Students Anticipate Personalized Aspect of Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture

Howard H. Cherry III, ‘65, left, and Robert Price Jr., ‘65, founded the Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture to allow students up-close-and-personal contact with world leaders.

Jon Wheeler, ’20 ΦΔΘ , is eagerly anticipating the third annual Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture at 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. The environmental engineering and physics major from Fulton, MO, will be taking advantage of a student-focused question-and-answer session — a primary feature of all Cherry-Price lectures — prior to the talk at 5 p.m. in the Anson Cutts Gallery of America’s National Churchill Museum.

“This is a big deal for Westminster, because students can ask direct questions and formulate new ones,” Wheeler says.

This year’s Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture will be delivered by The Honorable Joe Hockey, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States. His presentation, titled “The Sinews of Prosperity: In Defense of Free Trade,” will tap into Hockey’s vast public service experience, which spans from his beginnings in the Australian Parliament in 1996 to his current post as Australian Ambassador in Washington, D.C.

In addition to his parliamentary duties, Hockey was appointed Treasurer of the Commonwealth in 2013 and subsequently became responsible for all economic policy, including fiscal. He served as Chair of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in 2014 and as a member of the leadership troika in 2015. As Treasurer, Hockey was a regular delegate to International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. He also previously served as a banking and finance lawyer with a major Australian law firm.

The Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture

Established in 2017, the Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture is an annual event that shines the spotlight on the character traits of successful leaders of our time. Lectures are designed to reinforce Westminster’s mission of helping students find their purpose, aiding them in transforming from learners to leaders.

Because Westminster is a small college with a mighty reputation for attracting international attention, students experience unique opportunities to meet influential leaders in areas such as public affairs, science and business. In particular, the Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture offers students opportunities that often are not possible at larger colleges and universities.

Dr. Jeremy Straughn, Assistant Dean of Global Initiatives and Director of the Churchill Institute for Global Engagement, says the face-to-face dimension of the reception prior to the lecture is an important component that students should take advantage of.

“Students are highly encouraged to attend all of our lectures, but this one in particular offers Westminster students a front-seat view of the intricacies of international affairs,” Straughn explains. “Ambassador Hockey will be available to students, specifically, to answer just about any question they have.”

The Price Leadership Program

Because of its focus on the student, the Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture is an integral part of Westminster’s Price Leadership Program, a promise to students that they will be transformed into leaders during their time at Westminster. Read more about the program here.

About Howard H. Cherry III, ‘65 ΒΘΠ , and Robert Price Jr., ‘65 ΒΘΠ

The Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture is made possible through the generosity of distinguished alums Howard H. Cherry III, ’65 ΒΘΠ, and Robert W. Price Jr., ’65 ΒΘΠ. Fraternity brothers and lifelong friends, Cherry and Price both majored in economics at Westminster and distinguished themselves through careers in the manufacturing industry. Cherry resides with his wife, Barbara, in Wellington, FL. Price lives in Lake Charles, LA, with his wife, Susan.

Student Experience with Past Lectures

Sarah Ayers, ’21 ΚΑΘ, of Ballwin, MO, attended the 2018 Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture delivered by Lieutenant General Richard C. Harding, who discussed his national security role during the harrowing hours following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. She says the lecture helped solidify her goals to attend law school.

“As a history major on the pre-law track, the lecture was inspirational and reaffirmed to me that law is what I wish to pursue, while simultaneously opening my eyes to other ways I could apply my degree,” Ayers says.

Likewise, Zachary Eisenreich, ’20 ΒΘΠ, of Kansas City, MO, says the lecture “epitomizes what one expects of global leaders and reenergizes all of us to strive for a better future.”

For Wheeler, who is a member of the Blue Blazers Investment Committee, the reception is only one component of the lecture that he is eagerly anticipating. He also says the topic of Hockey’s visit is intriguing.

“I am looking forward to broadening my knowledge of free trade and hearing about different concepts and international strategies.”

For those off campus who cannot attend the lecture, simply go to the Westminster livestream page found here. For more information on the Cherry-Price Leadership Lecture, please contact Straughn at Jeremy.Straughn@westminster-mo.edu.