Each summer since the Institute’s founding, Congressman John Lewis has welcomed the junior class into his office for a candid discussion of the Civil Rights movement and the impact that it had on all Americans. As always, Congressman Lewis spent more time with the scholars than was scheduled. Last summer, he spoke with the junior class for four hours. This year, he did the same. Even though his staff attempted to pull him away, he refused to leave the scholars until he had finished telling his inspiring stories about the Civil Rights Movement and the days he spent with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The scholars listened attentively as they ate peanuts and drank Coca Cola from Congressman John Lewis’s home state. After finishing his stories of the March on Selma, he allowed the scholars to watch a video that chronicled the Civil Rights Movement before showing them the vast array of photographs of some of America’s best known heroes.

After four hours of eating and story-telling, Congressman John Lewis was pulled away to take a vote on the House Floor, but before leaving he took pictures with all of the scholars.