During the weekend of April 13-15, the 2012 TFAS Freedom Scholars traveled to Washington, D.C. from colleges across the country for a Curriculum of Liberty Seminar entitled “Liberty and Equality.” The seminar was fourth in a series cosponsored by TFAS and the Liberty Fund, Inc. The event brought the 15 undergraduate alumni together for a Socratic-style discussion led by Professor Bradley Birzer of Hillsdale College and Professor William Ruger of Texas State University.
The TFAS Freedom Scholars were recommended and selected based on academic excellence and enthusiastic participation in their TFAS institutes. The year-long program brings together between 15 and 20 of top students from the previous academic year for continuing education and networking opportunities. They are provided a full scholarship to attend two weekend conferences and additional webinars for further professional development.
The Scholars prepared for the weekend seminar with a reading list that included Thomas Sowell’s A Conflict of Visions, Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments and works by Nicholas Capaldi, Friedrich Hayek, Robert Nozick and others. The sessions examined philosophical concepts that relate to the ideas and pursuit of liberty, justice and equality of man. The group discussed the meaning of freedom and its relation to society and the key questions that arise when politically free states seek to establish or encourage a certain conception of material equality.
“The Liberty Fund conference provided an opportunity to learn from and with a group of curiously insightful, highly motivated students and faculty. Even though we all came into the conference having read the same materials, each person’s experiences, opinions and worldview brought something unique to the table,” said one Freedom Scholar.
The Curriculum of Liberty seminars are invitation-only seminars for TFAS alumni held throughout the year in various locations in the United States. The seminars focus on a variety of topics centered on liberty. Each conference is geared toward a special group of alumni.
Based in Indianapolis, Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. The organization sponsors over 150 conferences a year throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe.
2012 Freedom Scholars
Sarah Dolan (CSS 11), Northeastern University
Gracie Ferrell (J 11), Union University
Sumner Francisco (E 11), Florida State University
Katie Gordon (P 11), Alma College
John Huldin (B 11), Rhodes College
Remley Johnson (E 11), Texas Christian University
Kierstin Koppel (B 11), Florida International University
Joey Maxwell (P 11), Clemson University
Brittany Partridge (E 11), Abilene Christian University
Elizabeth Sallie (J 11), Biola University
Madison Smith (B 11), University of Redlands
James Strickland (E 11), University of South Carolina
William Sturm (E 11), Clemson University
Alex Winkle (CSF 10), Chapman University
Elisabeth Young (J 11), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill