Interns from our cosponsor The Goldwater Institute and from the Alliance Defense Fund and the office of Congressman Trent Franks headed the student roster for the Arizona Federalist Leadership School at the scenic Buttes Resort Marriott in Tempe. They were joined by students from Arizona State University and its Law School, Thomas Moore College, Liberty University, Southwestern College, Arizona Cultural Academy, Notre Dame Prep and the scholarship BASIS Scottsdale program, among others.

The Federalist Leadership Center schools are based upon the principle that true leadership must rest 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.

To make these ideals concrete to our students, syndicated writer and Fox television commentator Robert Novak spoke at a luncheon that was also open to the adult community about how Federalist principles are related to current events in Washington, D.C., a city he has covered in depth for over a half century.

The luncheon was attended by students and local notables including the chairman of The Goldwater Institute Dr. Tom Paterson, the former speaker of the Arizona Senate. Also at the event were former Representative Barry Goldwater, Jr., Jack and Isabel McVaugh of the Arizona School Choice Trust, Mal Jozoff the former president of Dial Corp and owner of Donovan’s restaurant, Michael Block of BASIS Scottsdale, Jene and Millie Jacoby, Robert Gervais and many other prominent members of the community.

Professor Donald Devine, Ronald Reagan's former personnel chief and director of the Center, headed the lecture team, which included Reagan Ranch Presidential Fellow Floyd G. Brown.

Student leader at ASU, Heather Millican, said the Federalist school “taught me ideas that are absent at the U and most other colleges and will provide a solid basis for my own future development in the business and political world.”

The school was held under the joint auspices of the Bellevue University Federalist Leadership Center and the Goldwater Institute of Phoenix.