Gala Dinner

As announced during the Gala dinner, International College will officially inaugurate the Ali Ghandour Leadership and Civic Engagement Center this fall. The Center has two main objectives: • A transformative education for all students • Extension Programs for the school to widen its impact in the community

Every year, and in perpetuity, the Ghandour Family will give the school the amount of $250,000 to cover four full scholarships. The center will give these IC scholars, and other interested students from any Secondary School program, leadership training to help grow their skills and forge their personalities. The center will also act as a catalyst for IC’s extension program whereby IC teachers will train teachers in public schools. This way, IC will widen its impact in the community, giving public school teachers access to the advanced training given at IC. The Ghandour family will cover the cost of the center with one full-time staff member coordinating its activities, including building sustainable partnerships with public, private and civil society organizations. IC is proud to boast that the Ali Ghandour Leadership and Civic Engagement Center will be one of the first schoolbased leadership centers in the region.

IC’s reserves were exhausted and the school was operating day to day. Many trustees entertained the idea of the school being shut down. Bill insisted IC remain open. Bill understood how important IC was to the remaining students. Bill understood that IC was a vital part of what made Beirut an important educational and cultural center Bill understood that IC was an important shining light in Lebanon that needed to be kept illuminated.

Chairman of the Board, Don Selinger, honoring former Chairman Bill Turner with a plaque and the announcement of the Bill Turner walkway (from Thomson Hall to Sage Hall)