Seven Westerville Central High School students and one teacher will travel to Lima, Peru from March 16-24 to participate in a Global Leadership Summit called Global Citizenship in a Changing World. The event, hosted by EF (Education First) Educational Tours, is billed as “a chance to join a global movement and make a positive difference for generations to come.” Organizers hope the stories and experiences of speakers and workshop presenters inspire students to question and reflect on the shifting role of global citizens, and what their responsibilities entail as our nations and cultures become more interconnected. Attendees will be challenged to think differently, broaden their perspectives, take risks and dream big.
Participating students are Lindsay Brennan, Emily Cahill, Brittany Focht, Breanna Phillip, Trevor Richards, Brianna Smith and Austin Wagenschein. From several hundred applicants, Focht was chosen to be an intern at the conference. The pupils will be accompanied by Westerville Central teacher and Global Classroom Tour Leader Stephanie Matushoneck.
Attendees will have the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops and innovation sessions, plus see performers including Sentimiento Negro, a cultural artistic group comprised of 40 professional musicians and dancers, and Semilla Crew, helping students discover their talents through dance. This summit’s challenge is to find answers to the question: How might we, as global citizens, reimagine globalization in the 21st century?
Dr. Derrick Gay, one of the keynote speakers, has two decades of experience as a language teacher, musical director, senior administrator and international educational consultant. He has partnered with hundreds of schools and organizations in order to help cultivate cultural competency, empathy and inclusion. Dr. Wade Davis is Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. He previously served as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and is currently a member of that group’s Explorers Council and Honorary Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Also speaking is DeeDee Trotter, a three-time U.S. Olympian in track and field. She holds two gold medals in the 4/400m relay as well as a bronze medal in the 400m sprint. She is also an incredibly inspiring motivator who encourages others to unleash their inner champions.
Each participant will receive an alpaca wool bracelet, woven by the Inca Mamas, in the spirit of supporting local artisans and businesses who maintain traditional methods of craft making.
The next EF Summit for high school students – The Influence of Technology on Society – will take place in Berlin in July of 2018. Westerville South High School teacher Lisa Baughman will accompany a group of students to that event.