NEWS

(l.-r.) Bishara Addison (P 08), Elizabeth Bierman (B 08), Daniel Mercado (J 08) and Joel Simpson (E 08) were chosen to share remarks of their summer experiences during the graduation ceremony.

Founder and CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, Robert Woodson, delivered the David R. Jones lecture on Freedom’s First Principles at the commencement exercises.

(l.-r.) Randy Barnett, Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, student Fritz Eggen of the University of Miami and TFAS Chairman Randy Teague after LSI graduation on July 31.

FOUNDER AND CEO OF NONPROFIT SPEAKS AT GRADUATION - 09/01/08

Over 360 new faces joined the TFAS alumni network on Aug. 1 as students attending the Washington, D.C. Institutes graduated from the summer programs.

Founder and CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, Robert Woodson, delivered the David R. Jones Lecture on Freedom’s First Principles at the commencement exercises. The new alumni were joined by family, friends, mentors, internship sponsors and TFAS supporters for the ceremony in Georgetown University’s historic Gaston Hall.

CNE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and demonstration organization that supports neighborhood-based initiatives to reduce crime and violence, restore families, create economic enterprise and employment and revitalize low-income communities.

Referencing lessons regarding one’s moral fiber, Woodson encouraged TFAS students to recognize the power of challenge. “Character is sometimes nurtured in an environment of great adversity,” said Woodson, who encouraged the students to never give up even if times get tough. 

Four TFAS students, representing each of the Washington, D.C. summer Institutes, also spoke at the ceremony. Joel Simpson (E 08) of Middlebury College, Daniel Mercado (J 08) from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Elizabeth Bierman (B 08) from the University of Notre Dame and Bishara Addison (P 08) of The George Washington University were chosen to share remarks of their summer experiences.

Following the students' and Woodson’s remarks, the audience was treated to a SLIDE SHOW representation of the TFAS summer. The slide show featured hundreds of photos of TFAS students working hard at their internships, meeting influential people and enjoying the sites of D.C. with their peers.

The graduation ceremony signified the conclusion of an exciting summer for TFAS students. Throughout the eight-week programs, the students attended briefings at the White House, State Department, U.S. Capitol and Federal Reserve. Additionally, the students enjoyed lectures and briefings with dozens of policy experts, working journalists and nonprofit leaders.

In addition to the D.C. Institutes, 25 students from TFAS’s Legal Studies Program graduated on July, 31 at the University Club of Washington D.C.
Randy Barnett, Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, provided remarks on constitutional interpretation.

As one of the newest programs at The Fund, LSI caters to students who have completed their first year of law school and provides legal experience in the form of internships such as the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, Koch Industries, American Cancer Society, McDermott Will & Emery and the Bureau of National Affairs-Legal Publishing.

LSI students were also given the opportunity to attend guest lectures, site briefings and events at area institutes followed by “constitutional round-ups.” Among others, students heard from top lawyers, lobbyists, policy-makers, a federal claims court judge, and two Supreme Court justices about life on either side of the bench.