SOLD OUT SPEAKER INFORMS AND INSPIRES Secretary of State Condo/eezza Rice speaks for the American Studies Institute Distinguished Lecture Series April19, 2012, former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice spoke to a packed Benson Auditorium. "She was a major player in international politics," Laura Beth Brown, American Studies Institute director, said. "She was in office with George W. Bush, and she had written some excellent books. She has an excellent background that was very inspiring to college-aged people and just a great reputation." Tickets were released to students two months prior to the day of the speech and to the public a month before, so every ticket in the Benson had been sold. "Condoleezza Rice's presentation for the American Studies Distinguished Lecture Series was a really exciting event to promote," Hannah Beall, director of news services, said. "Several TV stations and newspapers from Little Rock chose to make the journey to Searcy to listen to her speak. She was an enthusiastic speaker that easily drew in the audience, which got us coverage in both broadcast and print media." Rice's confidence and sense of humor inspired students in attendance. Who's Who est. 1938 "Dr. Rice conducted herself in the only way she knows how: with class," junior Mary Kate Collins said. "She fills up the room when she enters and tells personal stories that anyone, not just political scientists, can relate to." Rice regaled listeners with stories of her time as Secretary of State and her life after leaving office. "It's different being out of office than in offices," Rice said. "I get up in the morning, and I get my coffee, I get my newspaper, I read the newspaper, and then I get on Twitter and write whatever I want to, ju'st like everyone else." She addressed being a potential Republican vice presidential nominee in response to a CNN poll that had been released earlier that week with her at the top of the list of candidates. The public relations office was live tweeting the event, when she announced that she was not interested. The tweet made newspaper headlines because her announcement was the first time she had publicly announced she was uninterested. Rice also spoke about how the Christian faith had a positive impact on society. "Indeed, there is a deeper meaning for people of faith, who have very often been the most philanthropic, the most caring and compassionate because, of course, if every one of us is a child of God, if every one of us has a personal savior in the Lord Jesus Christ, then everyone is important," Rice said. Rice ended with a message about perseverance and hope. She said that in Birmingham, Ala., there was a little girl whose parents could not take her to a movie or a restaurant because of her skin color, yet they had her convinced she could be president of the United States if she wanted to be, and that little girl eventually became the Secretary of State. The crowd started to applaud as Rice said, "Somehow the United States ofAmerica has a way of making the impossible seem inevitable in retrospect." In Rice's address to the student body, faculty and out-of-town guests, she shared her hope for a promising future for each individual in the room with her personal story of triumph and her words of encouragement. Jessica Head Jordan Abrams Bethany Fleming David Hunzicker Chaney Mitchell Bethany Reeves Matthew Albright Ryan Gardner Mari Ishii Alyssa Mock Christine Ritchie Jared Altman Jacob Giles Sarabeth lvey Claire Moody Cody Rogers Kevin Barnett Bailee Graham Weston Jameson Rachel Moran Maggie Rothe Lacey Bates Julia Grasham Alyssa Jones Kelli Mott James Rucker Shawn Batten Zane Grimes Camilla Jones Blake Muncy Anthony Saeger! Meagan Burkhead Jared Guinn Paula Jones Melissa Nelson Thomas Sanford Emily Buttram Erin Gurchiek Nikka Kellam Stephanie Nill Dijana Shelby Austin Christian Allison Gutierrez Conor Kirkman Tana Overman Hannah Shelton Jonathan Crews Francisco Gutierrez Emalee Krulish Tyler Overman Justin Sims Jasmine DeMario Caleb Hall Savannah Lee Ashley Paarlberg Emily Spencer Allyson Dodds Hazel Halliburton Constance Lents Ashel Parsons Teal Stamatis Callie Donaldson Jay Hemphill Matthew Lincoln Mattie Parten Joshua Stevens Tony English Bejamin Holder Joshua Little Natalie Pleasant Jordan Ware Tabetha Espenschied Sarah Holup Madison Love Evelyn Poteet Emily West Anna Evans Amanda Hourt Haley Maturi Preston Pugh Kaylea White Katherine Finn Andrea Hulett Rebecca Mayes Kelsey Reely 266 1 Organizations
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