“Any definition of a successful life includes service to others.” -President George H.W. Bush
Becoming a Presidential Leadership Scholar isn’t easy – thousands have applied throughout the past decade, and around 60 professionals are selected for each year’s class after a thorough application and interview process. While professional achievements and a proven track record of successful leadership are important, what sets those selected for PLS apart is their humility, openness to different perspectives, and desire to bridge divides.
These are traits embodied by each of the four presidents represented in the program, but perhaps none more so than President George H.W. Bush.
Throughout the course of three days at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, the PLS Class of 2025 learned about the profound impact the 41st president left on our country through his moral courage and principled leadership.
“President George H.W. Bush was the best at making sure all views were brought to the table,” said Secretary Andy Card, who served as Secretary of Transportation under President Bush and Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush.
And learning to do so is a key tenet of the program. PLS brings together leaders from across the nation with different experiences, backgrounds, and beliefs. Scholars learn to do what President Bush did best – discuss their differences in a civil way and find common ground.
The words the 41st president wrote upon the launch of PLS in 2014 still ring true today: “We face a lot of big challenges, both in and out of government, so the idea of developing more leaders from all walks of life to address them and help lead our nation forward is vitally important in my view.”
During their time in College Station, Scholars heard from key leaders from the Bush Administration and Texas A&M University about how they can lead our country forward through their own leadership.
Jean Becker, Chief of Staff to President Bush during his post-presidency, shared her memories working for the president for more than two decades and the lessons she learned from him.
“George Bush really did leave us a blueprint of a life well lived,” she shared. “He lived what he preached — that any definition of a successful life must include serving others.”
This sentiment is one Presidential Leadership Scholars know personally, as they were each selected to join the program because of their desire to serve others – whether that be through their profession, their Personal Leadership Project aimed at addressing a pressing need or issue, or volunteering in their community.
“Selfless leadership and humble public service is a higher calling for your community, state, nation, world,” Dean of the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University John Sherman shared with the class.
Ultimately, PLS alumni, current Scholars, and those yet to be selected for the program are all different – they come from varying states, political parties, beliefs, and backgrounds – but they are all the same in what matters: their humility, their desire to work across divisions, and their selfless service to others.
“President George H.W. Bush prided himself on being someone you could count on. He wanted to be a problem solver,” Fred McClure, former Assistant for Legislative Affairs to President Bush and Chief Community Engagement Officer at Texas A&M, told Scholars.
PLS is developing the next generation of problem solvers through the blueprint the 41st president left behind – serving others and working across differences with humility.
View more photos of Module Five here.
Apply for the PLS Class of 2026 here.
