Lee H. Hamilton, one of the nation’s foremost experts on Congress and representative democracy, will headline Ivy Tech Bloomington’s 13th annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service fundraising dinner on Thursday, April 21. The dinner will take place on Ivy Tech’s main campus with ticket proceeds benefiting the Center for Civic Engagement.
“We are honored that Mr. Hamilton, recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, has agreed to headline the O’Bannon Institute and bring his expertise in public affairs to our dinner guests,” said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. “This is an especially exciting time for Ivy Tech and the community, as we host both Mr. Hamilton and our annual signature event for the first time on campus, in our new Cook Pavilion.”
Hamilton founded the Center on Congress at Indiana University in 1999 and served as its Director until 2015 after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Indiana from 1965 to 1999. He also served as President and Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2010. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015). He currently serves as a Distinguished Scholar in the School of Global and International Studies and as a Professor of Practice in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
A leading figure on foreign policy, intelligence, and national security, Hamilton served as Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Until recently, he served as Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future with General Brent Scowcroft and as a member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
The O’Bannon Institute for Community Service (www.ivytech.edu/obannon/) at Ivy Tech Bloomington was established in 2004 as an annual opportunity for the community to come together to discuss issues of importance. Previous speakers at the Institute include U.S. senators, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, governors, political advisers and columnists, a presidential candidate, and former first lady of the United States Laura W. Bush.
The event has grown from one day to three and now includes a civic engagement awards celebration, Youth Leadership Academy presentations, fundraising dinner, and a kick-off speaker for a day of volunteering in the communities served by Ivy Tech Bloomington.
The fundraising dinner will take place on Ivy Tech’s main campus at 200 Daniels Way on the west side of Bloomington, in Shreve Hall, located in the Cook Pavilion. Individual tickets cost $100 and Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsorships are available.
To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, visit www.ivytech.edu/obannon or contact Tina Phelps at (812) 330-6001 or tphelps@ivytech.edu for more information.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
