Iowa's 2010 Matthew Shepard Scholarship Awards Dinner

The Matthew Shepard Scholarship Committee cordially invites you to Iowa's 2010 Matthew Shepard Scholarship Awards Dinner.

Featuring Headliner Governor Chet Culver, a Keynote Address by Congressman Bruce Braley, Honoring Brad Clark, music by members of the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus and presenting Iowa's 2010 Matthew Shepard Scholarship Recipients.

 

Friday, June 4, 2010
5:30 PM Reception (Cash Bar)
6:45 PM Dinner and Program

Hy-Vee Conference Center
5820 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

  • America’s Cut
    Pork Chops

    Fire-roasted center-cut chop topped with caramelized peaches tossed in brown sugar and cognac. Presented with seasonal vegetables and Calico Potatoes.

  • Chicken Wellington

    A sautéed organic breast of chicken stuffed with spinach, Boursin cheese and mushrooms wrapped in a flaky puff pastry, served in a pool of unique green onion sauce.

  • Wild Mushroom Strudel

    Grilled assorted wild mushrooms combined with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, & tofu wrapped in a flaky phyllo dough served with a roasted garlic & tomato coulee.

Headliner Governor Chet Culver

Chet Culver became Iowa's 40th Governor in January of 2007. As a former teacher, he utilized his experience in the classroom to strengthen Iowa's education system by raising teacher pay to the national average, providing millions for school improvements, and making preschool available to thousands of children. He has improved the State's fiscal position by creating a record level of cash reserves and receiving the highest possible bond rating before the national recession and flooding disasters struck Iowa.

Governor Culver honored his campaign promise in 2007 signing into law Iowa's Safe Schools Law and the amended Iowa Civil Rights Act.

The Safe Schools Law protects all students from harassment and bullying based on real or perceived trait or characteristic, including sexual orientation and gender identity. The Iowa Civil Rights Act was amended to protect all Iowan on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodation.

In April 2009, Governor Culver supported the unanimous Supreme Court decision making Iowa the third state to allow same-sex marriage. This fall he seeks reelection to his second term as governor.

Keynote Speaker Congressman Bruce Braley

Bruce Braley and his wife Carolyn moved to Waterloo in 1983, where he practiced law for 23 years. He made a career representing hardworking people, including those who lost their jobs due to corporate downsizing and employees who challenged dangerous safety standards.

First elected in November of 2006, Congressman Braley is now serving his second term representing the First District of Iowa in the US Congress.

Currently, Braley sits on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. As Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Congressman Braley works to hold corporations accountable and protect families from unsafe food, drugs and defective products.

In March of 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law a tax cut Congressman Braley introduced to encourage small businesses to create jobs and hire previously unemployed workers. To increase transparency and make government more accountable, Congressman Braley introduced and passed legislation to simplify government forms like tax returns and benefit applications.

Congressman Braley lives in Waterloo with his wife Carolyn, who grew up in Dubuque and teaches at West High School in Waterloo where she is the GSA Advisor.

Honoring Brad Clark

Beginning as a half-time Project Coordinator for the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force (Iowa Safe Schools) Brad also co-founded the Iowa Pride Network in 2003. As the Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools, in 2007 he led a coalition of education leaders and civil rights advocates helping pass a statewide Safe Schools Law protecting all students, including those that are LGBT, from bullying and harassment. That led to a Civil Rights Law to protect Iowans from discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodation based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Brad next served as Outreach & Advocacy Director with the Matthew Shepard Foundation in Denver, Colorado before returning to Iowa to serve as Campaign Director for One Iowa where he worked to protect marriage equality for all Iowans. He has just been hired to lead similar efforts as Executive Director for One Colorado based in Denver.