The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent David H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Take Action - Volunteering for a Social Action Organization
During the past several months, I have had the privilege of interning at the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies in Grand Rapids. My internship has allowed me to work on many wonderful projects and has also connected me with many extraordinary individuals.
The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies (HCPS) was established at Grand Valley State University in 2001, to "provide a foundation for influencing present and future leaders through the study of the presidency." Since then, it has become one of the university's centers of excellence. Through partnerships with the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, the center continues to enhance its reputation.
The center was established thanks to the generosity of Col. Ralph Hauenstein (U.S. Army, retired), former presidential advisor and chief of intelligence during World War II. Hauenstein, now 96, was "profoundly influenced by the need to avoid future armed conflict and the role of American leadership in affecting world peace." Thus he sought to establish an institution that would inspire current and future leaders to make a positive impact on the world.
With this purpose in mind, the center has developed a mission statement: "Illuminating the American presidency to raise civic literacy, learned discourse, and a new generation of leaders."
This mission is accomplished in several ways: the Ralph W. Hauenstein Lecture Series, a popular Web column called Ask Gleaves, a Web site (www.allpresidents.org) and the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy at GVSU. Earlier this year, I was selected to be part of the academy.
With the help of a friend, I began my internship at the center in April 2008. Each week, I volunteer in the center's downtown Grand Rapids office under the guidance of director Gleaves Whitney.
At first my tasks were routine, but that soon changed and I have been assigned to various projects. These include, organizing data and researching information for upcoming events, promoting the center around the Grand Valley campus, and recording presentations which are added to the center’s YouTube page.
In December 2008, I had the opportunity to accompany the center staff on a trip to Washington D.C. With much preparation, we had organized a conference titled "The Bush Presidency: Legacy and Lessons." A highlight of the conference was meeting in the Library of Congress. Our conference included many qualified speakers such as Kasey Pipes, a former speechwriter in the George W. Bush administration.
The trip was very rewarding and filled with activity. As it was the first time the center hosted a conference outside Grand Rapids, the Hauenstein staff and interns faced many challenges and opportunities. I was very thankful to be a part of such a worthwhile project.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Hauenstein Center. My work there has been very rewarding and educational. I have met leaders in many different professions and listened to them present their philosophies. Gleaves Whitney rightly testifies that my work there is a "Harvard education" in history.
