During a luncheon celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, the members of the senior class were congratulated for their accomplishments over the past two summers. The young men have taken demanding courses, worked at full-time internships, and attended numerous meetings, tours, workshops and other events. They were offered the opportunity to participate in the Institute after being selected from an impressive pool of applicants from colleges and universities all over the United States.
The ceremony was attended by parents, Professors Bill Allen and Tom Rustici, donors and internship supervisors. This year’s occasion was also highlighted by musical presentations by Institute students and alumni Steven Ward (’04), Ashley Simms (’06) and John Harper (’07).
Each student was given a diploma and a lapel pin.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars 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,” making the goals of NSCS the same as those of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Each year, NSCS assists our recruiting efforts by promoting the Institute to their eligible members. Institute scholars who attend universities where no NSCS chapters exist serve as catalysts for starting chapters. Today’s ceremony was held at the offices of the Washington law firm, Epstein Becker & Green.
This afternoon, following their Economics session, the junior class was treated to a private tour of the West Wing of the White House. They entered the White House by walking by the Situation Room, where so many important decisions have been made in country’s history. They visited the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, and the Oval Office. In the Press Briefing Room, the guys took advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take pictures in front of that famous blue sign that lets the world know that the speaker is at The White House.
The tour was led by White House staffers Lucas Boyce (Public Liaison) and Parris Dennard (Political Affairs).
Institute senior, Christopher Binns, is a recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Collegian Award on behalf of the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation, Inc.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that serves as the charitable division of the Fraternity. Their focus is on scholarships, training programs, and development for its members.
For over 20 years, the Foundation has honored brothers who have exemplified outstanding scholarship, community service, and leadership within their fraternity chapter and campus community. This year there are 16 recipients from around the country.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was the first fraternity founded for African Americans in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Some famous members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. include W.E.B DuBois, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Robeson, and Thurgood Marshall.
Chris is a member of the Beta Gamma Chapter at Virginia State University. He has served as historian and corresponding secretary for the Chapter. Currently he serves as the step master and associate editor of the Sphinx, one of the world’s preeminent fraternal magazines. Chuck Redmond, an Institute junior, is also a member of the fraternity.
This year the fraternity will celebrate its 100th Anniversary, with a Centennial Convention taking place in Washington, D.C. July 25-30th, during which Chris will accept his award.
Noted Civil Rights activist Vernon Jordan spoke to the scholars about his childhood and education in the largely segregated city of Atlanta, Georgia. He discussed his rise from his college job as chauffer to an Atlanta banker to one of America’s most powerful non-elected leaders. Much of the material that Jordan discussed is written in his autobiography, Vernon Can Read.
Mr. Jordan hosted the students at the Washington law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he serves as Senior Counsel. Prior to joining Akin Gump in 1982, Mr. Jordan served most notably as president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League and executive director of the United Negro College Fund.
His presidential appointments include the President's Advisory Committee for the Points of Light Initiative Foundation, the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on South Africa, the Advisory Council on Social Security, and the National Advisory Committee on Selective Service. Mr. Jordan served as the chairman of the Clinton Presidential Transition Team in 1992.
He may serve on more corporate boards than any other African American. These currently include America Online Latin America, American Express, Asbury Automotive Group, Dow Jones & Company, J.C. Penney Company, Revlon Group, Sara Lee Corporation, Shinsei Bank, and Xerox Corporation. He serves on the international advisory boards of DaimlerChrysler and Barrick Gold. And he is a trustee of Howard University and the LBJ Foundation.
This afternoon, both classes of scholars visited to Capitol to meet with the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. Unfortunately, Speaker Hastert became ill and was unable to attend the session. In his absence, Congressman Eric Cantor met with the students and fielded their questions for approximately 45 minutes. As Chief Deputy Majority Whip, Mr. Cantor is one of the highest ranking members of the House leadership.
The senior class met with General Colin Powell in his office in Alexandria, VA.
General Powell’s laid back demeanor and candor made the students feel at ease during their hour-long discussion of his life, politics, and the Iraq War.
He urged the students to “perform” in all that they do, saying, “if you do the best you can, you’ll develop a reputation, and get something even better.” General Powell credits his own success with his ability to perform and deliver with each job he’s been given.
General Powell also emphasized the need for restoration of family and recommitment to excellence. He told the scholars, “We have a lot of youngsters who will never get to where you are because they get lost along the way.” While K-12 schools need great improvement, the problems occur long before the children get to kindergarten, he said.
General Powell also mentioned that no matter where he has gone and what other political systems he has encountered, he maintains that our system of democratic governance and free market economy is better. While our country has its blemishes, he said the founding fathers knew the country would need to grow and change, quoting our 3rd President Thomas Jefferson saying, “You can’t expect the clothes of the boy to fit the man,” but General Powell said “they left a design for the clothes, our Constitution.”
General Powell also told the students that “a lot of things will go wrong….shake off disappointment and failure, don’t allow it to diminish you.” Additionally, he said, “Don’t let what people might think of you affect you…it’s their problem, not yours.”
General Powell served as the 65th US Secretary of State, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security Advisor. Over the course of his 35 year career in the Army, General Powell earned numerous awards including the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Service Medal. General Powell also served as chairman for America’s Promise, chairman for the Eisenhower Fellowship Program, and as an advisory Board Member of the Children’s Health Fund.
General Powell’s strong values and commitment to excellence have given him the opportunity to courageously serve his country and in turn inspire the next generation of great leaders.
Institute alumnus Darius Graham (pictured at right with fellow Florida A&M students at a Books All Around library in Tallahassee, FL) was featured in a College Bound Teen Magazine article entitled, “Big Name, Big Deal.” The story posed the argument that students don't need to go to big name schools to create names for themselves.
College Bound Teen Magazine is one of the most popular college advice magazines in the country. It has rapidly gained popularity among high school juniors and seniors. With a growing online readership, College Bound Teen is significantly impacting important decisions that high school students make every year.
In the article, Darius points out that his attendance at Florida A&M University gave him a great opportunity to implement his program, Books All Around (more details on page 15). While the original plan was to distribute books solely around the Tallahassee area, Darius's bigger plans led to a nationwide effort.
Mike Varner (pictured below), a member of the class of 2006, was selected as 2006-2007 Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency.
Founded in 1965, The Center for the Study of the Presidency is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that researches issues concerning the modern presidency.
The Center Fellows Program is a highly prestigious initiative that offers 65 undergraduate and graduate students from top colleges and universities, a year-long opportunity to study the presidency, public policy, and the relationship between the executive and legislative branch. The Center’s main goal of fostering a new generation of national leaders committed to public service aligns nicely with the mission of the Institute.
With a location in Washington, D.C., the fellows receive first-hand experience with personal briefings by national media representatives, networking opportunities with decision makers, and a chance to closely study the policymaking process.
During the academic year, each student researches, writes, and presents an original paper on an issue of the modern presidency that will be published by the Center. Mentorship from the government and public policy community is provided to help the fellows define their proposals, support the writing and editing process, and bring their proposal to publishing standards.
For the second straight summer the Institute seniors have improved their abilities as golfers with the help of local professional Keith Robertson. Last Sunday, the seniors completed their first lesson in which they worked on both their half and whole swings. In future Sunday evening lessons, the seniors will look to perfect their driving and putting skills. Like last summer, they will conclude their on-course lessons with a full round at the South Germantown Golf Park in Germantown, Maryland.
Alphonso Jackson (pictured at right), US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, met with the students in a private briefing in his office.
Secretary Jackson attributed three things to his success: education, being at the right place at the right time, and having mentors. He also told the students to live in the now, not the past or the future, because that is all that is promised.
Secretary Jackson also advised the students to remain steadfast in their career goals despite difficult circumstances. He quoted his father as saying, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” He also illustrated how adversity can work to one’s advantage by saying, “When everything seems difficult, that’s when you should rise to the occasion and do your best.”
Additionally, he advised the students to strive for greatness in all that they do. He referred to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous quote, “If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."
He also encouraged the students to work hard, make money, and help the people around them, saying “poor is a state of mind, not a condition.” Overall, Secretary Jackson proved to be an exemplary role model, who offered the students great advice concerning pursuit of their career aspirations and fulfillment in life.
The students visited the headquarters of the World Bank. Paatii Ofosu-Amaah (pictured at right), Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Bank and a member of the Institute's Board of Directors, arranged a tour of the bank and a private meeting with Kevin Kellems, Director of External Affairs and Senior Advisor to President Paul Wolfowitz, and other World Bank experts.
The World Bank, first established in 1944, is a group of five international organizations that are a vital source of technical and financial assistance to developing countries around the world. Its mission is to eliminate poverty on a global scale and improve living standards in matters such as agriculture, health care, environmental protection, governance, infrastructure, and education. Many countries have borrowed money from the World Bank, including some of today’s leading industrial countries such as Japan following World War II for postwar reconstruction.
James Nortey asked about how the Bank deals with pressure from critics who say the Bank is merely benefiting “capitalistic companies”, to which Kellems responded that it requires a great deal of “listening and questioning your assumptions.” Kellems stated the Bank is “very well known, but not understood.” It is a “rich and diverse organization...the challenge is to channel that diversity to a concrete goal.” He said the Bank’s main purpose is to help developing countries “help themselves.”
Kellems advised the students to prepare themselves “broadly”, not “obsessing” over one goal. “Be willing to take risks accordingly…don’t narrow things down prematurely,” said Kellems. He also said, “It’s good to have goals, but retain some flexibility and creativity.”