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Speakers
Bob Woodward
Assistant Managing Editor, The Washington Post
 Bob
Woodward is an assistant managing editor of The Washington Post where
he has worked since 1971. He has won nearly every American journalism
prize. In 1973, The Washington Post received The Pulitzer
Prize for the reporting of Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate
scandal. In addition, in 2002, the Post received the National
Affairs Pulitzer Prize for Woodward’s articles on the aftermath of the
September 11 terrorist attacks. Woodward won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for
Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency in 2003. The Weekly Standard
called Woodward “the best pure reporter of his generation, perhaps ever.”
In 2003, Albert Hunt of The Wall Street Journal called Woodward
“the most celebrated journalist of our age.”
Woodward has
authored or co-authored more number one national best-selling non-fiction
than any other contemporary American writer. His most recent works include State
of Denial:
Bush at War, Part III (2006), Bush
at War (2002)
and Plan of Attack (2004). His book, The Secret Man: The Story
of Watergate’s Deep Throat (July 2005), chronicles Woodward’s
relationship with the infamous “Deep Throat” source, Mark Felt, who leaked
the information that brought the Watergate Scandal to light and ended
Richard Nixon’s presidency.
Woodward continues
to write and edit for The Washington Post.
Newsweek magazine has
excerpted five of his books in headline-making cover stories, 60
Minutes has featured three of his books, and Dateline four of
them. Three of his books have been made into movies. On February
7, 1992,
The New York Times said, "Bob Woodward is the most famous
investigative reporter in America."
EILEEN COLLINS
Pioneering Astronaut and Aviator; First Woman to Pilot and Command an
American Spacecraft
 The
first woman to pilot and command an American spacecraft, astronaut Eileen
Collins has led an inspiring life of adventure, leadership, and
achievement. Recognized as one of America’s most admired women, she is
now sharing her experiences as a test pilot, astronaut, and space flight
commander with audiences around the world.
In July 2005, Collins commanded Space Shuttle Discovery’s historic
“Return to Flight” mission. This was NASA’s first manned flight following
the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.
Collins dreamed of becoming a pilot during her childhood in Elmira, New
York. Her parents nurtured her dream, often taking her to Elmira’s
“soaring field” to watch gliders take flight. Her family lacked the funds
to send her away to college, so Collins earned an associate’s degree in
mathematics and science at Corning Community College, and then earned a
scholarship to Syracuse University.
Collins then entered the Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training Program
in 1978, the same year that NASA opened the Shuttle program to women, and
selected its very first class of female astronauts.
Her many medals, awards, and honors include a Defense Superior Service
Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
French Legion of Honor, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the 2005 Al
Neuharth Free Spirit of the Year Award, and the National Space Trophy.
She retired from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel in January 2005.
Upon receiving the National Space Trophy in March 2006, Collins spoke
of a new dream: “My dream, now, is that people will discover and invent
new ways to fly higher, faster, and farther, and that someday humans will
travel beyond our solar system. It will be expensive, it will be risky,
and we will make mistakes as we go. But we will do it because we are
explorers by nature.”
BILL COSBY
 Bill Cosby is, by any standards, one of the most influential stars in
America today. Whether it be through concert appearances or recordings,
television or films, commercials or education, Bill Cosby has the ability
to touch people's lives. His humor often centers on the basic
cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our
roles as parents, children, family members, and men and women. Without
resorting to gimmickry or lowbrow humor, Bill Cosby's comedy has a point
of reference and respect for the trappings and traditions of the great
American humorists such as Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields and
Groucho Marx.
The 1984-92 run of The Cosby Show and his books Fatherhood
and Time Flies established new benchmarks on how success is
measured. His status at the top of the TVQ survey year after year
continues to confirm his appeal as one of the most popular personalities
in America. His lifelong contributions to American culture were
recognized with a Kennedy Center Honor in 1998 and the Presidential Medal
of Freedom in July 2002, America's highest civilian honor.
Today, Cosby has touched the hearts of a new generation of young children
with his Emmy Award winning Little Bill animated series, which
aired daily on Nickelodeon and Saturday mornings on CBS. The show was
based on Cosby's popular children's books. His interest in young people
also spawned his best-selling book, Congratulations! Now What?,
published by Hyperion. The book contains his amusing yet wise take on
college life and what lies ahead for the new graduate in the real world.
Friends of a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables, a
HarperEntertainment book released in May 2003, is Cosby's most recent
children's book. Illustrated by his daughter, Erika, it is a beautiful
story that explores the theme of being true to yourself.
I Am What I Ate . and I'm frightened!!!, Cosby's newest book
published by HarperCollins was released on September 21, 2004 and entered
the New York Times Best Seller List at #5. It offers a hip,
humorous, hard-earned wisdom on the healthy lifestyle and the behavior
behind it.
His best seller Fatherhood was launched appropriately enough on
Father's Day as an animated series on Nick at Nite.
Bill and Camille Cosby in conjunction with Fox Studios premiered a live
action/animated Fat Albert motion picture. It has been a box office
success. The Fat Albert television show is now available on DVD and is
selling briskly.
Cosby's initial immediate success began with Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny
Fellow, Right? and continued with many other comedy albums. He also
has released a number of jazz recordings, including hello, friend: to
ennis with love (released in 1997). Cosby has earned five Grammy
Awards for best comedy album.
He often neglected his studies for athletics and, after repeating the
tenth grade, he left school to join the Navy. He finished high school via
a correspondence course while still in the service. When he was
discharged, he enrolled at Temple University as the result of an athletic
scholarship where he earned academic honors. His goal was to become a
physical education teacher. He probably could have made it as a
professional football player, but the world is richer in laughter because
he decided on show business.
As busy as he is with his many ventures, Cosby has been a crusader
throughout his career for a better world and for better understanding
between people. Besides his involvement with a host of charity
organizations, Cosby is also an active trustee of his alma mater, Temple
University of Philadelphia. As philanthropists, Bill and Camille Cosby
have made substantial gifts in support of education (most notably to
predominantly African American colleges) and to various social service and
civil rights organizations.
In addition, Cosby earned a Masters Degree in Education (M. Ed.) in 1972
and his Doctorate in Education (Ed. D.) in 1977 from the University of
Massachusetts. His doctoral thesis was titled "The Integration of Visual
Media Via Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Into the Elementary Schools
Culminating as a Teacher Aid to Achieve Increased Learning."
Cosby's been busy raising a family, too. He married the former Camille
Hanks on January 25, 1964, while she was still a student at the University
of Maryland. They raised four daughters (Erika, Erinn, Ensa and Evin) and
one son (Ennis Cosby). The family resides in New England.
When speaking of Camille, Cosby has urged an amendment to the saying, "Behind
every good man there's a good woman." He suggests that "behind" should be
substituted by "Three miles ahead." Camille has not only raised five
children, but has also been totally involved in her husband's career. She
produced his last album and taped two concerts over the past few years.
She has received her doctorate in education and plays an active role in a
number of important national organizations.
Camille has enjoyed great success with the best-selling book Having Our
Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. First she produced the
property as a Broadway play and then as a television movie. The play was
nominated for three Tony Awards and the television film won a Peabody
Award. Camille also produced a one-hour sociological documentary film
No Dreams Deferred, which aired on over 150 public television
stations. When Oprah Winfrey debuted her new magazine in April 2000, she
chose Camille Cosby as her very first interview.
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