Marquette to Honor Former Governor Patrick Lucey and
Northwestern Mutual

The Les Aspin Center for Government Hosts Honorable Guests at 2004 Distinguished Service Award Event

Released: September 22, 2004

MILWAUKEE – Marquette University will honor former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick J. Lucey and Northwestern Mutual at the 2004 Les Aspin Center for Government Distinguished Public Service Award Luncheon at Marquette's campus on Thursday.

Governor Lucey will receive the Les Aspin Distinguished Service Award in honor of his career in public service and commitment to the advancement of democratic ideals. Northwestern Mutual will be honored with the Founders Award in recognition of its pioneering support of the Les Aspin Center for Government since the center's founding in 1984.

“As we celebrate the ongoing success of the Les Aspin Center , we also have the opportunity to recognize a truly extraordinary leader and a highly respected company,” said Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J. “Governor Lucey has lived a lifetime of public service and commitment to the highest ideals of public service. Northwestern Mutual is one of Wisconsin 's great corporate citizens and has been a leader in support of the center's mission. Both are among the finest examples for our students who aspire to a career in public service.”

The Les Aspin Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes an individual from Wisconsin who, like the late Les Aspin, has epitomized public service in the state and whose efforts have influenced national policy. Former winners include U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B.

After serving in World War II, Lucey entered politics and was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1949. In 1964, he was elected lieutenant governor and in 1970, Lucey was elected to the first of his two terms as governor. As governor, he was active on issues of education, consumer protection and environmental policy. At the end of his second term, Lucey was named ambassador to Mexico by President Carter.   

Lucey's political contributions extend far beyond state politics. He had a key role in John F. Kennedy's victory in the crucial Democratic primary in Wisconsin in 1960.

The Les Aspin Founders Award is presented to individuals or organizations that have played an instrumental role in the work of the Les Aspin Center for Government and whose contributions have directly furthered the mission of the center. Former recipients include Congressman Jerry Kleczka and the Honorable and Mrs. David A. Straz, Jr.

This year, the Les Aspin Founder's Award is presented to Northwestern Mutual. In 1988, when Marquette established the center that would later bear Les Aspin's name, Northwestern Mutual was among the earliest supporters. True to its time-honored commitment to the community as a responsible corporate citizen, the firm continues to be one of the Aspin Center 's most vital partners. Northwestern Mutual has contributed significant support for student scholarships and has consistently provided invaluable guidance to the program, particularly through its participation on the Center's National Board of Visitors.

ABOUT THE ASPIN CENTER
The Les Aspin Center for Government offers educational internships that provide the excellence of a Marquette education in Washington , D.C. Students from Marquette and other colleges and universities live in an academic community just blocks from the Capitol. They serve as interns in congressional offices, the White House and a variety of other governmental agencies and departments where they gain valuable insight into the challenges and rewards of public service. Marquette combines this hands-on learning with academic courses that examine the American political experience. In addition to attending classes at the center, students visit government agencies to gain key insiders' perspectives on American democracy.

The center is committed to instilling in its students the values of leadership, service and academic excellence. In the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, it strives for the full development — intellectual, spiritual, social and professional — of those who participate in its programs. Its mission is not simply to educate, but to prepare individuals for lives dedicated to the betterment of others. In 1988, Marquette changed the name of the center to honor Les Aspin, a former Marquette faculty member and secretary of defense from 1993 to 1994, who embodied the center's ideals.

More than 1,100 students have interned in nearly 100 congressional offices, the Department of State, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Secret Service, the White House, Department of Defense, the Wisconsin Office of Federal-State Relations and corporate government relations offices since the Les Aspin Center was created. More than 50 Aspin Center alumni who are now working as professional staff members in the U.S. Congress provide assistance to new graduates who seek careers in public service on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
The Aspin Center promotes opportunities for foreign studies and international exchanges among students and government officials from other democratic nations and takes Marquette 's mission beyond U.S. borders. Over the past eight years, more than 200 individuals from six African nations have attended the Aspin Center , including 100 leaders from Ghana and Kenya who have received training and education. In the process of its international outreach, the center has built an international reputation to match its national standing as a respected and revered educational program.