Inaugural Global Impact Celebration: Students Transformed through Rich Lauf GLobal Studies Grant
“As adults, we lose sight of what we wanted as young people. My first exposure as a 14-year-old, had a 50-year effect on me. We need to create a similar impact for today’s students, like the change in me those many years ago.” —Richard I Lauf
Dr. Katie Carlier Currie, Asifiwe Shema, Divine Rugwiro, Rojina Rai, & Aaron Parker of Aiken High School.
The World Affairs Council was thrilled to be able to launch and pilot this initiative, the Rich Lauf Global Studies Grant, to honor a man who impacted a lot of lives here in our region as a personal friend, mentor, and leader in the community. Rich who recently passed in 2022 dedicated 59 years of his life to the pursuit of knowledge and devoted his time and passion to world affairs. Rich truly believed that international understanding and readiness will make a huge difference for the next generation.
Molly Fisher & Nia Jones of St. Ursula Academy
The purpose of the Rich Lauf Global Studies Grant is to encourage local students and student organizations to develop and carry out a project that benefits their community related to the UN Global Goals. Five grants were awarded for $1000 each last December at the International Education Summit with Aiken High School, Holmes High School, St. Ursula High School, St. Xavier High School, & Winton Woods High School each being awarded. Some schools used the grant to further projects for their already existing organizations while others created their own initiatives inspired by the workshops they did at the summit. Through their global impact projects, collectively they reached: Nearly 600 students, 96 teachers, and donated 187 volunteer hours.
St. Xavier high school student with mother, Jon Lieberman, Elia Lopez, & Manny Lopez
The Schools implemented the following projects:
- Aiken High School: Appreciation of Cultural Diversity through Memoir Story Times.
- Holmes High School: Compassion Box Project by the You Matter Club.
- St. Ursula Academy: Recycling Initiatives at SUA (projected to be implemented next academic year)
- St. Xavier High School: Global X-plorers Club: Celebrate Cincinnati
- Winton Woods High School: Taking Action with International Coffee
Mr. Joshua Amstutz, Caneshia Curry, & Remedios Escobedo of Winton Woods High School
The celebration was held at Somerhaus Events Space, with students and educators speaking on their projects and the impact it had on the school and community at large. We thank everyone who was able to join us.
With the Global Studies Grant being a everlasting feature we want to keep, we ask you donate!
Click here to read more about the projects implemented.
St. Xavier high school students presenting their project
