to welcome you. barbara lucas, and the vice regents of george washington mt. vernon, also president sheila ba bair, adam goodhart and the board of washington college. and the co-founders and co-chairs and all the trustees of the institute. founded in 2005, the $50,000 george washington prize is sponsored by our three organizations and is awarded each year to the best work about the founding era. this is the first type the washington prize has ever been warded to a play. and i would add no one anywhere will be surprised that tonight it will be presented to lin-manuel miranda for his astonishing hamilton. we will hear from lin miranda a bit later, bifirst firsbut firs recognize some of our distinguished guests. among them, former premiere of bermuda, former u.s. senator bill bradley, the former u.s. ambassador to the czech republic and then ambassador to france, craig staple ton and his partner in diplomacy debbie stapleton. we also have the former undersecretary for domestic