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Dr. Laurence C. Morse Honored with The English-Speaking Union Founder's Award & Inaugural Princess Royal Award
National News
Dr. Laurence C. Morse, Co-founder and a Managing Partner at Fairview Capital will be honored with the English-Speaking Union Founder's Award and the newly introduced Princess Royal Award at the 2020 ESU Centennial Gala on Wednesday, October 21st announced Karen Karpowich, Executive Director of the English-Speaking Union.
The English-Speaking Union (ESU) Founder's Award celebrates prominent individuals who exemplify the primary interests of the organization's founder, Sir Evelyn Wrench, to foster US-British relations, cultivate international understanding and good will and promote the mastery and use of English as a language of opportunity.
Past award recipients have included The Right Honorable Margaret Thatcher, OM, FRS, MP.; ESU Chairman Emeritus William R. Miller CBE, KSt.J; ESU benefactor Andrew Romay (posthumously); long-term ESU President and President Emerita, the late Doe Thornburg; artist Hon. Edwina Sandys, MBE, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill; and ESU Chairman Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill CBE, for their role in creating the ESU National Shakespeare Competition and former board member Robert Morse (posthumously).
In addition, Dr. Morse will also have the special honor to be among the inaugural recipients of the Princess Royal Award. To commemorate the Centennial of The English-Speaking Union of the United States in 2020 and with the enthusiastic endorsement of Princess Anne, the British Cabinet has introduced The Princess Royal Award, an international award to recognize significant contributions to the ESU in its global setting.
A 1972 ESU Luard Scholar, Dr. Morse shared, "I find it difficult to imagine my post-college career having followed the path it has taken without the influence of the seminal year I was fortunate enough to spend at The London School of Economics; a year made possible by the ESU's Luard Scholarship. It's continuing impact upon me has been, indeed profound."
Dr. Morse graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Economics from Howard University in 1973. He earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics from Princeton University and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University. In 1994, he co-founded Fairview Capital Partners, a private equity investment management firm based in Farmington, CT. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Webster Financial Corporation, Chairman of the board of trustees of Howard University, and a member of the board of trustees of Harris Associates Investment Trust (The Oakmark Mutual Funds). He is a former member of the board of directors of the Princeton University Investment Company, a former member of the board of trustees of Princeton University, and a former member of the board of the Institute of International Education. Dr. Morse delivered the keynote address during Howard University's Opening Convocation on September 25th. During the ceremony he was honored with Howard University's Presidential Medal of Achievement.
"I can't think of anyone who deserves these awards more." said Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill, CBE, Chair, National Board of Directors of the ESU. "The Founder's Award and Princess Royal Award celebrate Larry's commitment to the ESU Luard Morse Scholarship program, which since 1969 has been giving talented African-American students from HBCUs, the transformative experience of study in the UK and encouraging trans-national bonds, friendship and understanding, all of which are at the heart of the ESU mission. They will also recognize Larry's decades-long involvement in the ESU as a generous patron, member of the Board of Directors, and champion for the organization in more ways than one."
The award ceremony will be part of the 2020 ESU Virtual Centennial Gala in the evening of Wednesday, October 21st. The Gala will be live-streamed across the country bringing together representatives of the ESU board, ESU members and other friends and supporters to raise funds for the ESU's educational programs.
The English-Speaking Union is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that employs English as a catalyst to foster global understanding and good will by providing educational and cultural opportunities for students, immigrants, educators and members. For additional information about the English-Speaking Union's life-changing, educational opportunities including the Luard Morse Scholarship, please visit the English-Speaking Union website at www.esuus.org.