Six Providence Libertas Scholars braved the extreme Las Vegas heat in July to experience the 15th annual FreedomFest, and it was an eye-opening experience for each of them. Newly-minted graduate Davis Peterson (Class of 2022), senior Avala Elwood, and juniors Teleios Zermeno, Madison Schock, Abby Fiedkou, and Eliana Bordin, along with chaperones Bruce and Elaine Rottman, enjoyed the cool AC of the Mirage convention center—and a host of cool speakers.
Libertas Scholars with chaperone Elaine Rottman (left) arrive at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas for FreedomFest 2022
Here, Eliana Bordin provides her perspective on this gathering of more than 4,000 freedom lovers:
During my time at FreedomFest in Las Vegas I not only learned about various topics and issues by watching documentaries and listening to speakers, but I also got to spend time to discuss with Mr. and Mrs. Rottman and the other students who attended. We listened to thought-provoking speeches on medical breakthroughs, educational choice, economics (Abby and Madison were inspired to buy books on inflation), religion, cancel culture in comedy, and more. We also were inspired by impactful documentaries on Frederick Douglass, Roe v. Wade, the homelessness problem, and the Berlin Wall. We heard scientists and senators (Rand Paul and Mike Lee), congressmen and comics (John Cleese and Seth Dillon of the Christian satire site The Babylon Bee), businessmen, writers (Eric Metaxas), and film producers.
John Cleese speaks about freedom and creativity at FreedomFest 2022. His talk was a highlight for many of the Providence Libertas Scholars attending the event in Las Vegas.
Out of the documentaries we watched at the Anthem Film Festival which stood out most to our group was The Hong Konger. Before watching this documentary, I was not aware of the Chinese government’s oppression in Hong Kong, businessman Jimmy Lai’s inspirational and faith-inspired leadership influence there, and his brave activism in support of economic, political, and religious freedoms. The documentary was beautifully made and showed the transition from a vibrant and free Hong Kong to the decline that it is now facing under communist China, with the erosion of its developing democracy and its rule of law.
One of the many sessions that intrigued me the most was by from Senegalese businesswoman Magatte Wade, who spoke on the causes of the poor economic state of Africa, and how it is on its way to becoming one of the most economically free places on Earth.
When we were not in conference sessions, we continued to have insightful conversations on what we had learned that day, what we found most interesting, our opinions on various topics we had heard, and added our own previous knowledge of these topics to create great bases for different discussions like this.
Mark Skousen (wearing a hat), FreedomFest founder and director, congratulates Davis Peterson, Class of 2022, for solving the daily chess challenge in the FreedomFest exhibit hall.
Libertas Scholars read books and articles outside the humanities curriculum throughout the year and hear speakers and attend summer seminars such as FreedomFest (which will be held in Memphis in 2023). This year’s FreedomFest highlighted the disturbing losses of freedom our world is facing. But it also inspired students to learn more about many different political and economic issues, and become both more informed and more courageous to advance freedom in America.
Bruce Rottman
Bruce Rottman is the founding director of the Providence School Libertas Honors Scholars Program.
