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| Laura Bush at Butler University in 2014. |
Laura Bush was born in Midland, Texas and attended Southern Methodist University where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Laura attended the University of Texas at Austin for graduate school where she earned a master’s in library science. She married George W. Bush Nov. 7, 1977.
Laura has always focused on education. As First Lady of Texas, she successfully lobbied for state funding of early reading, literacy and early childhood development programs. She also began an annual Texas Book Festival that successfully raises funds for the purchase of books through the state public library system.
In 2001 when she became First Lady of the United States, Laura supported various government efforts to promote reading and education. She served as a spokesperson for three programs: The New Teacher Project, Troops to Teachers and Transition to Teaching. She created a national initiative, "Ready to Read, Ready to Learn," to inform parents and policy makers about early childhood education and the importance of reading aloud to children.
Laura has received many awards and honors in her lifetime. She accepted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) honorary ambassadorship for its Decade of Literacy. Congress named a librarian program at the Institute of Museum and Library Services in her honor. Also, funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, the "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program" became public law.
“The power of a book lies in its power to turn a solitary act into a shared vision. As long as we have books, we are not alone.” – Laura Bush
You can read about more notable members of Kappa Alpha Theta on its Heritage homepage.
Source:
http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=44
