On December 6th, 2017, several Middle Country students had the honor of participating in Hofstra University’s Annual Breakfast and Informal Conversation with Presidential Scholars Governor Howard Dean and Mr. Ed Rollins. 

At the breakfast, students Michael Evers, Logan Ortiz (NHS), Zairel Luna, Emily Dwyer, Aiden ONeill, Eamon Bonner, and Adrian Leon (CHS), and social studies teachers Ms. Kim Reilley and Mr. Bryan Latham, had the opportunity to hear commentary and to ask questions of the distinguished speakers.  Student Logan Ortiz observed that, “What made it special as a whole was hearing from...two men who are equally worried about their party.”

Governor Howard Dean grew up in East Hampton and attended Yale University.  He served as Governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and was Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 2009. Dean ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2004. Today, Dean is a contributor to the news network MSNBC, is on the board of the National Democratic Institute, and serves as a Senior Presidential Fellow at Hofstra University.

Mr. Ed Rollins is a Republican advisor who served under President Reagan as the Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and Director and is a member of the Political Consultants Hall of Fame. Mr. Rollins is currently a political analyst for Fox News and serves as a Senior Presidential Fellow at Hofstra University. 

Students Michael Evers and Logan Ortiz were chosen to ask a question of the two men, and directed their question to the topic of North Korea.  Evers noted that “the tone of the room became serious” and that the speakers took the most amount of time answering their question. “It was a great bipartisan conversation,” Evers stated.

Aiden O’Neill, a student at Centereach High School, had a special moment with Mr. Rollins and asked him what advice he had.  According to Aiden, Mr. Rollins replied, “‘When given the chance to interact with congressmen or political figures, show them how well-informed you are and tell them some ideas.’”

Middle Country is grateful to Hofstra University for organizing this event and for providing our students with this unique experience.