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News and Upcoming Events
Kentucky Student Essay Contest--Enter today!
Each year, the McConnell Center Civics Education Program sponsors an essay contest for Kentucky students. This year, students in grades 5-12 will have the opportunity to win cash prizes and books in Senior (Grades 9-12) and Junior (Grades 5-8) divisions. To read this year's prompt, view guidelines, and download the Official Essay Contest cover sheet, visit our Civics Education page.
Contest Deadline: February 15, 2009
Now is the time to apply for the McConnell Scholarship 
Scholarships are awarded to talented, deserving high school seniors reflecting the state's geographic diversity. The goal of the McConnell Scholarship Program is to train Kentucky's future generation of leaders. Application deadline: Jan 15 More on the scholarship
Spring 2009 Speaker Series coming soon
View the entire McConnell Center Fall 2008 Speaker Series
CHIEF JUSTICE VISIT POSTPONED
The visit by Chief Justice Roberts needs to be rescheduled, and we look forward to setting a date for a future visit.
No further details are available at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to Speak in McConnell Center Series
Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts will speak October 27 at 10:00AM on the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus. The talk is free and open to the public. Tickets are required for the event and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Roberts will deliver opening remarks before taking part in “A Conversation with the Chief,” a panel discussion with people who have studied and written about the U.S. Supreme Court.
Roberts, the nation’s 17th chief justice, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2005, succeeding William Rehnquist. Prior to the appointment, he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for two years.
America's Forgotten Founders
The McConnell Center recently hosted a successful conference for educators, students, and citizens on the weekend of September 12-13, 2008 exploring America's forgotten patriots. Drs. Gregg and Hall launched their co-edited book enitled America's Forgotten Founders at the conference. The book publishes the results of a year-long survey the two had worked identifying the top ten 'forgotten founders.' America's Forgotten Founders can be purchased through the Butler Books website.
Explore media coverage for the event.
About the McConnell Center
The McConnell Center is dedicated to providing a non-partisan, well-rounded education that encourages top undergraduates to become valued citizens and future leaders of the Commonwealth and the Nation. The Center also facilitates public discourse on the major challenges of our time, while encouraging an understanding of our shared past.
More about the Center
The beauty of the way Americans choose their president