About the Leaders of Conscience
Speaker Series

In September 2008, the Academy of the Sacred Heart celebrated 50 years at its Bloomfield Hills campus and nearly 160 years of education and outreach in the metropolitan Detroit area with a Golden Anniversary.  As part of this celebration, the Academy launched its "Window to the World" theme and the Leaders of Conscience Speaker Series, aimed at providing ethical guidance and real-life testimonials from internationally-known personalities whose lives and works inspire students and the larger community with messages of hope and optimism. 

"The Speaker Series provides an opportunity for both our students and our greater community to expand our awareness of social values and impel us to action," said Sr. Bridget Bearss, Head of School of the Academy of the Sacred Heart.  "Our featured speakers ... reinforce the mission of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in preparing a new generation of leaders of conscience, creative thinkers, ethical problem solvers and those prepared to lead without hesitation in any walk of life."

On Friday, February 13, 2009, the Leaders of Conscience Speaker Series featured Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Cokie Roberts. Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News, and serves as senior news analysts for National Public Radio. She's also a regular roundtable analyst for the current This Week with George Stephanopoulos program on ABC.  Roberts has written several bestselling books that focus on the accomplishments of women whose patriotism and sacrifice helped create a new nation.  Her books include:  We Are Our Mother's Daughters, Founding Mothers, and newly released Ladies of Liberty.  Roberts graduated from the Stone Ridge School - a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools - located outside of Washington, D.C.

Throughout the day, Roberts participated in a "Real Live Chat" forum with ASH students discussing how the media reflects social transformation; community leaders and patrons attended "A Private Conversation with Cokie Roberts";  and Roberts addressed a General Session Luncheon focusing on "Politics, Ethics and Equality:  A Behind the Scenes View."
 
The second Speaker Series event brought Lou Holtz to the Academy's campus for a stadium-style dinner and keynote address on Friday, May 1, 2009.  Holtz is an author, television commentator, motivational speaker and former NCAA football and NFL head coach. Holtz is the only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games, and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 20 rankings.  

Holtz's keynote address, "A Game Plan for Life: Ethics in Sports, Coaching and Leadership," capped an evening of activities designed to bring together the greater community and families with children ages 10-18, including the ASH Experience Youth Sports Challenge, a general admission stadium-style dinner and the ASH "Ultimate" Tailgate Party with Lou Holtz for patrons.