Former Speaker of the House, John Boehner
On Wednesday, October 28th, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) presented the AJCU Appreciation Award to the Honorable John A. Boehner (R-OH), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A graduate of Xavier University, Boehner received the award for personifying the values of Jesuit higher education, and for his dedication to public service and advocacy for the common good.
Xavier president Rev. Michael J. Graham, S.J. presented the award to Boehner during a Congressional breakfast in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Building in Washington, D.C. Over 100 people were in attendance, including Assistant Senate Minority Leader, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL); Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY); House Minority Leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); House Democratic Whip, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD); and other members of Congress, many of whom are alumni of Jesuit institutions. The presidents of 24 U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities and congressional staff from the House and Senate were also guests at the breakfast.
After serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for 25 years, Boehner will retire at the end of this month. Over the course of his tenure in Congress, he served as House GOP Conference Chairman, Chairman of the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, House Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House. He has been an advocate for education reform and notably passed legislation for the first private school choice program in the District of Columbia.
Fr. Graham remarked, “On behalf of the AJCU Board of Directors, it was a great honor to present the AJCU Appreciation Award to a true son of Xavier, John Boehner. John exemplifies the Jesuit motto of “men for others” and has been a true leader for the American people. We are especially grateful for his efforts to support opportunities for students, especially those of great need, to receive an education. We congratulate him on his many accomplishments, and offer our prayers and best wishes on his retirement from Congress.”
Contact: Deanna I. Howes, Director of Communications, AJCU
(202) 862-9893, dhowes@ajcunet.edu
For more photos from the AJCU Congressional Breakfast, please click here.