On Thursday, November 15th, the inaugural class of the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, made up of 33 individuals serving our nation's veterans who are motivated to broaden their skill sets, knowledge, and influence across the country, graduated from the first-of-its- kind program at the Bush Center in Dallas.
Included in the inaugural class was Ryan Manion, President of Doylestown based Travis Manion Foundation, a nationally recognized Veteran Service Organization that empowers veterans and families of the fallen to instill character in the next generation. Through Stand-To, Ryan is working to train and support veterans and community members to unite together and inspire the next generation of servant leaders.
As part of the closing ceremony for the six-month program, President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush hosted the graduating Stand-To scholars for a roundtable conversation followed by a reception and dinner.
Throughout the program’s sessions, participants have traveled to Dallas, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. and heard from a variety of nationally known and distinguished professionals, educators, and experts in post-9/11 veteran transition issues and leadership development including: General Peter Chiarelli, Senator Elizabeth Dole, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General Stanley McChrystal, Former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald, Former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie.
Stand-To scholars are rising leaders - both veterans and non-veterans - from a wide range of sectors who are working to improve post-9/11 veteran outcomes. Throughout the program, each participant has worked on a personal leadership project, which allows them to implement what they learn in the program in service of improving veteran outcomes across the United States.
Applications are open now until January 15, 2019 for the second class of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. The program is part of the Bush Institute’s commitment to developing and supporting effective leaders and builds on the Bush Institute’s extensive body of work on veteran transition issues. The Bush Center gratefully acknowledges the support of The Boeing Company as the Founding Program Underwriter.
