The 2013 Korbel Dinner included a conversation between President Bush and Christopher Hill, dean of the Korbel School. Photo: Wayne Armstrong
The University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School for International Studies raised more than $670,000 at its 16th annual Korbel Dinner on Monday night. The funds will support scholarships, faculty research and programs. The sold-out event featured two-term former President George W. Bush as its special guest and keynote speaker.
The evening included a conversation between President Bush and Christopher Hill, dean of the Korbel School. Hill served under President Bush as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, U.S. ambassador to South Korea and U.S. ambassador to Poland.
The topics discussed during the conversation ranged from 9/11 and its aftermath to the President’s work fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. “You’re the president of the richest nation ever and there’s a pandemic destroying human life… to sit back and do nothing would be morally bankrupt. We’re a moral nation, and we should care,” Bush said.
DU Chancellor Robert Coombe said it was a great honor for the University to host President Bush at the Korbel Dinner.
“A number of our alumni played key roles in his administration during a pivotal time for the United States, and we were absolutely delighted that he accepted our invitation to attend and speak at the dinner,” Coombe said. “It was a great night for DU.”
In addition to President Bush, the University also honored Michael Long, chairman, president and CEO of Englewood, Colo., based Arrow Electronics Inc., with the University of Denver Bridge Builders Award. A $20.4 billion technology company, Arrow provides products, solutions and services to commercial and industrial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions.
“Mike Long and Arrow Electronics are longtime supporters of the Denver community,” Hill said. “Arrow and Mike’s involvement in the international marketplace help further Denver’s connection to the global community.”
“The Bridge Builder award symbolizes what Arrow tries to do every day for our 100,000 customers in 55 countries around the world,” Long said. “Arrow helps people by guiding innovators forward and by using the power of new technology to make the world a better place for us all.”