ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Samantha Evans Pi Sigma Alpha's nominated Statesman of the Year, Edgar Malepeai mingles at the reception in his honor on Saturday, April 21.

The Twenty-Eighth Annual Statesman dinner, sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honors society at ISU, was held Saturday, April 21, in honor of Sen. Edgar Malepeai (D) being named the 2007 Statesman of the Year. The awards dinner, which took place at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, was attended by over 150 people, including educators, politicians, and the friends and family of Malepeai.

Highlights of the evening included remarks by ISU President Arthur C. Vailas; the reading of letters from Sen. Robert Geddes, President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate, and from Chick and Diane Bilyeu; remarks by Senate minority leader Clint Stennett; and remarks by Ian Malepeai, Sen. Edgar Malepeai's son. Professor David Adler, Ph.D., advisor to Pi Sigma Alpha, conducted the evenings events.

Malepeai, who was born in Samoa, grew up in California, and moved to Pocatello to play football and rugby at ISU, now joins an impressive group of Idaho figures who have also received this prestigious award, including former Idaho Governors Cecil Andrus and John Evans; U.S. Senators Larry Craig, Jim McClure and Steve Symms; Congressmen Richard Stallings and Mike Simpson; state legislators Perry Swisher, Patricia McDermott, Chick Bilyeu, and Beverly Bistline; Ninth Circuit Judge Randy B. Smith; U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill; and Idaho Supreme Court Justice Cathy Silak. Malepeai expressed humility at being honored with such a prestigious award.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd ever be here accepting this award," said Malepeai. "I feel more nervous now than I ever have been on the floor of the Senate!"

According to Ericka Christensen, president of Pi Sigma Alpha, Malepeai was selected because of his "exemplary leadership, commitment to civic dialogue and civility in politics, and his commitment to education, constitutional rights and liberties and protection for children and the environment".

ISU President Arthur C. Vailas spoke highly of Malepeai during his remarks, thanking him for "taking him under his wing" and giving him valuable advice about how to deal with the Idaho legislature. Vailas also noted Malepeai's unwavering commitment to democratic values and effective leadership, which became a common theme in the comments of the evening.

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