U.S. History Students Visit Constitution Center
Jack Bogle ’47 Provides Personal Tour

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A group of 55 U.S. history and U.S. history AP students traveled to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on May 12, where they were greeted by Jack Bogle ’47, former chairman of the Constitution Center’s board, former chairman of Blair’s Board of Trustees, and founder and former chairman of The Vanguard Group, Inc. – one of the largest mutual fund organizations in the world.

Mr. Bogle accompanied students on their tour of the center, which exposes visitors to important events in America’s history and utilizes interactive exhibits to demonstrate how and why the United States Constitution is as important today as it was 218 years ago. In fact, Mr. Bogle said he has viewed the main presentation, “Freedom Rising,” numerous times and is “deeply moved” by each performance. Before the group headed for home, he spoke to the students in the center’s John C. Bogle Chairman’s Room – with its view of Independence Hall and other city landmarks – about his own experience at Blair and advised them to “pay attention” and make the most of their time here. “Blair Academy gave me the life that I have now; I loved my time there,” he said. “When I arrived at Blair, it was like a door opened. I was in a whole new league and received a first-class education.”

Mr. Bogle advised Blair students to pursue the notion of “service to the community and others, not just to self.” He also noted that he was a scholarship student at Blair and now, through the Bogle Scholarships he supports at Blair and Princeton University (his two alma maters), he helps others attain the same quality education. “Well qualified people need to get breaks,” he said. “And when someone gets a break, they need to take advantage of it.”

Students enjoyed viewing the life-size bronze statues of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution (and the three dissenters) in Signers’ Hall, as well as the portrait of Mr. Bogle that hangs just outside the Chairman’s Room named for him. Jim Connor, chair of Blair’s history department, and history teachers Ryan Spring and Stacey Spring ’95 accompanied students on their trip.

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Posted 5/14/08

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