Hello, Sports Fans, and welcome to our summer wrap-up newsletter!
This edition highlights some truly remarkable moments as we navigate the intersections of technology, diplomacy, and innovation. From high-level discussions about AI‘s future during the NATO Summit to groundbreaking dialogue conversations about Internet reform at the Embassy of Ireland, we’ve brought stakeholders together for meaningful conversations.
You’ll also read about the warm welcome given to the 2024 White House Presidential Innovation Fellows, celebrating friends at the Congressional Country Club, and the heartwarming story of the American Stripe KEMPER tennis dress, which embodies leadership and teamwork. Lastly, we’re immensely proud to celebrate the latest recipients of the Jim Valentine Award, marking another milestone in fostering excellence at CS@SC.
Thank you for joining us on this journey as we celebrate these achievements. We look forward to even greater things this fall!
Cheers,
Coach
IFE hosts AI Breakfast with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden
July 11 | During the NATO Summit in D.C., the Institute for Education, H.E. Nicole Bintner-Baksian, and Dr. R. David Edelman co-hosted a high-level, private breakfast with Prime Minister Luc Frieden at the Embassy of Luxembourg. The focus? Navigating AI‘s challenges and opportunities for effective policymaking while exploring ethical implications. U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrapped up the discussion by expressing hope that a new generation of young people from around the world will break away from the paradigms of the 20th century that brought us two world wars and a Cold War and be more imaginative about what the 21st century could look like and push the world towards their new vision. Event Photos
IFE Media & Technology dinner hosts special guest Frank H. McCourt, Jr.
July 23 | The Embassy of Ireland and the Institute for Education co-hosted Frank H. McCourt, Jr., pioneering Internet reformer and author of Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in the Digital Age. The animated dinner addressed significant changes underway, including McCourt and Project Liberty’s “People’s Bid” for TikTok, and revealed insights on how to reshape the Internet with users and their rights at the center. Event Photos
SPOTTED: Mr. Chris Boucher, H.E. Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland), IFE President Dr. R. David Edelman, Hon. Dick Gephardt, IFE Founder & CEO Coach Kathy Kemper, Hon. Tomasz "Tom" P. Malinowski, Mr. Frank McCourt, Jr., H.E. Jovita Neliupšienė (EU), Hon. Ajit Pai, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Mr. Josh Rogin, Ms. Karen D. Seitz, Dr. Tomicah Tillemann, and Mrs. Becky Tirabassi.
IFE welcomes 2024 cohort of Presidential Innovation Fellows
July 29 | The Embassy of Estonia to the United States and the Institute for Education (IFE), in partnership with the White House Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) Foundation, hosted a “Welcome to the Capital City” evening reception for the two new 2024 Presidential Innovation Fellows cohorts. The event welcomed 33 PIFs (Spring and AI Cohorts) and introduced the newest PIFs to Washington DC’s civic tech community. Read more. View Event Photos.
SPOTTED: H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bakshian (Luxembourg), H.E. Yerzhan Ashikbayev (Kazakhstan), Dr. R David Edelman, DCM Jaime Ramon Torre Ascalon, Jr.(Philippines), DCM Diana Al-Hadid (Jordan), Kelsey Kemper Valentine, Kaivan Shroff, Justin Cole, Ross Dakin, Paul Caron, David Spence, Alex Glade, Dr. Gil Alterovitz, Eboni Freeman, Dr. Michelle Holko, Dr. Arunan Skandarajah, and Dr. Jackie Kazil.
This dress has a story!
Americana Stripe KEMPER tennis dress by Tuckernuck | I’m fortunate to have accomplished a lot in my life, but I never dreamt of having a dress named after me. Thank you, Caroline Gray, for approaching me last year at the Congressional Country Club. My adult daughter, Kelsey Kemper Valentine, and I had just won the Family Club Golf Championships, wearing Tuckernuck golf attire. Caroline, who at the time headed up Tuckernuck Sport, was watching. Caroline asked, “Coach and Kelsey, may I name a tennis dress after you?” We enthusiastically said YES! Absolutely! For me, this is more than a dress. It’s a recognition of leadership, commitment, and teamwork. It is what individual and team sports instill in people across this country and the world… Read entire story
UPDATE: CS@SC Summer Coding Camp
August 15 | In August, Dr. Darin Gray, 
DoD STEM Ambassador and esteemed Professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering, proudly presented the 2024 Jim Valentine Awards to seven outstanding students. 
This marks the second year these scholarships have been awarded, continuing a legacy of excellence. Congrats to this Summer’s scholars!
IFE Out & About Summer Recap
IFE's Ninth Annual Summer Social
IFE’s Ninth Annual Summer Social brought together the city’s elite gatekeepers, protocol professionals, and social secretaries to celebrate international collaboration at the historic Congressional Country Club. Co-hosted by IFE’s Founder & CEO Coach Kemper and Deputy Director Elise Ravenscroft, together with Gwenda DeMoor from the Belgian Embassy and Kiyomi Buker from the Japanese Embassy, the event featured over 20 embassies, three federal agencies, and the White House. Guests enjoyed Seabreeze cocktails on the Great Lawn, a chic buffet, and a keynote by former White House Social Secretary Deesha Dyer, who shared inspiring insights from her book Undiplomatic. The luncheon highlighted the importance of friendship and collaboration, essential to IFE’s mission and the success of Washington, D.C.’s protocol community. Read more.
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Coach‘s Column
Thirty-two years ago, I started the Institute for Education with my high-powered tennis students over breakfast. As a tennis coach to leading diplomats and elected and business power players, I have always understood the value of sports in building relationships. Each quarter, I would gather my students—including Les Aspin, Katharine Graham, Alan Greenspan, George Shultz, and Jim Baker—to explore and problem-solve issues of the day in an environment away from the conference tables and harsh overhead lighting. Read More.
“Rethinking Cyber Warfare: The International Relations of Digital Disruption” is a book by R. David Edelman, which provides a comprehensive look at the role digital disruption plays in contemporary international security. The book focuses on major cyberattacks against wired societies and explores the forces in the international system that might restrain their use. It delves into how deterrence, international law, and normative taboos shape states’ decisions regarding cyber warfare.
The book is now available for purchase, with details at RethinkingCyberWarfare.com.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION
IFE is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to engaging the global community to harness the power of data, innovation, and soft diplomacy. We partner with diplomats, entrepreneurs, technologists, journalists, and leaders across the political spectrum to promote bipartisanship, foster Washington, D.C. culture, and encourage #civictech. IFE also works to educate students of all backgrounds in computer science through our CS@SC coding camp. Basic CS skills are an integral part of ensuring that every child has equal access to future opportunities.
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