Eleven West Virginia University students will accompany interim WVU President C. Peter Magrath to the Clinton Global Initiative University at the University of Texas at Austin Feb. 13-15. While there, law students Matthew Clark and Natalie Wright and international studies major Joseph Schaffer will share their experiences through blog posts and tweets: short, real-time messages. To follow along, people can go to http://clintonglobalinitiative.wvu.edu.
At the conference, students will meet with other students and university officials from around the world to discuss how they can make a difference in education, energy and climate change, global health, peace and human rights and poverty alleviation.
As a prerequisite of attending the conference, students and other university officials were required to develop Commitments to Action, specific plans that address challenges on their campuses, in their communities or in different parts of the world. WVU students attending the event plan to address issues impacting refuges in small areas, start an after-school program where high school students could learn more about the basics of law and address childhood literacy by creating after-school and other programs.
Political science doctoral student Katie Stores will be recognized on stage Saturday during one of the sessions for her commitment to develop, coordinate fundraising and implement a First Generation STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Achievement Fellowship Program. “I am honored and encouraged that my Commitment to Action has been selected as an exemplary approach to addressing this specific global change,” Stores said.
“My education and training as a public policy analyst and grants specialist and my first-hand experience working with an accomplished group of WVU math and science educators for over a year have uniquely positioned me to successfully volunteer my time and skills to this program. The Clinton Global Initiative University was launched by former President Bill Clinton in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. The initiative brings together world leaders to take action on global challenges.
“As a nation, we have great challenges to face and a responsibility to take action,” Stores said. “Discussing the challenges and opportunities that are before us will provide a forum for the various change agents in attendance. As a result, representatives from many states and countries will return to their home institutions energized and further prepared to pursue their passion for positive change.
A video featuring some of WVU’s bloggers and tweeters is available online. To hear their stories and learn more about their Commitments to Action, visit http://wvutoday.wvu.edu.
More information on the conference can be found at http://www.clintonglobalinitative.org.
-WVU-
cw/2/12/09
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