JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 22, 2004 — Former President George H. W. Bush helped Union University stage the most 海角乱伦社区 Scholarship Banquet in the event鈥檚 eight-year history.
Donors gave $500,000 to Union鈥檚 scholarship fund, and 2200 people packed the Carl Perkins Civic Center Sept. 21 to hear the nation鈥檚 41st President speak of his faith and his experiences in office. Last year鈥檚 event with former New York mayor Rudolph Guiliani raised just more than $400,000.
鈥淚t was a great night for Union University and for the students who will benefit from the generosity of so many,鈥� said Union University President David S. Dockery, who hosted the event and led a question-and-answer session with Bush near the conclusion of the program.
Guests pledged between $1000 and $15,000 for a record 135 tables. Table and balcony seats were sold out in early September, despite the fact that 21 tables (170 place settings) were added from last year鈥檚 floor plan.
鈥淥n a scale of one-to-10, it was an 11,鈥� said Dr. Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., near Memphis. 鈥淭he president was so warm and folksy. I believe this program will insure to the welfare of the university in many ways well beyond the $500,000 raised.鈥�
Bush, who celebrated his 80th birthday in June by parachuting from an airplane in Texas, told the audience he does not feel entitled to any special privileges as a former U.S. President. He urged younger people in the audience to serve their communities.
Kristen Ulmer, Student Government Association president gave the invocation. She called it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and felt motivated by Bush鈥檚 remarks.
鈥淚t was a great chance to hear and see an example of servant leadership,鈥� Ulmer said. 鈥淗e really stressed that service doesn鈥檛 need to be in politics, and if it is in politics, it doesn鈥檛 have to be at the national level. There are opportunities for service anywhere, whether it is in your school or local community. To hear that from someone of his stature is such an encouragement to students.鈥�
Bush described his own childhood, which he said was rooted in strong moral instruction.
鈥淚n my own life, my own parents helped shape my life. This university helps do that for the kids here,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淚 was privileged in the values I learned from my family 鈥� the same values that helped me when I was President.鈥�
Bush also discussed his Christian faith, and that of his son, President George W. Bush.
鈥淭oday the President is much more open with his faith. It is real. It is not posturing.鈥�
鈥淚 really enjoyed all of his comments, especially about faith and values,鈥� said Gary Taylor, a friend of Union University from Jackson. 鈥淚 appreciate his transparency in letting us look inside his life from a non-political platform.鈥�
The former President鈥檚 speech earned strong reviews from Union faculty and staff, who also helped contribute to the record fundraising total.
鈥淗e was very personable, and I think we got to see the core of a man who loves his family, loves his country and loves his God,鈥� said Dr. Charles Baldwin, the Evalyn Hammons University Professor of Pre-Medical Studies. 鈥淭here was nothing pretentious about him.鈥�
