F A L L 2 0 1 9 HIF NEWSLETTER THE LATEST NEWS & UPDATES FROM THE HUNGARY INITIATIVES FOUNDATION WRAPPING UP OUR BUSIEST SEASON YET I N T H I S I S S U E After an eventful summer with programs on both sides of the Atlantic, this fall kicked CLARINETIST BENCE off with a record number of HIF-sponsored SZEPESI DEBUTS IN DC interns, scholars and fellows coming to SZÉLL KÁLMÁN FELLOWS Washington. OFF TO A GREAT START We bid farewell to an exceptionally YOUNG HUNGARIAN talented trio of summer TFAS Fellows and LEADERS PROGRAM RECAP welcomed to Washington three new HAC LTP interns, two new Széll Kálmán Fellows, ZEBEGÉNY ALUMNI RETREAT two Quinnipiac Central European American 2019 GALLERY Business Leaders Scholarship recipients, CELEBRATING EUROPE our first Denton Fellow and also welcomed WHOLE AND FREE AT THE back all of our CEPA Andrássy Alumni. ATLANTIC COUNCIL The Hungarian Buzz in DC is now talk of the town. F A L L 2 0 1 9 Do Free Markets Work? ECON SEMINAR WITH CHRIS BALL As part of our in-house programming, on Saturday, July 27, we held our first econ seminar focusing on first principles and economic dilemmas. The all-day seminar was held by Prof Christopher Ball, Director of the Central European Institute at Quinnipiac University, and was offered to all HIF-sponsored summer interns, fellows and graduate scholars in Washington DC for the summer period. The discussions focused on topics that gave a comparative Professor Christopher Ball perspective on both US and Hungarian economies, and on theory and practice in both countries. Participants had the opportunity to become familiar with the basic principles of free market economics and its effects on the US as well as on Europe, specifically on Hungary. CELEBRATING EUROPE WHOLE AND FREE AT THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL The Atlantic Council in cooperation with GLOBSEC hosted a two day conference in July in Washington highlighting the importance of Central Europe as engines of transatlantic relations. HIF Chairman Amb. April Foley and Board Member Amb. Kurt Volker were featured in the robust program discussing the past, present and future of the alliance. On the panel on Identity, Values, and Democracy Anna Smith Lacey talked about why national identity and sovereignty is important for countries in Central Europe that suffered from communist oppression, and why a respect for traditions that region holds dear should be a key element of US-Central Europe relations. She also highlighted the wide support that NATO enjoys across the region and praised the U.S. administration’s new approach towards Central and Eastern Europe based on realism, restraint, and respect. “The West cannot lose its soul and expect to win geopolitical battles on land, air, sea and cyber space. ” – Anna Smith Lacey F A L L 2 0 1 9 Molly Montgomery Ambassador Daniel Fried, Anna Smith Lacey, Pavol Demes HIF AT BRAIN BAR FUTURE JOBS BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Brain Bar 2019 was a two-day whirlwind of groundbreaking discussions, including the future of data, business, travel, geopolitics, and intelligence. Over 15,000 people from every continent gathered to hear speakers such as Jordan Peterson, Canadian political scientist and psychologist. HIF was also featured at Future Jobs talent and job fair where HIF staff provided information on fellowship, scholarship, and internship programs, and their mission to strengthen the understanding and cooperation and build bridges between Hungary and the US. Isabelle Colf, Franciska Cunningham-Epli Fanni Virág F A L L 2 0 1 9 Do Free Markets Work? ECON SEMINAR WITH CHRIS BALL As part of our in-house programming, on Saturday, July 27, we held our first econ seminar focusing on first principles and economic dilemmas. The all-day seminar was held by Prof Christopher Ball, Director of the Central European Institute at Quinnipiac University, and was offered to all HIF-sponsored summer interns, fellows and graduate scholars in Washington DC for the summer period. The discussions focused on topics that gave a comparative perspective on both US and Hungarian economies, and on theory and practice in both countries. Participants had the opportunity to become familiar with the basic principles of free market economics and its effects on the US as well as on Europe, specifically on Hungary. F A L L 2 0 1 9 QUINNIPIAC AND HIF JOIN FORCES AT ZEBEGÉNY ALUMNI SUMMIT On June 1, 2019 Quinnipiac University’s Centr al European Institute (CEI) and The Hungary Initiatives Foundation (HIF) co-hosted the Zebeg ény Alumni Summit. This event, for the first time, brought together the alumni of all Quinnipiac- and HIF-sponsored scholarships, internships and fellowships and our allies from the business, non-profit and government sectors. The keynote speaker and guest of honor of the summit was Wess Mitchell, Vice Chairman of the Board of CEPA who held an alumni-only seminar on the statesmanship of István Széchenyi, drawing important historical lessons from nineteenth century Austro-Hungarian geopolitics and statecraft. Vizi E Szilveszter, President of the Friends of Hungary Foundation presented the foundation’s “Friend on Hungary Award” to Prof. Christopher Ball, for his tireless efforts in expanding and deepening the educational and personal ties between the United States and Hungary. For over a decade, the Zebegény gathering has served as a networking opportunity for those wanting to contribute to the future of Hungary and the region by helping younger generations through educational and business opportunities in both the US and Europe. F A L L 2 0 1 9 2019 SUMMER SZÉLL KÁLMÁN FELLOWSHIP RECAP Ilona Schumicky, Noémi Pálfalvi, and Márton Hegedüs, this year’s first batch of Széll Kálmán Fellows really made us proud this summer. They "I am very happy I had this experience before have gone above and beyond to excel in their moving to China, because it emphasized the fact studies, at their internships and to spread some that no matter what people say about economic Hungarian cheer among their peers. growth, trade relations, etc., the freedom of individuals and communities is the most important..” - Noémi Pálfalvi Noémi Pálfalvi spent eight weeks at the Religious Freedom Institute, where she learned about the importance of religious liberty in the US and around the world. This internship was particularly important to her on a personal and professional level since she plans on pursuing a career working on this issue. Noémi often attended briefings and hearings in the House and the Senate and helped with the preparations of a high-level ministerial meeting on Protecting Vulnerable Religious and Ethnic Minorities, one of the highlights of the Miklós K. Lázár summer. “I was so happy to be here and get an insight on American politics, which I wouldn’t have gotten Ilona Schumicky interned at the Media Research otherwise, and also be able to do meaningful Center’s CNS news division while attending the work.” Economic and Public Policy track with TFAS with -Ilona Schumicky ethics and leadership electives. In two short months, Ilona wrote more than two dozen articles on a wide array of topics ranging from the State Department’s new Unalienable Rights Commission to Brexit and big tech companies use of private data. Márton Hegedüs spent his summer interning at Rumble Up, the biggest peer-to-peer texting platform and one of the most dynamically developing technology startups in the US. Márton emphasized how important it was that Rumble Up treated him as an important, full-time employee “Being handled as one of the colleagues and from his first day, an attitude which inspired him to being listened to in meetings is something that do his best and deliver great work. Márton said he shows how seriously RumbleUp took this enjoyed getting to know other fellows, visiting the internship." - Márton Hegedüs Hungarian Embassy, and connecting with both Hungarians and Americans this summer. F A L L 2 0 1 9 HIF FEATURED AT TFAS' WASHINGTON DC CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF LIBERTY + LEADERSHIP What is the Future of Liberty and Leadership? That's the question the two day conference hosted by one of HIF’s partner institutions, The Fund for American Studies, focused on to provide an opportunity to hear fJraonmka aDnedli engage progrGaámb oarl uMmárnkii who are involved in educating for liberty around the globe. The conference in Washington DC featured a panel moderated by Shane M. Mazzella, Vice President of U.S. Programs at TFAS, with speakers including Peter Feldman, commissioner, Consumer Product Safety Commission Nick Ballasy, PJ Media and Anna Smith Lacey, executive director of HIF. Anna spoke of the impact that TFAS programs have on their participants and how the programs shape their thinking on the role of government in a free society. She said that an important aspect of Máté Vincze the programs is that while students get a total immersion experience in Washington, they are encouraged to interact and debate amongst themselves, even more so than in an American college class. Since 2018, HIF has been closely cooperating with TFAS and launched the Széll Kálmán Fellowship in 2017. The fellowship is a unique, fully-funded opportunity for Hungarians to participate in TFAS’s intense summer and fall programs to live, learn, and intern in Washington, DC. “You can't have a free society without debates. But debates cannot censor or Founded in 1967, The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is bully the other side - they have to be an educational nonprofit that has over 42,000 alumni respectful, balanced and civilized.” – Anna Smith Lacey around the globe and has worked with over 18,000 students to teach the principles of limited government, free-market economics and honorable leadership to students and young professionals in America and around the world.