President Bush Joins GU MLK Celebration

The President of the United States George W. Bush joins Georgetown in honoring Rosa Parks, as part of the university's 2006 Let Freedom Ring Initiative sponsored by Chevy Chase Bank

The President of the United States George W. Bush joined Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia in honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Rosa Parks with the university's 2006 John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Elaine Eason Steele, co-founder of The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute in Detroit, Mich., accepted the award in Mrs. Parks' honor.

"With the passing of Rosa Parks, we mourn a remarkable woman," said Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia. "Mrs. Parks showed us the extraordinary power and influence of an individual with the courage to stand for what is right. Her steadfast belief in justice for all moved a nation closer to Dr. King's dream of brotherhood."

In recognition of Mrs. Parks' decades of public service and contributions to the civil rights movement, the award presentation preceded a musical tribute with Grammy-nominated gospel artist Yolanda Adams and the Let Freedom Ring Choir led by Rev. Nolan Williams. President and CEO of the NAACP Bruce S. Gordon presided over the program, part of Georgetown's 2006 Let Freedom Ring Initiative honoring the spirit and ideals of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Other program participants included representatives from sponsoring organizations Chevy Chase Bank and Target, as well as Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Georgetown University student Neal Fisher, Jr. (COL '06) also joined the program as the first-ever recipient of the Legacy of a Dream Scholarship. The annual award of $25,000 was created in 2005 to benefit an undergraduate student with financial need whose leadership experience and community service reflects the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. The 2006-2007 Legacy of a Dream Scholarship, funded by Chevy Chase Bank, will be announced in summer 2006.

The John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award is dedicated annually to an individual or organization whose contributions to community service or social justice reflect the values and ideals of Dr. King. The prize was named for the Hall of Fame basketball coach, who led Georgetown's team from 1972-1999, and the first recipient of the award. Past honorees include Former Congressman and United Negro College Fund President William H. Gray and 2005 recipients Colin and Alma Powell.

"We can imagine no better recipient of the John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award this year than Rosa Parks," said Colin and Alma Powell. "It was her dream and her courage on a bus that led to the emergence of Dr. King and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. As we celebrate Dr. King, it is fitting we celebrate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks. We congratulate Georgetown University and the Kennedy Center for keeping the legacy alive."

Rosa Parks (1913-2005), dubbed "mother of the modern-day Civil Rights Movement" by the U.S. Congress, is known for her acts of disciplined non-conformity, which became the opening salvo of the modern civil rights movement. Although a single act of defiance on a public bus in 1955 is what thrust her life onto the national stage, it is her lifetime of achievements that emblazoned her legacy into our national consciousness. Mrs. Parks and Ms. Elaine Eason Steele co-founded The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute in 1987 with the mission to motivate youth to reach their highest potential. The institute engages youth in hands-on experiences to build practical day-to-day living skills, while promoting multicultural participation in its program to provide youth with a cross-cultural exposure for nurturing a global and inclusive perspective. For additional information, visit: http://www.rosaparks.org/.

Georgetown's annual Let Freedom Ring Initiative honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a series of academic, artistic, and extracurricular programs that examine Dr. King's life and work and address the contemporary challenges our nation faces in order to fulfill his dream of justice and equality for all people. This year's initiative is sponsored by Chevy Chase Bank with the kind support of Target, TIAA-CREF and Key Bridge Marriott. For a complete listing of the week's events, visit the website for Georgetown University's "Let Freedom Ring" initiative.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.