The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund recently announced a national competition to select a design for an underground Education Center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.

The group is requesting that interested, professional designers first submit their teams’ qualifications for review. Each team must include architects, exhibition designers, landscape architects and engineers. All submissions must be postmarked by Feb. 20.

The second stage of the selection process involves public, in-person interviews with members of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Center Advisory Committee. Those selected for the interviews will be notified by March 1. For more information on submission guidelines, go to www.virtualwall.com. A $100 entry fee must be included with the submission.

Ex-Brazilian President to Speak at Library

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former president of Brazil, will deliver a lecture on “Latin America and Iberia: Yesterday and Tomorrow,” at 2 p.m. Friday in Room LJ 119 of the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building.

Cardoso, a noted Latin American sociologist who has authored numerous books, is currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s Kluge Center. A co-founder of Brazil’s Social Democratic Party, Cardoso served as president of Brazil from 1995 to 2003.

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. To register, call (202) 707-3302.

— Bree Hocking