Raleigh School Sets Record Attendance

Over 100 students from central North Carolina packed the Raleigh Women’s Club auditorium on September 12, 2007 to learn about America’s founding Federalist ideals and their applicability to leadership problems in public life today.

Scores of students from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, The Citadel, North Carolina State University, Campbell University, Elon University, and five local private academies participated enthusiastically in what has been the largest school held by The Federalist Leadership Center to date.

Joey Stansbury of Campbell University said: “The school provided students with valuable insights into the principles that guided our nation’s founding. The program fills a void found too often in the educational offerings available to students at most universities.” Center schools are based upon the principle that true leadership rests upon philosophical understanding, specifically upon the federalist thinking of America’s Founders. The United States can only be successful if these principles--illustrated best by its greatest founding writing, The Federalist Papers--are as viable and central to its
leaders and citizens today as they were at the nation’s birth.

Nationally-syndicated radio commentator Mike Reagan spoke to the students at a dinner that was part of the school but was also open to the adult community. Professor Donald Devine, Ronald Reagan’s former personnel chief and director of the Center, headed the lecture team.

The luncheon was attended by students and local notables including state representatives Marilyn Avila and Russell Capps, State Auditor Leslie Merritt, Judge Randy Doub, Civitas Institute President Jacke Hawke and his wife Grace, Thomas and June Roberg, John and Sandra Carney, Bill McDowell, Judy Stephenson, Marc and Karen Rotterman and ninety other prominent members of the community.
Elon University student Amanda Prevette told us: “The Federalist Leadership School was one of the best schools I have attended. The entire staff was really on top of their game and the speakers presented their information enthusiastically and impressively! Being able to interact with and ask questions to the speakers especially made the Federalist Leadership School stand out to me. I can’t wait for another one to come back again!”

The school was held under the joint auspices of Bellevue University’s Federalist Leadership Center and the John W. Pope Civitas Institute of Raleigh.