About the George Washington Scholars Program
In 1989 the Phil Hardin Foundation worked with Mount Vernon for Mississippi to become one of the first two states in the country to pilot the George Washington History Lesson. Those materials were distributed to every public, private, and parochial fifth grade classroom in Mississippi. This began the Hardin Foundation’s long relationship with Mount Vernon that continues to this day.
In September 1998 the Hardin Foundation directors authorized a grant of $25,000 to Mount Vernon to develop and pilot with Mississippi teachers the first George Washington Scholars Program for teachers at Mount Vernon. This program (offered in the summer of 1999 as part of a series of events during the year observing the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s death) is an eight-day residential program for teachers offered on the grounds of Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon stated in the 1998 proposal if the program were successful, they would like to request continued support for the George Washington Scholars Program in subsequent years and the establishment of their first state endowment. The Scholars Program and the state endowment would then be prototypes and models for other states.
The pilot program was successful. An initial endowment of $400,000 was established to provide permanent support for Mississippi teachers to participate.
Since establishing this first state endowment, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Nation has raised funds from a variety of donors to establish five other state endowments. The Association now wishes to increase that number.
Objectives of the Scholars Program
George Washington’s contributions as commander in chief and president are benchmarks in American history. His careful judgment, unyielding determination, and talent for constructive compromise are widely viewed as key to creating a united nation from 13 disparate colonies. Just as his life story summarizes the formative history of the American nation, the values he embodied became the foundation of American society and democracy. These values are so critical to the fabric of American society that the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association decided to establish the George Washington Scholars Program to reinvigorate teaching about George Washington and the founding of our American democracy.
This outreach program for teachers immerses them in the character and historical context of George Washington, studying and discovering Washington and his era through all the resources of his lifetime home, and gives them the classroom resources to make his achievements and the founding history of the nation exciting and relevant to their students.
The George Washington Scholars Program also delivers this intellectual experience to Mississippi teachers in new and creative ways: shorter, but equally intensive George Washington seminars in Mississippi to serve those who cannot take extended travel; in-services in selected school systems during the school year conducted by alumni of the residential seminar; and production and distribution of creative educational resources on Washington to teachers throughout Mississippi.
How to Apply
To receive a packet of information about the George Washington Scholars Program for Mississippi Teachers, please contact The Phil Hardin Foundation or see our web site. |
