Bozeman Magazine

Join the Bozeman High School Hawkers Speech and Debate team for an evening of exhilarating performances by students and a talk by former team member Dr. Michael Mc Faul, Stanford Professor and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. This fundraiser is an opportunity to learn more about the events unfolding in Ukraine and Russia while being inspired by some of Bozeman’s most talented youth.

All proceeds go toward supporting the unprecedented 26 students BHS is sending to the National Tournament, as well as other critical expenses such as new computers for the team. The team are currently the state champions and recently have been ranked as high as fifteenth in the Nation.

The evening includes live music; a free dessert bar by Sweet Pea Bakery, Elles Belles, T&C Foods, Good Karmal, etc.; a cash bar by Plonk, a short address via zoom with Q & A from Ambassador McFaul, student performances, and a silent auction.

Ambassador McFaul will be receiving the inaugural Hawkers Make History Award. McFaul first became interested in Russian policy while debating at Bozeman High School. He further explored this passion while attending both Stanford and Oxford University and eventually serving in the Obama administration, first as Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014).

Today, McFaul serves as Director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and as the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies at Stanford. He also is an international affairs analyst for NBC News and a columnist for The Washington Post. McFaul has authored several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. He is currently writing a book on great power relations in the 21st century.

The event will be held April 27th at The Rialto from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased in advance at bit.ly/3uwVXj9. The BHS Speech and Debate Program includes about 100 kids and costs about $65,000 a year to run. BHS only can allocate $15,000 toward the program. The Friends of the Hawkers group is trying to raise $50,000 and has secured a $25,000 match. You can also donate online at http://hawkerparents.weebly.com/donate.html.