SPS 2019: We Went to a Land Down Under (Australian Embassy Visit)

The School of Public Service does get off campus a lot during a typical session -- but to Australia? As a matter of fact, yes.  Although it's nearly 10,000 miles to Australia, the School of Public Service visited Australian territory today with a visit to the Australian Embassy.  The Australian Ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Joe Hockey, spoke to our group about the "mateship" (Aussie for friendship) between the two countries; the issues on which they work together most frequently; and what a career in diplomacy entails for any future American diplomats in the audience.  SPS is grateful to the Ambassador and his staff for the fantastic visit.

SPS 2019: Evening Visit to Capitol Hill and the Senate

A little bit of rain earlier in the day did not stop the St. Albans School of Public Service Class of 2019 from heading to Capitol Hill this evening for a tour of the Senate buildings (including the Old Senate Chamber) with a former U.S. Senator as our tour guide. 

SPS 2019: And it's Root, Root, Root for the Home Team . . .

It took years for the National Pastime to return to the Nation's Capital, but baseball in DC is here to stay and a visit to Nats Park to cheer on the Washington Nationals (it's only good manners to root for the home team, after all) is an annual SPS tradition.  The SPS 2019 class enjoyed getting a look at this scrappy Nats team that some think might be a dark horse World Series contender come October!

SPS 2019: A Country Carnival in Walkersville, Maryland

Fourth of the July in the Nation's Capital . . . you gotta head down the Mall for the fireworks, right?  Not for the St. Albans School of Public Service -- our tradition is to head out of town, to Frederick County Maryland, for the annual Walkersville Volunteer Fire Department Carnival.  As usual this year, a great time was had by all. 

SPS 2019: Child Advocate Mary Bissell

In thinking about future public service careers, it's important to focus on the great work done by non-profits or "NGOs" (non-governmental organizations).  Today the St. Albans School of Public Service class of 2019 heard from leading child advocate Mary Bissell, and attorney and adjunct law professor at Georgetown Law School who spoke about issues affecting children in the USA; non-profits as a career choice; and offered practical tips on how to be a better advocate, regardless of the subject.

SPS 2019: Today's "Ted Trip" is off to a Think-Tank for a Panel Discussion on the Cross-Strait Relationship between China and Taiwan

Today's "Ted Trips" (small, optional group trips led by Mr. Ted Eagles to events of interest for young public policy scholars) took a group from SPS 2019 to the Heritage Foundation think tank to hear a panel discuss the cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan.  As usual, Mr. Eagles made sure that our St. Albans School of Public Service students went to the event well-prepared ahead of time!

SPS 2019: Architectural Walking Tour of the Korean War Veterans Memorial

Predictions of a 95 degree weekend in Washington D.C. did not keep a group of SPS students from getting up early to beat the heat and taking an architectural walking tour of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, including the 19 stainless steel statues representing the American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who fought in the Korean War.

SPS 2019: Supreme Court and Capitol Building Visit

What a day at the St. Albans School of Public Service yesterday!  On Friday of Week 1 of SPS, we were able to visit with those working in not one, but two, branches of our government.  We began the morning with a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court and a tour of the Courtroom where the Supreme Court Justices hear arguments and read out their opinions.  We then got the extraordinary opportunity to meet one-on-one with Associate Justice Kagan for a Q&A session.  SPS 2019 appears to contain many future lawyers, so the group was particularly appreciative of the opportunity.  We next went to the Capitol Building where, after a break for lunch, we toured the historic premises before getting an opportunity to visit the House Floor itself and speak with the Floor Manager for Speaker Pelosi.  It does not get much better than that on a hot Friday in June in Washington!

SPS 2019: Speaker Terrance Woodbury

During the 2019 session of the St. Albans School of Public Service, our students are taking part in a group advocacy project during which they will draft mock legislation; hold a mock press conference "publicizing" their issue; and debate the issue in a Congressional-style debate at the close of the session.  Today, our students heard from Terrance Woodbury, who conducts research (including polling) on behalf of political campaigns and helps candidates shape their messages in a way to effectively reach voters.  Mr. Woodbury also told our group about his own path from graduation from college to working on campaigns at the local, national, and international level, to ultimately founding his own company, HIT Strategies. 

SPS 2019: Hoover Institution Lecture on Middle East Affairs

One of the great traditions of the St. Albans School of Public Service are what we have come to call "Ted Trips" in honor of Mr. Ted Eagles, the SPS faculty member who organizes them.  They are optional small group trips to events such as book talks, lectures, and panel discussions.  Last night saw the first "Ted Trip" outings of the SPS 2019 program.  One small group went to Mount Vernon for a book talk by best-selling author Brad Meltzer on his non-fiction book, First Conspiracy: The Plot to Kill George Washington.  Another group (pictured below) ventured out to the Hoover Institution for a lecture on Middle East affairs by former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.  Click HERE for a link to the YouTube video of the event -- at minute 56 of the video, Mr. Hadley posed a question to the crowd answered by SPS '19 student Will H.!  (see bottom photo below)

Our SPS group was able to talk to Mr. Hadley after the lecture

Ethan M. asks Mr. Hadley a question after the lecture

SPS Student Will H. answers a question posed by Mr. Hadley

SPS 2019: Reception with the School of Public Service Board of Trustees

Last night our members of the St. Albans School of Public Service Class of 2019 had the chance to meet and mingle with the dedicated volunteers who serve on the Board of the School of Public Service.  The SPS board members help us by coming to speak; by arranging speakers and visits for our program each summer; by coming up with amazing programmatic ideas; and by raising money to help make SPS accessible to students from all backgrounds.  After an official welcome to SPS from our chairman, Mr. Jim Rowe, each of the students introduced themselves and spoke about why they chose to attend the School of Public Service this summer.  It was, in word, inspirational to hear directly from this next generation of public servants and citizens.

SPS 2019 Students with SPS Board Chairman Mr. Rowe

SPS Associate Director Ms. Duke with Board Member Mr. Hammer

Board Member Mr. Hammer with SPS 2019 Students

SPS Board Member Mr. Marks with SPS Students Bea F. and Grace D.

Henry D. SPS '19 with Board Members Mr. Ignatius and Mr. Rowe

Our SPS Students Meeting With Mr. Ignatius

SPS Student Ethan M. with Board Member Mr. Ignatius

SPS Students with Board Member Mr. Burelli

Mr. Rowe with SPS Student Marco V.

Board Member Mr. Lindsey with SPS 2019 Serena W.