Charles E. Bush, SIS/BA 鈥68, and Judith Lewis Bush, SIS/BA 鈥68,聽carry deeply imprinted connections to 69传媒 University. They met as incoming students on their first day in AU鈥檚 School of International Studies (SIS), fell in love, and married after graduating. AU鈥檚 campus is also where they learned about dramatic global events as they unfolded, from the war in Vietnam and the rise of Suharto in Indonesia to the Cultural Revolution in China and the death of Che Guevara.
鈥淪o many things were happening at that time around the world,鈥 noted Charles. 鈥淎nd so much at home鈥擬artin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated.鈥
In the decades that followed, Judy and Charles鈥檚 interest in the world never waned, nor did their connection to their alma mater. After years of steady donations to AU, the Bushes stepped up their commitment in February by establishing the Charles and Judy Bush Endowed Fund for SIS Student Support. Through their personal contribution and a partial matching gift via Charles鈥檚 former employer, the Bush Fund channels support to two existing current-use funds: the SIS Internship Fund and the SIS Emergency Fund.
The SIS Internship Fund offers financial assistance to SIS undergraduate and graduate students who seek unpaid summer internships. The SIS Emergency Fund helps SIS students facing temporary hardships that threaten to derail their studies.
The Bushes said the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, motivated them to focus on student needs.
鈥淐OVID interrupted all of our lives and brought hardship issues to many,鈥 said Charles. 鈥淲e were particularly troubled when we realized what was happening to students 69传媒 COVID.鈥 聽
The Bushes said their involvement in planning the 50th anniversary of their SIS graduating class was the springboard for their deepened engagement with AU. They helped form a small committee a year and a half before the event and used an alumni contact sheet provided by AU to reach out to classmates. Both Judy and Charles described the anniversary celebration as 鈥渁 grand reunion.鈥
鈥淚t was remarkable to see these people,鈥 said Judy. 鈥淭here were lots of hugs. It was done 69传媒 the AU鈥檚 All-69传媒 Weekend. We were honored as Golden Eagles and received pendant ribbons.鈥 Golden Eagles are alumni celebrating their 50th (or more) graduation anniversary.
Judy鈥檚 family lived in Texas when she applied to AU in the mid-1960s. The draw for her was the number of international students enrolled at AU. 鈥淚 thought it would be interesting,鈥 she explained. She minored in secondary education, took French courses, and worked as a student teacher 69传媒 her time at AU. She then taught French after marrying.
Charles, who grew up in Illinois, liked the idea of learning about international diplomacy and the prospect of living in 鈥渁 very exciting location.鈥 He also had a family connection to Washington, DC鈥 his mother鈥檚 hometown. He 鈥渇ell in love with鈥 a sophomore year accounting course and ended up with a degree in international business, a minor in accounting, and a long career with Caterpillar.
Following the 50th reunion, Charles began connecting with SIS classmates every quarter via Zoom for focused conversations on topics as far-ranging as critical race theory and refugees.
鈥淲e have members of our cohort whose parents or grandparents fled the Nazis and one man whose parents were placed in an internment camp 69传媒 World War II because they were Japanese,鈥 Charles said. 鈥淭hen we think about refugees and Ukraine.鈥
A Zoom meeting in March spread the conversation even further by including students from the Class of 2022.
鈥淲e wondered what the students graduating in 2022 were thinking. Like us in 1968, they were graduating at a time of crisis. So, we thought it would be interesting to have a cross-generational discussion, including about careers,鈥 said Charles.
The Bushes value AU for 鈥渘urturing and challenging鈥 them as students and for being the place where they fell in love. Today, through the Bush Fund, they exemplify the spirit of service their SIS education provided by ensuring a more equitable and affordable AU education for generations to come.
