On May 3, TFAS celebrated the graduation of its Capital Semester Spring (CSS) 2013 students at a reception at its historic headquarters building in Washington, D.C. We were pleased to welcome the students’ families, internship supervisors and mentors to this celebration of our students’ many accomplishments.

The intensive 15-week program, which began in January, includes a full-time internship, various site briefings throughout the city and academic courses worth 12-credits from George Mason University.

After opening remarks by TFAS President Roger Ream and Professor Richard Benedetto, Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Vice President of International Programs at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, delivered the ceremony’s keynote address. Palmer’s inspirational remarks covered the important of ideas in promoting free markets and a free society. His message was that people do not revert to freedom naturally; it has to continually be fought for and defended by each generation.

Eliza Leon, a CSS student from the University of Texas – El Paso who interned at kglobal Public Relations also addressed her classmates, discussing her experience at TFAS and in Washington, D.C. Leon emphasized her trepidation at coming to TFAS from a nontraditional background, having worked after high school as an auto-mechanic for several years before going back to school. She also, however, emphasized the close bond formed by her classmates as they adapted to the rigors of academic and professional life in Washington, D.C.

We wish our Capital Semester graduates the best of luck as we welcome them to the TFAS alumni family, and we look forward to welcoming our summer students as they arrive in the next few weeks!