Allison Ericson, Valdosta Today News Director:

Valdosta — Yesterday, Dec. 4, Georgia Christian School kicked off their Centennial Homecoming Celebration with a benefit dinner which hosted 43rd president, George W. Bush. The dinner was held at Valdosta State University and had an attendance of 540 people.

Brad Lawson, President of Georgia Christian School said this year’s benefit dinner was the largest one GCS has ever had.

“This is interesting for people to see, instead of a president they got to see a real human being and what he’s really about,” Lawson said. “He really cares about the United States of America, he cares about families and the world, and still keeping America safe even though he’s no longer president.”

Lawson sat down with President Bush for a question and answer session during the event.

“This is the first time I have gotten to talk to him, I have been this close to him before but it was great for me…he’s just a real person theres nothing pretentious about him at all,” Lawson said.

Before the dinner Lawson was able to speak to President Bush on his perspective during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“Personally, since I was there on Sept. 11 during the attacks I did want to talk to him about that and get his perspective. It was a reconfirmation of what I built up in my mind of my hero,” Lawson said.

The GCS Annual Benefit Dinner began in 2008 and has hosted a wide variety of special guest speakers, including; Charlie Ward, Laura Bush, Dale Murphy, Mike Huckabee, Tim McCormick, and Terry Bradshaw.

“This program that we have been doing has been great, we started with Charlie Warren and moved on up. We had Mrs. Bush a couple years ago, she actually came to the school which was a big deal. All along we wanted to have for our 100th year, President George W. Bush, and we were able to make that happen,” Lawson said.

“We are small and we were able to bring in someone like George Bush, that speaks volumes.”