During a luncheon celebration at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Washington’s West End, the members of the senior class were congratulated for their accomplishments over the past two summers. In the presence of their families, they were reminded what had been required of them -- two summers of full-time internships, three demanding courses, and perfect attendance at numerous meetings, tours, workshops and other events. Almost all of these events took place with them wearing suits and ties in temperatures close to 100 degrees. Through it all, they more than persevered. As a result, they are better prepared to take on the leadership roles for which they were destined. They were also reminded of the high expectations that we have of them.
Each student was given a diploma and a lapel pin.
Biographies of the graduates.
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Ambassador Sylvia Stanfield joined the Institute’s students for dinner at the Washington offices of the law firm Epstein Becker and Green, PC to discuss opportunities to serve the country as members of the Foreign Service.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Ambassador Stanfield served as U.S. Ambassador to Brunei from November 1999 to September 2002.
From her official State Department bio: Her primary area of specialization has been Asian Affairs. She began her career with the Department of State in 1968. Her first overseas assignment was Vice Consul with the then American Embassy in Taipei, Taiwan. Her assignments have included tours as a political officer with the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Ambassador Stanfield has served as a Watch Officer in the Department of State Operations Center, as a political and economic/commercial officer in the Office of the Peoples Republic of China and Mongolian Affairs. Ambassador Stanfield has also been an Inspector with the Office of the Inspector General and served as an Examiner with the Board of Examiners of the Foreign Service. From 1990-1993, she was Director of the Office of Australia and New Zealand Affairs and from 1997-1998 she headed the Taiwan Coordination Affairs Office. Her most recent overseas assignment was as Charge d'Affaires a.i., and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. She is a Chinese Language officer. She earned a B.A. degree from Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio. As an East-West Center grantee, she received an M.A. degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii and continued her studies at the University of Hong Kong School of Oriental Studies and Linguistics.
In recent years, she has served as Ambassador-in-Residence at Florida A&M University, where she met senior Darius Graham, whom she recommended to the Institute. Beginning this fall, she will be at Spelman College.
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The speakers were Neal Wilson, Senior Managing Director of FBR Investment Management; Jay Perlman, Associate General Counsel; Mike Cerretani, Managind Director and Head of Institutional Sales; Framk Walker, Chief Compliance Officer; Maurice McKenzie, Vice President for Research; and Damon Munchus, Vice President, Investment Banking. The final briefing was given by the session’s organizer, Richard Walker, Vice President for Corporate Giving.
Fortune named FBR the 9 th fastest growing company in America in its most recent listing. The company was one of the most active Initial Public Offering underwriters in the country last year.
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The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honors organization which recognizes outstanding academic achievement among students in their freshman and sophomore years of college. The organization’s mission statement indicates that it is committed to “Honoring and inspiring academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime.” This makes NSCS a compatibale partner for the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Each year, NSCS assists our recruiting efforts by promoting the Institute to eligible NSCS members. This year, two students were selected from NSCS member applications – Joseph Jenkins of the University of Pittsburgh and Ashley Simms of the University at Albany.
Today, the remaining members of the junior class were inducted into NSCS during a luncheon ceremony held at the offices of the Washington law firm, Epstein Becker & Green.
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Paatii Ofosu-Ahaah, a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, hosted the Institute's students for a briefing and tour of the Bank.
Mr. Ofosu-Amaah was appointed Vice President and Corporate Secretary for the World Bank in 2003.
He joined the Bank in 1978. From 1980-1982, he served as Assistant to the Vice President and General Counsel. Thereafter, he served as Senior Counsel working on lending operations in Asia, Europe and Africa, and as Legal Adviser for Environmental Affairs. In 1992, he was appointed Chief Counsel in the Africa Division with responsibility for the Bank's legal work in that region. In 2000, he was appointed as Deputy General Counsel. In 2003, before being appointed to his current position, he has served as Acting Vice President and General Counsel. In addition to his other responsibilities, he has been working closely with the Board of Executive Directors and dealing with the legal issues relating to the Bank’s work on Iraq.
Mr. Ofosu-Amaah aided the establishment of the Global Environment Facility and other environment-related trust funds, policies and programs. Additionally, he assisted in the establishment of the African Capacity Building Foundation.
Prior to joining the Bank, he worked as an associate in the New York law firm of Davis Polk and Wardwell and served in Rome as a Legal Officer in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
He has law degrees from the University of Ghana and Harvard Law School.
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In a summer filled with meetings with policymakers and visits to governmental institutions, one of the most inspiring sessions the students experienced was with FOX sportscaster James Brown.Mr. Brown, who is well-known for hosting the Sunday NFL broadcasts on FOX, told the students about his experience working with his panelists Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmie Johnson. But he spent more time talking with the students about life lessons. Mr. Brown attended Harvard on a basketball scholarship. After failing to win a spot on a professional basketball team, he began a corporate career with IBM. Having a passion for sports and broadcasting, he worked his way up from local spot reporter to host of one of the most-watched shows in sports television and owner of a successful production company. He talked with the students about lessons he has learned along the way. The session took place after dinner at the home of Institute donors Michael and Harolyn Cardozo in Bethesda, Maryland.
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During a private meeting in his office in the United States Capitol, Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black told the junior class that their chances of achieving their dreams depends on two things – living a moral life and outworking their peers. Chaplain Black’s life is certainly an example of hard work. He worked himself up from a difficult existence in one of Baltimore’s bleakest housing projects to being elected in 2003 to be the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains. As Rear Admiral, his personal decorations included the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two medals), Meritorious Service Medals (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (two awards), and numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals.
In addition to earning Master of Arts degrees in Divinity, Counseling, and Management, Chaplain Black has earned a Doctorate in Ministry and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology.
Our national history is replete with societal leaders who, due to lack of a formal education, have often been dismissed as not being “intellectual.” Yet, such leaders, who may have rightfully been judged as unlikely to make any serious contribution to mankind, have ascended from the most restricted of personal situations to platforms that made large contributions to our society possible. How? In his talk, titled Radicals and Librarians: Finding Inspiration in Black History,Dr. Allen argued convincingly that a basic thirst for literacy and greedy consumption of knowledge was a critical factor in achieving these amazing transformations.
Kurt L. Schmoke, dean of the Howard University School of Law was a perfect person to inspire our students to set high goals for themselves. Mr. Schmoke earned his undergraduate degree in History from Yale University and pursued graduate studies on a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford. He earned the Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Schmoke was a Maryland State’s Attorney for five years and served as the mayor of Baltimore for twelve. In 1992, President George Bush awarded him the national Literacy Award for his efforts to promote adult literacy, and in 1994 President Bill Clinton praised his programs to improve public housing and enhance community economic development. The Clinton Administration named Baltimore one of six cities to receive Empowerment Zone designation in 1994.
Schmoke’s other public service includes his appointment as Assistant Director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff under President Jimmy Carter.
Following a talk by the Curator of African American History and Culture, and an exhibit tour led by Curator of Information Technology David Allison, the students were treated to a concert featuring freedom songs.
After a guided tour of the mansion and grounds of Mount Vernon, President George Washington’s Virginia home, Professor Allen talked with the students and guests about George Washington’s selflessness as father of the country.
All of the students participating in the Institute visited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a meeting with Secretary Alfonzo Jackson. During this session, Secretary Jackson answered the students’ questions about housing policy, but spent more time inspiring them to work hard to accomplish their career objectives. He also inspired them to play an active role in politics, using politics as a tool to help improve the lives of people in their communities.