• On April 20, the NCPA sponsored a Washington, D.C., reception for Dr. Mark McClellan, the newly-appointed Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The reception was attended by representatives of healthcare providers, key Hill staffers and health policy insiders, all of whom had the opportunity to meet McClellan as he assumes his duties during the implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug law.
  
• The NCPA’s Debate Central Web site was honored with one of the 2004 Templeton Freedom Prizes for Student Outreach. The Templeton Freedom Prizes, awarded by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation at this year's annual meeting, reward the innovative work of think tanks in countries throughout the world.
  
• NCPA Research Associate Wess Mitchell has been awarded the prestigious Hopper Award by the faculty at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. The Hopper Award recognizes dedication to academic service and scholarship. Mitchell also has been awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship, from a pool of 2,503 graduate students with exceptional academic records and demonstrated leadership skills. The highly selective program began in 1977, and its alumni are serving in cabinet departments and more than 50 federal agencies.

• Ruth Cymber, former chief of staff for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and former Sen. Phil Gramm, has joined the NCPA as Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs. Ruth will direct the NCPA's legislative efforts and head the Washington, D.C., office.

• Public Trustee of Social Security and Medicare and NCPA Senior Fellow Thomas R. Saving received a Distinguished Scholar Award at the Association for Private Enterprise Education conference in Washington on April 5-6. NCPA President John C. Goodman also attended.

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