VIENNA, W.Va. – Ohio Valley University President Dr. Harold Shank, along with University staff and board members, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as honored guests for The Washington Center (TWC) 2012 Gala event.

The Oct. 1st gala took place at the renowned National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., and recognized how individuals can impact nations and society through civic engagement. It honored special individuals who have devoted their lives to the service of their fellow citizens for the betterment of society.

TWC for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, non-profit educational organization founded in 1975. Its mission is to prepare college and university students for civic leadership through experiential education. In this way, The Washington Center seeks to promote future leadership for the private, public and nonprofit sectors of society. It has served approximately 50,000 students from close to 1,000 colleges and universities located in the United States and around the world.

Dr. Jim Bullock, OVU vice president for academic affairs, serves on TWC’s Liaison Advisory Board and has served as a faculty leader for several of its academic seminars since 2005.

“OVU has sent more than a half-dozen students during the past five summers to Washington to participate in a variety of competitive internships, and they have thrived. Our relationship with TWC has flourished and we’ve been fortunate to collaborate this summer on a ground-breaking course titled, Career Mastery. OVU’s partnership with TWC is helping to place the Mid-Ohio Valley on a national stage for excellence in higher education, and we could not be more pleased to be affiliated with such a fine organization,” said Bullock.

The gala event highlighted TWC's partnerships with colleges and universities, donors, alumni, governments, internships sites, and over 50,000 alumni worldwide. OVU’s president was one of 11 university presidents and chancellors attending the event. Guests travelled everywhere from Hawaii to Puerto Rico to attend this exciting event. 

TWC honored several remarkable world leaders who have made a significant impact on our global community, including Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and the former cabinet member in both the Clinton and Bush administrations, Norm Mineta.

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Cokie Roberts, political analyst for ABC News. Proceeds from the Gala provide essential program support and scholarships that make the program accessible to students regardless of their backgrounds. Ford Motor Company was the presenting sponsor of the Gala.

To learn more about The Washington Center, visit www.twc.edu.

Chartered in 1958, Ohio Valley University is a residential faith-based Tier I institution with four colleges offering 35 undergraduate degrees and a master of education degree to students from 28 states and 14 nations. To learn more about the university, visit www.ovu.edu.

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PHOTO CAPTION: The Washington Center celebrated its Annual Gala Oct. 1 at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. Pictured front row, seated from left to right: Gordon Rampy (OVU trustee and president, CHEMetrics Inc.) and Bert Rampy (spouse); Dr. Jim Bullock, (vice president for academic affairs, OVU); Dorn Muscar (OVU alumnus & minister at University Park Church of Christ, Hyattsville, Md.). Pictured back row, standing from left to right: Dr. Bill Luttrell (chair of the department of Chemistry and Physics, Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Okla.); Dr. Harold Shank (president, Ohio Valley University in Vienna, W.Va.) and Sally Shank (spouse); Lori Walle (Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Okla.); Diane Jones (parent of OVU Career Mastery student Jerome Jones from Silver Spring, Md.); and Carolyn Muscar (spouse of Dorn Muscar).