Norwich University President Emeritus Richard W. Schneider will receive the Pritzker Military Museum & Library’s 2021 Citizen Soldier Award on Oct. 21 at the 2021 Liberty Gala at the Museum & Library in Chicago. This annual event is the nonprofit’s main fundraiser each year.
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library made the announcement on July 8. The Citizen Soldier Award is in its second year; its first recipient was former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan.
Schneider served as Norwich University’s president for 28 years, from 1992 to 2020.
In the Museum and Library’s announcement, they stated: “The Citizen Soldier Award stands to honor a person who exemplifies the traditions of the citizen soldier set by George Washington; a person who served the nation as a leader in war and in peace, for the betterment of the common good. Dr. Schneider personifies these qualities through both his service in the military and his achievements on the home front.”
Pritzker Military Museum & Library Founder, Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), stated: “In advancing the promises of the next generation of the citizen soldier, Dr. Schneider has stood with us as a dedicated partner. His commitment to the principles of sacrifice and service, both in himself as well as in the next generation, showcases why he truly deserves the Citizen Soldier Award.”
During his Norwich University presidency, Schneider often echoed university founder Capt. Alden Partridge’s credo that students should emerge from their studies as citizen-soldiers — people who can serve and advance the country and lead everywhere, from the boardroom to the battlefield.
“Through the years, my work at Norwich University has aligned with the ideals and mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library,” Schneider said in the statement. “I am pleased, humbled and honored by this recognition of my efforts and contributions to bettering society’s understanding of the values of the citizen-soldier and in commissioning thousands of future officers to serve our nation.”
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library’s Liberty Gala will also honor the Pritzker Military Museum & Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing recipient. The 2021 Liberty Gala is described as a small company of sponsors and honored guests [who] come together at the Museum & Library. This year, the public is invited to join in the night’s program online. Silent auction bidding begins October 18.
Norwich University is a Liberty Level sponsor of $25,000 at this year’s event.
About Pritzker Military Museum & Library
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the public’s understanding of military history, military affairs, and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A non-governmental, non-partisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin.
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu