Created in 1992 by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the McConnell Center is an endowed institution at the University of Louisville. The core of the McConnell Center is the McConnell Scholarship, offered each year to ten high school seniors from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These students, selected based upon their high school achievement, are offered tuition scholarships to the University of Louisville, as well as opportunities for travel, internships, meeting with influential policy makers and the opportunity to study abroad in China.
Recently, the scholars in the McConnell Center have met with President George W. Bush, Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Harry Ried, Senator Richard Lugar, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao (Senator McConnell's wife) and Lynne Cheney. The McConnell Center has also started a civics learning program to encourage classrooms in Kentucky to teach students history and the virtues of citizenship.
The Chair of the McConnell Center is Dr. Gary L. Gregg II and noted alum include J. Scott Jennings.
