‘Liberty, Markets, Great Books’ program offers 10 scholarships

A new reading program will offer $1,000 scholarships to 10 students who will study classic books about economics, literature and political philosophy.

The Johnson Center for Political Economy will accept applications through Friday in Bibb Graves Hall.

Johnson Center faculty will lead the “Liberty, Markets and the Great Books” program. Students from a variety of disciplines will discuss and complete projects about books that have had a major influence on contemporary economic and political thought.

At completion, students will have a better understanding of free market ideas, political theory and America’s intellectual heritage, said Dr. Scott Beaulier, the Johnson Center’s director.

“We believe this program will greatly enhance our efforts at engaging students in free-market, limited-government ideas in the next year and for many years to come.”

Program sessions will take place on Wednesdays for two hours, and pizza will be provided. No academic credit will be offered.

“We want students to have fun exchanging ideas and discussing a number of great books,” said Beaulier, who led a similar program at Mercer University.

The program, supported by the Apgar Foundation, will use the Johnson Center’s library, which was provided by the Liberty Fund.

The Apgar Foundation was created by members of the Apgar family and is made possible by the success of Somerset Tire Service, founded by John N. “Jack” Apgar in 1958.