Board of Trustees

President & Chairman of the Board
Robert J. Barbera
Barbera Property Management

Vice President
Mark E. Montgomery
Montgomery Management Co.

Vice Presdent PR/Marketing
Richard A. Schiendler
CLU, CHFC, Tax & Financal Group

Secretary
Gideon Lowe, III, MD
Ophthalmologist

Treasurer
Norman Sarafian
Sr. Vice President
RBC Wealth Management

Trustees

Brad Boeckmann
Vice President, Galpin Motors

H.F. "Bert" Boeckmann, II
President, Galpin Motors

Pat Boone
President, Pat Boone Enterprises

Brian T. Kennedy
President, The Claremont Institute

Ken Petersen
CLU, CHFC, Tax & Financial Group

Dr. Charles B. Runnels
Chancellor, Pepperdine University

Robert Anderson Schoepe
President, Fluidmaster, Inc.

John Sinner
State Farm Insurance

J. Paul Thomassen, M.D.

Michael Y. Warder
Vice Chancellor, Pepperdine University

Chairman Emeritus

Stephen R. Knott
Knott's Berry Farm (ret.)

President Emeritus

Carter Sharp

Mission Statement

The Americanism Educational Leaders' mission is to educate America's young people about the moral, political, social and economic values that made America free and strong.

AEL is committed to instilling in our students the core principles that guided America's Founding Fathers in the establishment of the Republic.

Through our resource material AEL promotes significant and permanent reduction in the size and power of government while encouraging our youth to exercise the freedoms that lead to entrepreneurship and personal initiative. We encourage students to act with integrity; to be respectful and tolerant of individual differences; and to denounce destructive, negative influences which tarnish the noble aspirations of those who made America great.

Purpose

AEL believes in"American exceptionalism", i.e. that our country is exceptional in the history of the world. All of our programs are meant to encourage students to learn about, understand and appreciate some aspect of the American experience. Educating our youth about basic American values, history and institutions is the best way to protect the American dream for all of our people.

History

(AEL Founder, Walter Knott with wife Cordelia being honored by 40th President Rondald Reagan & Cinema Screen Legend John Wayne)

Since its founding in 1927 AEL has dedicated its efforts to informing and educating all citizens, but especially students, about the liberties and responsibilities that are their birthright as Americans. Through the encouragement and annual support of its donors and friends, AEL has distributed educational materials, videos, and cash-award programs to millions of students and thousands of schools at all levels throughout the country.

The 21st century finds AEL with more programs serving more students than ever in our history. We have no intention of slacking off.