Greater Cincinnati Chapter • Freedoms Foundation at Valley ForgeFall 2018 • Robert Stevens, President

THE SENTINELTHE SENTINELTHE SENTINELGreater Cincinnati

Chapter

BOB STEVENS WINS NATIONAL FREEDOMS FOUNDATION AWARDOur current president, Bob Stevens, has been honored by the national Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. He is the 2018 Spirit of ’76 Freedoms Foundation American Patriot of the Year.

The Award is given to a volunteer chapter member who has demonstrated exemplary, un-selfish service to his chapter. It also recognizes the individual’s involvement in and contribution to other civic and religious organizations.

This award recognizes Bob’s commitment to and tireless efforts for our local chapter. Congratulations Bob!

LOCAL TEACHER WINS PRESTIGIOUS LEAVEY AWARDJennifer Jordan, of Madeira High School in Cincinnati, won a Leavey Award for “The Entrepreneur,” a competition among student-run companies modeled after TV’s “The Apprentice.”

The Leavey Awards are awarded each year to selected teachers for outstanding commitment to providing students with creative and successful ways to learn about entrepreneurship and the free enterprise system. The Leavey Awards are sponsored by partners The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation and Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge

To read more about Jennifer’s classroom, use this link to the Cincinnati Enquirer article:

www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/07/27/madeira-high-school-teacher-wins-leavey-award-business-curriculum/837679002/

Next Year’s Spirit of America dates: April 11 – 14, 2019

Contact us with the names of high school students who might be interested in applying. Our goal is to send 20 students this year.

Ariana Sanders, a teacher at Lakota East, attended the Civil Rights Movement, one of the traveling classes that began in Atlanta and worked its way westward to Little Rock.

Ariana said, “Thank you so much for giving me this incredible journey across the south following the path of so many courageous people in the quest for equality.“

DEEPENING KNOWLEDGE:Cincinnati Teachers Attend Summer Classes at Valley ForgeEleven teachers from the Greater Cincinnati area attended summer graduate professional development programs at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Allison Decker, a teacher at Harrison Elementary School, Southwest Local School District, attended Heroes and Heroines: Transforming Character Through Biography. Allison has redesigned her 4th grade reading program to reflect what she learned at Valley Forge. “I learned new information about American heroes that I thought I knew a lot about. The activities we did using primary and secondary sources will be making an appearance in my classroom!”Allison reflects further by saying, “I was fortunate enough to meet two Medal of Honor recipients…and I am excited to bring the Medal of Honor Character Development program into my classroom by having Medal of Honor Mondays. I am grateful for the opportunity and experience I had at FFVF.”Casey Kaufman (Southwest Local), Heath Kelly (Talawanda) and Stephanie Aierni (Talawanda) also attended Heroes and Heroines.

Brandon Digiantonio (School for Creative and Performing Arts), Lisa Heiert and David Renick (Mercy McAuley), Brian Mullholand (Princeton) and Tom York (Talawanda) all attended Medal of Honor Legacy: World War II.

Brian Mulholland shared his thoughts:

“It was a fantastic experience. Something that was reinforced throughout the week was the power of relationships. In the…testimonies of the veterans, we repeatedly heard about the power of relationships, which… got men out of their foxholes and to sacrifice and put others before themselves. I was also reminded of how powerful relationships are in the classroom. They give us opportunity to honestly speak into the lives of students…I was also thankful for the Medal of Honor training. I look forward to sharing their stories and teaching them the qualities of these award recipients.”We are pleased that so many Cincinnati area teachers were able to participate in the summer classes at Valley Forge.

Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris and Ariana Sanders

Jenny Kilgore, Board member and college teacher, attended Immigrants to Citizens: History and Civic Values. “The class heard from individuals representing immigration experiences from American Indian, Asia, East Africa, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Latin America and Poland who presented their families’ stories of integration” resulting “in thought provoking dialogue and introspection.” The culminating event was a trip to Ellis Island, The Lower East End of Manhattan, and the New York Tenement Museum.

Open Positions on the Board : Public Relations and Social Media

Contact Bob Stevens at res1937@gmail.com or Theresa Bradley at tkobradley@gmail.com for more information.

LOCAL STUDENT ATTENDS PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCEAarian Lynn, student at Mercy McAuley High School, attended the Service Learning in Public Policy conference this summer in Valley Forge. This week long conference focused on legal, health, and business public policy. Aarian chose to attend SLIPP after her positive experience at the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference in April.

Aarian’s enthusiasm shines through in her own words in her report and reflections: “I wanted to start off by thanking Freedoms Foundation for granting me the opportunity to go to Valley Forge not once, but TWICE! My experience at SLIPP was absolutely amazing, and I loved every second of it!!

About the first night of ice breakers, leadership workshops – and s’mores! – Aarian said, “My personal favorite was the personality workshop because I learned that I was an ENTJ (personality type from the Myers-Briggs personality inventory) and how being an ENTJ affected my leadership style.

The next day we did a resume building activity. I won first place and received a prize from Temple University!

At SLIPP, there were three concentrations... economic, legal, and health public policy tracts. My area of concentration…was legal policy. I was granted the opportunity to sit in on a few court sessions for the first time, and it was extremely exciting. We broke into small groups and began drafting our very own public policies to present in front of three real judges.

We listened to a few keynote speakers from different careers, and we listened to some admission officers from colleges in Pennsylvania. I even made connection with two admissions officers from Lasalle University and Penn State Brandywine.

Not only were the students busy with serious themes and topics, but they also had some fun, too. “…we went to the mall and Dave and Busters, and I won a teddy bear, who was named Benny by a lady in the airport.

I had am amazing experience, and this experience has definitely helped me in my government class and has taught me that I am not too young to make a difference in my country.”

Congratulations to Aarian on her great week at SLIPP. We are glad that she represented Cincinnati well.

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COMING EVENT: ANNUAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND RECOGNITION SERVICE, MONDAY NOVEMBER 12Join us at the Veterans Service to recognize and honor the veterans in our lives and to say thank you for their service.Participants include David Poland, Civil Air Patrol Chaplain; David Harmer, President and CEO of Freedoms Foundation; Steve Lee, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Ohio. Students from Little Miami High School choral group and the Color Guard from the Flying Tigers Squadron of the Sea Cadets will also participate. As is our tradition, the names of veterans, whose names have been submitted, will be read during a time of recognition. If you would like to submit the name of a veteran, please contact Bob Stevens 513-563-6186 or Theresa Bradley at tkobradley@gmail.com. In addition to the name, please include the rank and branch of military service. There will be opportunity to donate toward the cost; suggested donation in honor of the veteran is $10.We hope to see you at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 12 at Sycamore Presbyterian Church, 11800 Mason Road.

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER CHAPTER CONFERENCE REPORTThree of our members, Wayne and Theresa Bradley and Bob Stevens, attended the Annual Volunteer Chapter Conference in Valley Forge in mid-September. The program was held on campus this year, and everyone stayed in the residence halls which gave a good feel for the condition of the physical plant and the need for serious upgrades to comply with modern standards, handicap access, etc. 22 chapter members from 11 chapters, and 6 partners from AMVETS, Knights of Columbus, National Sojourners, Ruritan National attended. Members were able to network and share ideas on what has been successful in local chapters across the country. Workshops were well planned with staff members acting as facilitators and presenters. Participants experienced an excellent tour of the Union League of Philadelphia with whom FFVF has been able to partner on some education. Patriot of the Year Award was presented to Bob Stevens at the Red, White & Blue Dinner. Conference concluded with a Chapel Service in which Bob Stevens and Theresa Bradley participated.