The Apgar Foundation, which has as one of its central missions the promotion of “an understanding of the Western and American intellectual heritage,” has awarded a $30,000 grant to the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization (AHI).  In announcing the award in a letter to AHI leadership, Frederick J. Fransen expressed Apgar’s pleasure with “the work that the AHI is doing to promote quality, truly liberal education, and look forward to working with you to identify other possible areas of support.  Keep up the good work!”

Resident Fellow Mary Grabar at the AHI

Resident Fellow Mary Grabar at the AHI

The grant will be used to “expand the reach” of the AHI in communications and development.  Dr. Mary Grabar, whose status at the AHI will now change from visiting to resident fellow, will see her role expanded.  She will take on a variety of assignments as a reporter and special features writer.  In addition, the grant will allow the AHI to hire two undergraduate interns with computer skills to help manage the AHI’s new website.

“This past academic year of campus takeovers by opponents of free academic inquiry and free speech,” Dr. Grabar observed, “has reinforced the idea of how important places like the AHI are.  It stands like a beacon welcoming Hamilton College and area students, scholars, and community members who wish to engage in traditional scholarly activities such as the pursuit of truth, the preservation of our Western heritage, and the free and collegial exchange of ideas.  I am proud to continue my association with AHI, which goes back to 2010 when I made my first visit, and which continued each subsequent year with summertime visits, including a month in 2011 as a Bakwin Research Fellow.  Since 2014, I have been able to witness on a daily basis the profound effect that AHI has and the work that goes into running it.  Now, thanks to the Apgar Foundation, I will have the ability to use my college teaching and writing experience to expand AHI’s reach as a resident fellow.  I am delighted to have this opportunity to put my full efforts into disseminating news about AHI’s good work and contributing to higher education reform.  I wish to express my profound appreciation to the Apgar Foundation for their generosity.”

“The Apgar Foundation has proven to be a dear friend of the AHI,” said AHI Executive Director Robert Paquette.  “Previous grants have allowed us to develop not only programming, but affiliated organizations on or near other campuses.  The Apgar Foundation is well aware of the Dr. Grabar’s Dissident Prof  website and the fine work she is doing there critiquing educational infamias.  The entire AHI family very much appreciates Apgar’s ratification of our efforts at preserving the best traditions of a great civilization.”