Graduations

The Political Leaders Program Class of 2007 celebrated its graduation on December 7-8 in Charlottesville. This slide show includes photos from the Friday evening reception and dinner as well as remarks during the Saturday ceremony. You can also listen to a podcast of Chris Gates' complete talk from the Friday dinner by clicking here.

Chris Gates was the keynote speaker at the Political Leaders Program Class of 2007 graduation this past weekend in Charlottesville. Chris is the past president of the National Civic League and the first Executive Director of PACE, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement.

This is a fascinating talk about the history of political leadership in America with a critical look at the current situation and hopes for the future.

The Sorensen Institute congratulates the members of the High School Leaders Program Class of 2007. They celebrated their completion of the program on Saturday, July 21 in the historic Dome Room of the UVa Rotunda. In coming days we will be bringing you podcasts from the ceremony.

You all did a magnificent job, we will miss you, and it is our honor to officially welcome you to the Sorensen family!

Sorensen's Director of Youth Programs, Marc Johnson, concludes this year's College Leaders Program graduation ceremony with some final thoughts. Marc is followed briefly by Barbara Fried, the Chairman of the Sorensen State Board, who takes a moment to congratulate the Class of 2007.

Jody Wager (shown at left with Sean O'Brien) is the Secretary of Finance for the Commonwealth of Virginia and a graduate of the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program Class of Fall 1994.

Secretary Wagner delivered the Graduation Address at this year's College Leaders Program commencement. She discussed the current state of the Commonwealth and urged the graduates to get involved in public service.

Ara Friedman (Randolph Macon's Women's College '09) was this year's recipient of the Spirit of Citizenship Award, which recognizes a commitment to public service and citizen engagement, leadership, participation, enthusiasm, and commitment. The award was presented by Sorensen's Marc Johnson.

Regis McKoy (Radford University '07) delivered the Class Address for the College Leaders Program Class of 2007.

Dr. Tom Shields is the Director of the Center for Leadership in Education at the University of Richmond and an instructor in the College Leaders Program. Dr. Shields addressed the graduating class, after having been introduced by Marc Johnson, Director of Youth Programs at the Sorensen Institute.

The Sorensen Institute celebrated the graduation of its College Leaders Program Class of 2007 on Saturday, June 30, in Charlottesville. Family and friends came together to recognize twenty-three of our students for their successful completion of the nation's premiere youth leadership training program.

Sean O'Brien, the Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute, took the podium first, sharing the joy and honor he feels each summer working with some of Virginia's very best and brightest young people.

On Saturday December 9, the 34 members of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006 celebrated their graduation from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. Each graduate had the opportunity to share a few words with their classmates and the assembled audience of family and friends. This short video (15 minutes) includes just some of those remarks. The depth of emotion expressed by these graduates goes a long way towards answering a question our alumni are frequently asked: what's it like to go to the Sorensen Institute?