Justice Clarence Thomas to Give Keynote Address at 'Being an American' Essay Contest...

Justice Clarence Thomas to Give Keynote Address at 'Being an American' Essay
Contest Awards Gala

WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Supreme Court Justice Clarence
Thomas will deliver the keynote address at the 2008-2009 Being an American
Essay Contest Awards Gala on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at the Renaissance
Washington, DC Hotel.

National Public Radio/Fox News Commentator Juan Williams will serve as the
Gala's master of ceremonies.

The contest and awards gala -- hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute -- are
both intended to stimulate and expand the national dialogue on what it means
to be an American in today's society. The contest culminates with the D.C.
gala celebration, where the top high school student winners and their teachers
are honored and awarded nearly $200,000.

Created in 2006 for high school students, the annual essay contest is
sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit educational
organization, and supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
Additional sponsors for the awards gala include the History Channel, State
Farm Insurance, Donors Trust, and the Stuart Family Foundation.

Members of Congress from some of the winning students' districts are expected
at the awards gala, as are other public figures. Among the gala's Host
Committee are former Education Secretaries Richard W. Riley and Roderick "Rod"
Paige, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Labor Bill Brock, Fox News
television personality Judge Andrew Napolitano, and former White House Press
Secretary Ari Fleischer. (A more complete list is available here.)

Out of more than 31,000 students who participated nationwide, the 27 top
finalists attending the D.C. gala placed first, second, or third from across
nine geographical regions. During the gala, the top prize winners will be
announced.

For more information visit:
http://www.beinganamerican.org

DETAILS:

Keynote Address:
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

Remarks:
Master of Ceremonies: Juan Williams, National Public Radio/FOX News
Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr., John Templeton Foundation
Victoria Hughes, The Bill of Rights Institute

Date:
Tuesday, March 31

Location:
Marriott Renaissance Washington
999 Ninth St. NW

Time:
6:00 PM: Reception*
7:00 PM: Dinner/Awards Presentation*

(*Complimentary to Media Guests)

RSVP:
Media Only: Sonia Blumstein, 202.213.0379
General Tickets ($250): Christa Floresca, 703.919.5697

SOURCE The Bill of Rights Institute

Sonia Blumstein of Bill of Rights Institute, +1-202-213-0379,
Sonia@PRoactiveSolutionsInc.net