We hope you enjoy these top news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Please visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news and information and sign up to receive weekly updates.
TFAS alumni, staff and faculty continue to make headlines. Read news, analysis and updates by visiting this week’s “Quick Links.”
Capital Semester Students Share TFAS Program Impact During Fall 2020 Closing Ceremony
Thanks to generous support from TFAS alumni, donors, volunteers, and friends, the U.S. Programs team at TFAS took the necessary steps to ensure that our 2020 fall programs would continue to instill the principles of liberty and leadership in young leaders from around the world – both virtually and in-person – despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. TFAS faculty and staff joined Capital Semester students to celebrate this successful fall program during the 2020 closing ceremony on Tuesday, November 24.
After quickly adapting our 2020 summer programs to a fully-virtual format, TFAS decided to create a hybrid fall program that would allow students to participate in both in-person and virtual courses, internships, networking events, guided tours, and site briefings across D.C. This specially-designed experience gave students the opportunity to live, learn and intern in the nation’s capital while ensuring their health and safety. The Fall 2020 Capital Semester program proved that, despite challenges, TFAS can still effectively carry out our mission of educating the next generation of responsible leaders.
TFAS student Tiffanie Oduber ’20 reflected on her semester with TFAS as she shared remarks with the cohort during this year’s closing ceremony. Oduber said having the opportunity to live with her classmates and explore their new city together made for an exciting adventure, despite obstacles posed by COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is incredible to experience our growth in friendship and in knowledge during this time,” Oduber said. “All the virtual briefings were very enlightening, and being able to live near the Capitol definitely gave us an experience of a lifetime.”
Read more about the closing ceremony and the fall program at TFAS.org/FallClosing20.
TFAS Mourns Loss of Former Trustee Bruce Herschensohn
The Fund for American Studies is mourning the loss of former trustee and dear friend Bruce Herschensohn, who passed away on November 30.
A television and radio political commentator for more than two decades, Herschensohn began his own motion picture company following his service in the United States Air Force.
Herschensohn was a longtime friend of TFAS, having served on the Board of Trustees in its early days from 1973-76, when the organization was named the Charles Edison Memorial Youth Fund.
TFAS Chairman Randal C. Teague called Herschensohn a man with “astounding brilliance.”
“He was such a very special person with a personality that attracted great interest in his thoughts, analyses, activities, and everything,” Teague said. “He will be truly missed.”
Read more about Herschensohn’s legacy at TFAS.org/Herschensohn.
TFAS Hosts Successful Business and Government Relations Program Thanks to Generous Supporters and Volunteers
For more than three decades, TFAS has equipped students with exceptional leadership skills through its Business + Government Relations program, a special track of the D.C.-based academic internship program for students interested in lobbying and government affairs.
Despite challenges from COVID-19 restrictions this summer, TFAS implemented innovative methods to bring students the best of the programming we typically offer in Washington, D.C. Those offerings included online economics and government courses for credit, virtual guest lectures by top policy experts, career exploration panels and small group discussions, and virtual site briefings with key government leaders.
Second-generation TFAS alumna Claire Beemer ’20 participated in the TFAS 2020 Business + Government Relations Program and virtually interned with MetLife, Inc.’s global government relations team. Beemer is pursuing her bachelor’s degree at St. Mary’s University in London, studying law and business management. Claire’s father, Britt, completed the TFAS Public Policy + Economics program track in 1971. Despite the program being moved online, Beemer shared that she still made meaningful connections with peers and professors.
“With the program being conducted virtually, I had no idea what to expect,” Beemer said. “But I have been pleasantly surprised with how engaging each of the events has been and the connections that I have been able to make—even though we’re not able to speak in person.”
Read more about the impact of the summer Business + Government Relations program at TFAS.org/BGR20.
Economics Lesson of The Week: Show Me the Money! A Fractional Reserve Banking Simulation
TFAS provides resources to help teachers and parents continue the important task of educating our nation’s future leaders. Our “Economics Lesson of The Week” series features new lessons from our high school programming division – the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) – each week.
This week’s lesson is “Show Me the Money! A Fractional Reserve Banking Simulation.” This activity is designed to answer the question of where money comes from. The simulation begins with a short discussion session on how money is created. Then, taking on the roles of bankers and borrowers, students participate in several “debriefing” rounds in which they learn how to calculate the amount of money created by banks in the classroom economy, appreciate the role of banks as creators of money, and understand the importance of fractional reserve banking in the process of money creation.
TFAS offers a plethora of online lesson plans, readings, handouts, video demonstrations, and hands-on activity guides to teach the “economic way of thinking” in engaging and relatable ways. Visit TFAS.org/FTELessons for a one-stop guide to our available resources.
Post of the Week
Capital Semester student Sydney Rockwell ’20 received the Outstanding Student Award during the 2020 Fall Capital Semester closing ceremony.
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QUICK LINKS
TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 appeared on TFAS alumnus Dan Proft’s ’93 radio show this week to discuss how TFAS is combatting media bias through our educational programs for young journalists. Click the link below to hear Roger discuss our goal of equipping the next generation of responsible journalists with the skills they need to provide holistic, truthful reporting. During the conversation, Roger also shares a thoughtful tribute to the late Walter Williams.
Tune in to The Dan Proft Show next Tuesday evening to catch Dan’s latest segment with TFAS.
Calvin Blaylock, PPF ’20, was interviewed about maintaining civil discourse and national unity amid the 2020 presidential election on The Kojo Nnamdi Show.
Jory Heckman ’11, PPF ’16, highlights volunteer activities by U.S. diplomats around the world in an article for the Federal News Network.
Laura Vanderkam ’99, Novak ’06, discusses career transitions in an episode of her “Best of Both Worlds” podcast.
Alexander Whitaker ’78 writes about moving from a career in the military to one in higher education for Military Officer Magazine.
TFAS Public Policy Fellowship speaker Arthur Milikh shares differences between freedom of speech and identity politics in a piece for RealClearPublicAffairs.
Emma Connell ’18 is now a constituent services specialist, intern coordinator and executive assistant in the Office of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
Scott Eastman ’11 has started a new job as a senior research analyst for the Charles Koch Foundation.
Former Trustee Arnie Steinberg writes about the life and legacy of former Trustee Bruce Herschensohn in National Review.
TFAS Academic Director Dr. Anne Bradley shares how innovation will help get us through the coronavirus pandemic in an interview with First Liberty Live.
Alexandra Hudson, Novak ’19, reflects on how COVID-19 has changed the world in a piece for Reuters.
Elise Amez-Droz, PPF ’19, co-authored a piece in The Washington Times on ways Big Tech companies like Amazon can revolutionize health care.
Carly Tomaine ’18 is the coordinator of youth leadership for the Leadership Institute.
Erin Cinney ’16, PPF ’18, writes about how to deal with making mistakes in Thought Catalog.
Heather Caygle ’11 will be the new co-chief of the Capitol Hill bureau of Politico.
Alec Mena ’19 is a research assistant at the Institute for Justice.
David Bader ’16 will be joining the staff of Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri in January.
TFAS Trustee Peter McPherson writes for Forbes on how future administrations can make the United States a destination for international students.
Joy Pullmann, Novak ’13, writes for The Federalist on long-term negative effects of school shutdowns on children.
Christine Emba, Novak ’18, discusses COVID-19 vaccine distribution and women taking seats in Congress in an episode of the “Left, Right & Center” podcast.
Abby Smith ’14 writes about the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject stricter federal restrictions on soot standards in the Washington Examiner. The piece includes insights from Martin Rodriguez ’15, PPF ’15.
Ashley McGuire, Novak ’11, shares traditional family views of Biden’s potential pick for Secretary of Treasury in a piece for the Institute for Family Studies.
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