, public policy, constitutionalism, pop culture and classical literature Number of pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions 30,000 distributed by the McConnell Center since 2007 8 Number of McConnell Scholars receiving Fulbright Number of Telly Awards earned by the Scholarships in the past 10 years McConnell Center for two films, shown daily 4 at the U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Secretary Elaine L. Chao Archives Number of McConnell Scholars named 2 Truman Scholars at the University of Louisville Number of guests in our Distinguished Speaker Series. Recent speakers include U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Number of books and publications produced 45 Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 10 by the McConnell Center CIA Director David Petraeus. 7 8 THE MCCONNELL CENTER: A Legacy of Leadership The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville is a premier scholarship program centered on three principles: scholarship, leadership and service. It is dedicated to providing a non-partisan, well-rounded education that encourages top undergraduate students to become valued citizens and future leaders of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the nation. The center pursues its mission through the following: McConnell Scholars scholars to the University U.S. Sen. Mitch Program: McConnell and Secretary of Louisville, where their Elaine L. Chao Archives: A society limited to 40 insights and examples undergraduate students can serve the community The civic education gallery, at the University of and the Commonwealth an outreach program of Louisville who participate of Kentucky. the McConnell-Chao in liberal arts seminars Archives, brings people and earn tuition and Civic Education Program: in direct contact with travel scholarships to archival material, creating The McConnell Center Washington, D.C., and a greater awareness conducts
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