Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence Mcconnellcenter.Org a Note from the Director

Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence McConnellCenter.org A Note from the Director:

We began as a small scholarship program in the UofL Political We produced academic studies, Science department, and now, 25 years later, the McConnell as well as small books, that have Center has grown to be a nationally-recognized “Center of garnered national – and even Excellence in Higher Education.” Despite changes in students, international – attention. staff and location, the core mission of the Center remains the same today as it was in 1991 when Paul Weber, Mitch Four years ago, the U.S. Army McConnell and a handful of faculty and administrators asked us to take on the daunting established it: to find, attract, nurture and support the most task of contributing to the outstanding young student leaders in the Commonwealth of education of top mid-career Kentucky. military leaders. Nearly 100 soldiers have spent a month with For our 25th year, we adopted an informal slogan that us recharging their intellectual captures our mission: “From Kentucky, For Kentucky.” Our batteries and thinking about 250 students who have received more than $3.5 million in everything from Plato’s vision to NATO’s mission. scholarships over the years have come from small towns and big cities. Some came from just across the street to college and These successes are only the beginning. There will always be others have come from as far away as Pikeville and Paducah. more outstanding students ready for a broadening education Despite the distance, they all came to the McConnell Center in leadership and the liberal arts. There will always be more for an education in leadership, and they are now leading in Kentucky teachers looking for the resources to help them virtually every field – from medicine to the military and from better serve their young students as they prepare for lives engineering to business. of citizenship and service. Ascending military leaders will always need a place to be intellectually challenged outside the In short, we are fulfilling the mission set before us a quarter of confines of their branch training. a century ago, and Kentucky is better for it. Because of the vision of our founders, the generosity of our Along the way, the Center outgrew the confines of Ford Hall donors and the hard work of our staff and partners, the and our relationship with just one academic department. We McConnell Center stands ready for the challenges of the next were established as a “Center of Excellence” to serve all of quarter century. campus. We took on the big task of contributing to our civic dialogue by providing professional development to teachers.

Gary L. Gregg, II Director, McConnell Center McConnell Center’s Distinguished Speaker Series Kentucky’s premier political lecture series since 1993

2016 2008 2000 U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst Pulitzer Prize Winner Doris Kearns U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd 2015 Goodwin British Ambassador Christopher Meyer U.S. Sen. Tim Scott 2007 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha U.S. Sen. Harry Reid Thomas Power U.S. President George W. Bush U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd 2014 2006 U.S. Sec. of Defense William Perry U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte Hon. Lynne Cheney 1999 2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy Chinese Ambassador Li Zhaoxing U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio 2005 U.S. Rep. Anne Northup 2012 U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar 1998 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison U.S. Sec. of State James Baker Kyi 2004 1997 CIA Director David Petraeus U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman U.S. Sec. of State Madeleine Albright U.S. Sec. of Defense Leon Panetta U.S. National Security Advisor 1996 2011 Condoleezza Rice U.S. Sen. William Bradley U.S. House Speaker John Boehner 2003 1995 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden U.S. Sec. of Defense William Cohen Deputy U.S. Sec. of State Strobe Talbott 2010 U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Maher El U.S. Sen. Scott Brown U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy Sayed President of India APJ Abdul Kalam 2002 1994 U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm U.S. Ambassador Robert White 2009 U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski Israeli Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich U.S. Sen. John McCain 2001 1993 U.S. Sec. of Labor Elaine L. Chao U.S. Sec. of State Colin Powell U.S. Sec. of State George Schultz U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Pulitzer Prize Winner George F. Will Roberts Prime Minister of Belize Said Musa U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell Connecting leaders of today with Kentucky’s leaders of tomorrow. $3.5 million in 62% of Scholar alumni scholarships awarded reside in Kentucky 8% of our graduates are presently in graduate Each Scholar is guaranteed programs; 5% work in Washington, D.C., and full tuition to UofL. 2% serve in the U.S. military.

CAMPBELL CO. Easton Depp

JEFFERSON CO. Highlands High School Isaac Feinn Christian Educational Consortium

Natasha Mundkur

50+ Leadership duPont Manual High School OWEN CO. Miranda Mason Claire Gothard Owen County High School duPont Manual High School

ROWAN CO. Seminars DAVIESS CO. Bridget Kim Alumni250+ McConnell Scholars Georgiana Sook Rowan County High School Daviess County High School

Students meet with local, FRANKLIN CO. Sidney Cobb Each has received the “McConnell Center” Western Hills High School

CALDWELL CO.

Erica Gaither HARDIN CO. JESSAMINE CO. state and national policy Caldwell County High School Colton Stinger Bethlehem High School Nicole Fielder experience supporting leadership, scholarship West Jessamine High School and community service for Kentucky students. experts, authors and (1)Ten new scholars aremap chosen each year. withhistorians each year. ALL 3,000+ community service hours 3 Truman Scholars McConnell Scholars average a combined Scholars earned this 3,000+ hours of community service each year prestigious post-graduate with local organizations. scholarship for their dedication to public service. CONNELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM SCHOLARS CONNELL c

M alumni counties 6 Student Body Presidents 12 Fulbright Scholars Proven leaders, these Scholars have served across the globe, students were elected by their including positions in Argentina, South Korea, peers to serve as a leader of (2)Malaysia, Kazakhstan list and more. of all the UofL Student Government.

Nationally ranked moot court team Annual U.S. Army In 2016, the McConnell Center’s moot court team alumniWar College Fellow by classwas ranked a top-20 program. The McConnell Center hosts a residential 7 guaranteed trips U.S. Army War College Part of the Fellow at the University McConnell Center of Louisville. This 100+ U.S. soldiers broadened experience includes officer studies at UofL summer study in

ARMY PROGRAMSARMY Since 2014, the McConnell Center has offered and offers leadership China and a “behind- top mid-career U.S. Army soldiers a 30-day development to the-scenes” tour of “McConnell Scholar” experience on issues related McConnell Scholars. Washington, D.C. to leadership and international relations. 250 Young Leaders Academy graduates This annual summer program offers leadership enrichment to Ky. high school students.

41,000 80 archived videos U.S. Constitutions & speeches distributed A global education This pocket-size edition is is available at your given free to classrooms and fingertips. Visit our 600 Kentucky teachers students as part of our efforts digital library to watch More than 600 Kentucky social studies teachers to improve civic literacy. past speeches from have participated in professional development historians, politicians conferences, lectures and workshops as part of and experts on a wide

CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM EDUCATION CIVIC our Civic Education Program. variety of civic topics.

12 Publications & DVDs 30+ partner organizations McCONNELL CHAO ARCHIVES Our publication series includes We partner with a variety of local and national “The Senate: Great Forum of organizations, including the Harvard Institute 2 Telly Award-winning films Constitutional Liberty,” “Hero of Politics, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Located in the U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Tales from American History” and U.S. Senate, Woodrow Wilson Center, Sons and Secretary Elaine L. Chao Archives’ Civic four DVDs on Kentucky history. of the American Revolution, Liberty Fund and Education Gallery, “The Promise of America” the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, to follows Chao’s rise from immigrant to strengthen and broaden our abiility to serve. member of a President’s Cabinet, while Sen. 9 Sponsored Conferences McConnell narrates a film on the history of Our conferences on “The the U.S. Senate. In addition to viewing these Future of the Electoral College,” 2 places to call home films, visitors can learn lessons from U.S. “Presidential Mistakes” and more The McConnell Center was housed on the history and Kentucky politics while viewing have garnered national and fourth floor of Ford Hall until moving to the new artifacts from the careers of McConnell and international attention. West Wing of Ekstrom Library in 2006.

PUBLICATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS & PUBLICATIONS Chao.

5 McConnell Center Fellows 49 Distinguished 25 YEARS OF These senior scholars offer their wisdom and Speakers EXCELLENCE expertise to students and the public. To date, the Center has hosted dozens of national This 25-year legacy of leadership, and international leaders, 25 including President scholarship & service culminated with the Facts 12 public lectures George W. Bush, Vice per year President Joe Biden, McConnell Center being named an 25 The Center hosts experts Supreme Court Chief on U.S. history, government, Justice John Roberts, as “Oasis of Excellence” Years of in higher education

PUBLIC LECTURES PUBLIC leadership and economics well as secretaries of state, by the American as part of its free and public secretaries of defense, Excellence monthly lecture series. ambassadors and Council of Trustees & Alumni. Congressional leaders. Tom Fisher Kristy Johnson David Moore James Reed Misty Schlatter Matthew Young 1996 Katie Grout Chris Mattingly DeeAnn Patten Kara Samuel Matthew Webster

Kevin Alexander Rhonda Bertram Shauna Cole Christa Fischer Chris Starks 1997 Jeri Barclay Shawn Campbell Adele Collins Sarah Markham Rachelle Thomas

Mike Adams Erin Arnold Vince Gabbert Paul Maglinger David Riches Bryan Wilson 1998 Kathy Annear Tina Broaddus Brock Harmon Holli Norton Heather Roe

Craig Bingham Jonathan Goins Samekh Masden Liz Popelka Christy Trout 1999 25Kimberly Blackford Rachelfacts Hoskins Crystal Meyer April- Shutts useKelly Vest Chris Davenport Matthew Lehman Amy Minix Chris Stephens

Kris Abein Melissa Farmer Scott Jennings Hollie Sawyer Jonathan 2000 Mendy Dorris Ben Humphries Nathan Roberts Rebecca Sim Westbrook

David Flores Laura Leone Neil Salyer Jerry Sturgill Connie Wilkinson 2001 Melodie Humphrey Ryan Newcomb Erin Simpson Dan Utley

Chris Atzinger Shae Bryant Erin Beth Moran Shannon Rickett Charlton Mary Ann Vetter 2002 HeatherNakeisha Britton Michelle Grant Lauren Morrison JonesStubblefield files

Eric Baker Kelly Buckles John Daniel Chris Kenner Matt Thacker 2003 Rebekah Booth Sarah Carter Roger Davis Todd Shuemaker

Jonathan Ballard Kelly Hanlon Elizabeth Sawyer Coy Travis April Weatherman 2004 Stacee Blackburn Malana Hartzog Brad Stepp

Sarah Alford Mariya Jaeryl Covington Susan Gaines Mary Scott Roberts Kelly Williams 2005 Laura Barclay Chernyavskaya Rick Curtsinger Casey Rickard Becky Schneider

Bill Brammell Jordan Glover Jacqueline Grimes Jennifer O’Reilly Ashley Sartaine 2006 Laura Chai Dollie Greenwell Ben Moore Alicia Paez Greg Virgin

Greg Bird Sara Clemons Becky Graham Hannah Hodges Brittany Todd 2007 Evan Buckley Toree Edwards GlyptusAnn Grider Chelsey Stephenson Sam Vermani

Charis Botelho Anthony Cash Teresa dela Cruz Matt Flairty Kyle Riggs 2008 Daniel Cameron Andrew Chacko Nina Faghri Eleanor Luken Justin Tooley

Derek Jones Jake Masters Katie Miller Dani Smith Dede Tran 2009 Mauricus Lofton Josh Masters Andrew Murphy Rudy Spencer

Brad Atzinger Kirk Laughlin Forrest Pittman Tejas Shastry Boris Yelin 2010 Jamie Giles Molly Peterson Anna Ramsay Robert Works

Andrew Carroll Chelsey Hall Mary Kate Lindsey Kelsey Mann Ross Smith 2011 Hunter Davis Charley Helms Trisha Maclin Katlin Rust Sean Williamson

Zach Barnes Kurtis Frizzell Eric Kiser Ben Shephard 2012 Blake Christopher Alex Jenkins Trey Pippin John Weber McCONNELL SCHOLARS: Jessica Bagby Justin Brandt Meagan Floyd Jonathan Michael Ben Weyman 2013 Tyler Bosley Adam Dahmer Taryn Mahanes Max Morley Michael Zeller From Kentucky, For Kentucky

Jaymar Bonet Mary Kennedy oSha Shireman Sarah Stovall 2014 Janna Imel Evan Shepherd Abeer Sikder Meghan Waters

Paige Brewer Cathrine Mountain Samantha Roney Andrew Stewart Benjamin Whitlock 2015 Arsh Haque Danielle Robinette Sean Southard Joel Thomas Samuel Whittaker

Victoria Allen Kevin Grout Natalie Smith Travis Wilson Mary Elizabeth Chloe Zoeller 2016 Katie Cambron Philip Moore Connor Tracy Young Tom Fisher Kristy Johnson David Moore James Reed Misty Schlatter Matthew Young 1996 Katie Grout Chris Mattingly DeeAnn Patten Kara Samuel Matthew Webster

Kevin Alexander Rhonda Bertram Shauna Cole Christa Fischer Chris Starks 1997 Jeri Barclay Shawn Campbell Adele Collins Sarah Markham Rachelle Thomas

Mike Adams Erin Arnold Vince Gabbert Paul Maglinger David Riches Bryan Wilson 1998 Kathy Annear Tina Broaddus Brock Harmon Holli Norton Heather Roe

Craig Bingham Jonathan Goins Samekh Masden Liz Popelka Christy Trout 1999 Kimberly Blackford Rachel Hoskins Crystal Meyer April Shutts Kelly Vest Chris Davenport Matthew Lehman Amy Minix Chris Stephens

Kris Abein Melissa Farmer Scott Jennings Hollie Sawyer Jonathan 2000 Mendy Dorris Ben Humphries Nathan Roberts Rebecca Sim Westbrook

David Flores Laura Leone Neil Salyer Jerry Sturgill Connie Wilkinson 2001 Melodie Humphrey Ryan Newcomb Erin Simpson Dan Utley

Chris Atzinger Shae Bryant Erin Beth Moran Shannon Rickett Charlton Mary Ann Vetter 2002 Nakeisha Britton Michelle Grant Lauren Morrison Stubblefield