COOPERATION ★ CIVILITY ★ COMPROMISE
Teaching our students the importance of respecting differing opinions and working together to solve problems by seeking common ground.
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Wendell Ford Statesmanship Academy named Education and Workforce Development Program of the Year OWENSBORO, KY– (January 29, 2018) – On behalf of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center was awarded the 2018 Education and Workforce Development Program of the Year Award at the Chamber’s Business of the Year Awards this past weekend. The Ford Center was recognized for their work with the youth of Owensboro through their educational program the Statesmanship Academy. “We are so honored by this award and the validation it gives to our work as an organization,” said Elizabeth Griffith, Executive Director, “We want to thank all of our community partners, our students, and the Chamber of Commerce for recognizing us with this honor. We are looking forward too many more years of educating our youth on the importance of cooperation, civility, and compromise and to continuing Senator Ford’s legacy.” The Wendell H. Ford Statesmanship Academy is a non-partisan program for local area high school students who have an interest in public service and developing their leadership skills. The Academy strives to teach students about the issues facing their community, state and nation as well as the three principles by which Senator Wendell Ford conducted his work: civil discourse, cooperation and the willingness to compromise. The Ford Center strives to teach students to examine both sides of every issue, to learn how to respect another person’s opinion even when it may differ from their own, and that working together should not be seen as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of strength. These ideals are important for our next generation of leaders to understand. For more information about the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center, please visit our website at fordgovcenter.com. Media Contact : Elizabeth Griffith
Kentucky Secretary of States office names Diane Ford as the 2017 award winner OWENSBORO, KY– On behalf of the Secretary of States office, Diane Ford has been named the 2017 Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award Winner. This award highlights and rewards individuals for their extraordinary efforts to promote civic engagement among Kentucky students. Ford was nominated for this award for her time and service spent working with students in the Statesmanship Academy at The Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center. “This is such an honor for the Ford Center and wonderful recognition of the accomplishments of our incredible students, “ said Diane Ford, “I am proud to be involved in a program whose mission is to encourage our students to engage in their community and solve problems through means of civil discourse, cooperation and compromise.” The Wendell H. Ford Statesmanship Academy is a non-partisan program for local area high school students who have an interest in public service and developing their leadership skills. The Academy strives to teach students about the issues facing their community, state and nation as well as the three principles by which Senator Wendell Ford conducted his work: civil discourse, cooperation and the willingness to compromise. Ford was chosen out of hundreds of applicants from across Kentucky’s sixteen regions. “I humbly accept this award on behalf of the many people whose efforts have made this program a success,” Ford stated, “Our current director, Elizabeth Griffith, our former director, Bruce Kunze, our partners at the EDC, Chamber and local school systems, our board, our students, and the entire Ford family have played vital roles. Of course, Wendell remains our inspiration to continue helping students become more informed and prepared citizens who will be ready to make their communities a better place to live.” As the 2017 statewide winner, Ford will be presented a plaque and $1000 to go toward resources for the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center during the KHSAA Men’s Basketball Sweet 16 Tournament in Lexington, KY on Thursday, March 16th 2017.
Ford Center Announces 2016-2017 EmergeNext and Statesmanship Academy Classes The Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center is proud to announce the local-area high school students who have been accepted into the EmergeNext program and the Statesmanship Academy for the 2016-2017 school year. For each program, students are chosen from all four Owensboro-area high schools as well as Ohio County High School, McLean County High School and Hancock County High School. Students must turn in a completed application, along with the assigned essay before they are accepted into either program. This year the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center will be teaching 98 students about the importance of public service and the many different areas of study in civic education. EmergeNext is a non-partisan, cooperative program of the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. This three-day program is a pre-cursor to the Statesmanship Academy and is focused on identifying, educating, and engaging young leaders in servant leadership in order to make a positive impact on their community. EmergeNext will introduce young leaders to a variety of issues that impact the Greater Owensboro region and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with a particular focus on developing leadership skills, working together, and learning to compromise to solve problems. The Statesmanship Academy, is a non-partisan program for high school sophomores through seniors, that focuses on helping students better understand our local, state, and federal governments, while also teaching them the three principles by which Senator Ford conducted his work: civil discourse, cooperation, and the willingness to compromise. Students study a wide variety of issues that affect our local community, state and nation, while also developing their leadership skills. Students who partake in the Statesmanship Academy leave with a greater appreciation of public service, a better understanding of what it means to be a statesman/leader, as well as the ability to look at both sides of an issue in order to find resolution to a problem. Listed below are the names of students who have been accepted into the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center EmergeNext program and the Statesmanship Academy for the 2016-2017 school year. EmergeNext Program Apollo High School: Macy Dame Samantha Klee Christian Leigh Lynzy Schwarts Daviess County High School: Carter Bean Ethan Easterday Addison Hamilton Daniel Love Mason Miller Jay Powers Lucas Ruckdeschel Griffan Sayre David Stevens Mason Thompson Houston Watson Owensboro High School: Paige Castlen Mamie Hale Mary Grace Hemingway AJ Iracane Jack Lashbrook Parker Medley Olivia Miller Clayton Rhoades Gracie Roberts Ann Lawton Watson Trinity High School: Alexia Barnett Avery Barnett Maddie Boarman Meredith Harlee Harlee Keener Statesmanship Academy 1 – Sophomores Apollo High School: Gracie Bush Gracie Cart Carly Kirk Landon Rafferty Keely Shocklee Caroline Shutt Daviess County High School: Lauren Boling Owen Krahwinkel Faith Porter Gracie Westmoreland Owensboro High School: Will Clark Mitchell Douglas Eric Epperson Savannah Gatton Paul Iracane Julia Kimbell Grant Luckett Isaac Nalley Austin Sovar Logan Webb Zane West Trinity High School: Mary Hardesty Lydia Lambert Statesmanship Academy 2 – Juniors Apollo High School: Camron Blandford Parker Collignon Paige Ferguson Hattie Martin Laynee Thornton Daviess County High School: Anna Gargus Madeline Gregory Ragan Howard Bailey Hume Jaclyn Hume Owensboro Catholic High School Xavier Evans Owensboro High School: NIcholas Brake Emily Castlen Matheus DaSilva Joseph Gatton Jacquelyn Gesser Griffin Haire Ryan Hodges Brayden Hood Blakely McCalister Jamar Mundy-Schnepp Hillary Payne Tabor Payne Parker Peters Hannah Wilson Statesmanship Academy 3 – Seniors Apollo High School: Tyler Garrard Josh Hay Adam Hertzler Ally-Paige Kirk Johnna Kuegel Rosie Newkirk Ambria Patel Ashton Robertson Rachel Thomas Aaron Wimsatt Olivia Wright Daviess County High School: Adam Bouchard Jacob Goldman Lauren Russell Max Smith Owensboro Catholic High School: Madison Taylor Owensboro High School: Lily Hall Jenna Hunt Jack Iracane Tyler Sovar
