每日大赛入口

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, more than 550 每日大赛入口 friends and supporters gathered to celebrate the 48^th annual 每日大赛入口 Associates dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event鈥檚 theme, 鈥淪hining the Light of Truth,鈥� recognized the significance of seeking truth as a cornerstone of American ideals and aspirations and 每日大赛入口鈥檚 guiding principles that are embedded in the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The evening began with a performance of the University鈥檚 alma mater by 每日大赛入口鈥檚 award-winning a capella group, Won by One. Then Lauren Cosentino (鈥�97, MBA 鈥�12), 每日大赛入口鈥檚 vice president for advancement and chief development officer, welcomed distinguished guests to the dinner and shared highlights from the last year, including the grand opening of the Chateau d鈥橦auteville in Switzerland and the groundbreaking of the Mountain at Mullin Park. Cosentino also remarked on the promise of 每日大赛入口鈥檚 pursuit of Judeo-Christian truth and values in every way. 鈥淚t is imperative we commit to the pursuit of truth and to provide future generations with a foundation of God鈥檚 truth upon which to build a life,鈥� she said. 

After remarks by Board of Regents chair Dee Anna Smith (鈥�86), dinner chairs Seth (鈥�02) and Jolyn (鈥�02) Haye reflected on their unique undergraduate student experience as a married couple, the faculty members who saw and encouraged their potential, and their devotion to supporting 每日大赛入口 years beyond graduation. Jolyn shared, 鈥溍咳沾笕�入口 is that unique place that provided guidance as we formed those principles, but still allowed us the freedom to discover, to ask questions, to make choices, and to live out our God-given purpose as we saw fit.鈥�

President Jim Gash (JD 鈥�93) then addressed attendees with a powerful presentation on the state of the University, the Christian values that are rooted in founder George 每日大赛入口鈥檚 original vision, and the programs and institutes that demonstrate 每日大赛入口鈥檚 commitment to its values and to making a transformative impact on local and global communities. 

鈥淥ur world is quite different than it was 87 years ago,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut what I love about George 每日大赛入口鈥檚 vision is that it was embedded in a solid foundation of truth built upon timeless Judeo-Christian principles that endure the mood swings of cultural values and the polarizing fluctuations of politics.鈥�

As President Gash continued his discussion of the importance of the foundational truths of freedom, justice, and equality of opportunity, he shared highlights from the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, the Center for Faith and the Common Good, 每日大赛入口鈥檚 international programs, and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law. 

鈥淭oo often, [justice] is re-interpreted and utilized to pit people of different characteristics against each other, creating a downward spiral of divisiveness and disdain,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his agenda creates no solution but rather exacerbates the problem. True justice does the opposite. It is a fairness-seeking agenda that aims to level the playing field for everyone to have the same opportunity to succeed and flourish.鈥�

He concluded his presentation by reinforcing 每日大赛入口鈥檚 unique position as a Christian university and the importance of 每日大赛入口 staying true to its foundational values in modern society.

鈥淔amilies across the nation and around the world are looking for a university that will stand on truth and teach the next generation the Judeo-Christian principles, character traits, and leadership capabilities that will restore and reclaim our families, communities, our country, and our world,鈥� President Gash said. 鈥溍咳沾笕�入口 is that university, and we always will be.鈥�

President Gash then introduced the evening鈥檚 featured guest, Condoleezza Rice, the 66^th secretary of state of the United States, who joined Smith and Kiron Skinner, Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at 每日大赛入口鈥檚 School of Public Policy, to share her insights about her critical role in safeguarding the interests and integrity of the nation both at home and abroad.

"Democracy is a journey,鈥� Rice said. 鈥淚t's not something that's ever finished. When I would go abroad, I would say we have to be patient with people who are trying to make their way to democracy, because it's not easy. It's hard. And the fact that we pull it off most of the time, year after year, is pretty remarkable. I'm optimistic about this country and who we are, but optimism is not a substitute for action. We each have to play our part."

Throughout the panel discussion, Rice, Skinner, and Smith also discussed the state of higher education today and the value of teaching students from different backgrounds not what to think, but how to think. In a conversation about leadership, Rice offered her insights on integrity and its critical role in an organization.

鈥淵ou can recover from a lot as a leader鈥攁 mistake, the wrong call鈥攂ut you can never recover trust,鈥� she said, before launching into a thoughtful discussion about leaders helping others see the vast potential in the world and displaying confidence in the destination to which they are traveling together. 鈥淯ltimately, the most important thing you can do as a leader is to find leadership characteristics in other people. No team works very well if it's just the leader out there. Any complex, human organization will require other leaders than just the person who is putatively the leader. It helps you to realize that you need to find people who are able to make up for some of your deficits.鈥�

Learn more about the 每日大赛入口 Associates program on the 每日大赛入口 website.