Mike and Karen Pence Kick Off President’s Speaker Series at Colorado Christian University
The 48th Vice President of the United States and his wife highlight conservative Western values and the power of biblically-based education
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 18, 2024 — Colorado Christian University welcomed Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Former Second Lady of the United States, Karen, an award-winning educator, to the inaugural session of the President’s Speaker Series, Nov. 15.
“Vice President Mike and Karen Pence are great examples of what it means to be Christian conservatives in America,” said Eric Hogue, CCU president. “During his work in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the White House, the vice president faithfully stood for the Constitution and, in doing so, stood for each and every American. We were honored to have Mike and Karen Pence speak to the Colorado Christian University community.”
The event featured breakout sessions with students, faculty and community members followed by a keynote address from the 48th Vice President of the United States. Karen Pence, speaking about the importance of education, gave the inaugural address in the Doug and Linda McDonald Performance Hall located within the recently dedicated Armstrong Center, a 60,000-square-foot academic and community space on the Lakewood campus that serves as the new home of the School of Music.
In her morning address, Karen Pence, spoke on the connection between biblical truth and critical thinking.
“You, CCU, teach your students how to think for themselves and how to communicate and to trust the Bible, to trust it in every single part of their day,” she said. “As a teacher who has taught for 30 years in both public and private and Christian settings, I have come to realize that one of the most important things that I can impart to my students is teaching them how to think in today's world. Our students are being bombarded with images and messages constantly trying to influence them, but giving them the tools to discern and inspiring them to love the Lord and to look to the Bible for truth is the very best way to equip them. So thank you, CCU for preparing these students, these teachers and these leaders for tomorrow.”
In his keynote address, Mike Pence highlighted the foundation of a free society.
“A conservative is, by definition, an individual who has a calling to conserve what is best about this nation, and to no less extent, what's best about the great traditions of Western civilization. And for me, the foundation of our greatness will always be Faith and Freedom,” he said. “And here at CCU, these young people that I've had the chance to spend a lot of time with today are having that foundation poured.”
The event attended by Mike and Karen Pence was the first in the newly launched President’s Speaker Series at Colorado Christian University. The series features leading voices from politics, business, the arts, and more who explore the intersection of faith and real-world action. Singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth Chapman and Jeremy S. Adams are slated for the second event in this series in early 2025. To learn more about CCU’s President’s Speaker Series, please visit ccu.edu/speaker-series.
ABOUT MIKE AND KAREN PENCE:
Mike Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana, on June 7, 1959, into a family that epitomized the American Dream, instilling in him values of hard work, faith and family. After graduating from Hanover College and Indiana University School of Law, he embarked on a multifaceted career, including law practice, hosting a talk show, serving as a congressman for six terms and championing limited government and fiscal responsibility. Pence then was elected the 50th Governor of Indiana, focusing on tax cuts, job creation, education reform and infrastructure investment while maintaining fiscal responsibility. His accomplishments in Indiana led to his selection as the 48th Vice President of the United States. Pence’s conservative philosophy, inspired by Ronald Reagan, led to his founding Advancing American Freedom which continues to advocate for faith, family and liberty as foundational American values.
Karen Pence, Former Second Lady of the United States, is a mother, educator and award-winning watercolor artist. Mrs. Pence works to bring attention to art therapy and to the sacrifices made by military service members and their families.
About Colorado Christian University
Founded in 1914, Colorado Christian University (CCU) provides Christ-centered higher education that transforms students to impact the world with grace and truth. Located in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, CCU is the flagship Christian university in the Rocky Mountain region, named one of America’s Best Colleges by the Wall Street Journal. CCU serves over 10,500 traditional and adult students across their main campus, Colorado Springs regional center and CCU online. CCU is an NCAA Division II university in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.