Students Selected to Attend Clinton Global Conference
Two Alma College students have been selected to attend the inaugural
Clinton Global Initiative University Conference at Tulane University
March 14-16 in New Orleans.
Former President Bill Clinton will challenge the more than 500 students
in attendance to make a difference in four areas: energy and climate
change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation.
As part of the conference, students will be asked to make a commitment
to do something — big or small — to improve the world.
Attending from Alma College will be Greenville sophomore Laura Kohn and Idaho Falls sophomore David Bechtold,
both fellows in the College’s Center for Responsible Leadership. They
were among 15 students from Michigan colleges and universities selected
to attend.
“The applications for students to attend this conference required a
commitment to action in either a domestic or international project,”
said John Leipzig, director of the Center for Responsible Leadership.
“Laura's project involved working with the campus and Red Cross to
increase the blood supply in mid-Michigan. David's project involved
building an after-school program for middle school boys that linked
athletic and academic activities to help those students at risk.”
The conference will engage college students to make tangible
commitments to tackle global issues, challenge colleges and
universities to organize research and service-oriented commitments in
targeted areas, and connect students around the world with others
working on similar issues.
“Today’s college students have an unprecedented capacity to make a
difference, both in their communities and half a world away,” said
President Clinton in a statement on the CGI Website. “They also have
incredible enthusiasm, optimism, passion to learn, and a desire to help
others. The CGI model is about collective action to make a difference,
and it works because people who care come together not just to talk,
but to form partnerships to bring about change.”
The conference will consist of plenary sessions and panel and group
discussions that will give students the opportunity to ask questions of
panelists, develop ideas and form commitments.
Kohn, a graduate of Greenville High School, is the daughter of Thomas and Christine Kohn.
Bechtold, a graduate of Skyline High School, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bechtold.
Posted: Fri, March 7th, 2008 at 9:32AM
