Henry Clay 2008 Student Congress

To help educate a new generation in the skills and processes of statesmanship, the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship will operate an annual undergraduate short course, a “Student Congress,” which will expose a top college junior from every U.S. State to a curriculum in diplomacy, dialogue, listening skills, negotiation and mediation.

The five-day curriculum, which is under the aegis of the University of Kentucky Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, Transylvania University and Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, will focus not only on theory, but also on the practices of statesmanship. The history and context of Henry Clay, his world and his approaches and contributions to statesmanship, will be at the center of the course. Students will hear from top speakers from around the world on conflict resolution, decision making in a shared power world and national and international relations.

The inaugural Student Congress will take place July 19-26, 2008 on the campus of the University of Kentucky. Students will be housed at the university in a dormitory. The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship will provide all student transportation to and from Lexington, Kentucky, as well as ground transportation, housing, food, course materials and activities during the week-long Student Congress.

The Senior U.S. Senators from each of the 50 states have been asked by the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship to recommend one college junior from their state to attend the Student Congress. Students also are being recommended by universities and colleges throughout the country. Students interested in attending also may contact The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship for information on how to apply.