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Seven �鶹��ý�Ŷ� students will be among those presenting projects to address global challenges at the meeting March 6-8.

President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton are hosting the eighth annual CGI U meeting at the University of Miami, which is bringing together more than 1,000 innovative student leaders from around the world to present “commitments to action” in five focus areas: education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation and public health. They also will hear from experts in various fields, brainstorm ideas, share best practices and form partnerships in developing and advancing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

�鶹��ý�Ŷ� is among 61 colleges and universities around the globe who have joined the CGI U network. The students submitted proposals to present at the meeting through �鶹��ý�Ŷ�’s Center for Inquiry, Discovery and Development (CIDD).

�鶹��ý�Ŷ� students making presentations at the conference are:

• Matthew McClure, a junior from �鶹��ý�Ŷ�, N.Y., who is studying comparative literature and French in the college’s Edgar Fellows Honor Program. CGI U focus area: Education. Project title: “A Rural Haitian Library: A Center for Intercultural Exchange and Collaboration.”
• Luciano Scala, a senior international relations major and student entrepreneur from Paris, France. CGI U focus area: Peace and Human Rights. Project name: “Visoworld,” a study abroad digital matchmaking platform.
• Madelyn Sayed, a junior anthropology major from Manhasset, N.Y.. CGI U focus area: Public Health. Project name: “Causes of Parasitic Disease Among School-Age Children in Rural Haiti.”
• Scott Chauncey (Pavilion, N.Y.), Carly Lauricella (Pavilion, N.Y.),and Matt Dobjeleski (Henrietta, N.Y.), all senior business administration majors. CGI U focus area: Environment and Climate Change. Team project name: “Plastofuel,” a sustainable alternative to landfilling plastic waste.
• Staci Weiss, a senior psychology major and physics minor from Plainview, N.Y. CGI U focus: Poverty Alleviation. Project name: “Bridging �鶹��ý�Ŷ� Students to Local At-Risk Children,” a clinically-developed method of empowering and educating the children of a non-profit local afterschool program.

“I am honored to be part of the first group of �鶹��ý�Ŷ� students to attend the CGIU,” said McClure. “What intrigues me about CGIU is that it creates a new community by connecting students from around the country and world who are beginning new and independent projects. These communities provide peers and mentors whose support and guidance are integral to the success and longevity of budding initiatives. I hope that �鶹��ý�Ŷ�'s first CGIU presentations encourage more students to make Commitments to Action and strengthens the communities of innovators on campus.”

After the meeting, the students will return to their campuses and communities to put their ideas into action. �鶹��ý�Ŷ� students will have the benefit of seed funding and mentorship from �鶹��ý�Ŷ� faculty and professional staff.  

“I enthusiastically applaud these seven students representing �鶹��ý�Ŷ� at this important conference,” said Interim �鶹��ý�Ŷ� President Carol S. Long. “This couldn’t be a better forum for the kind of forward-thinking and active community engagement for which our students are known for. They bring important perspective and ideas to some of the biggest challenges we face in our communities and world, and I will be eager to hear how the conference furthers their initiatives.”

The students will have the opportunity at the conference to attend plenary sessions, working sessions and other special events covering topics across the CGI U five focus areas. They also will receive expert guidance to help them gain skills and knowledge needed to take action on their commitments.

“The opportunity for our students to network with other potential project collaborators from other national and international universities and colleges across the world will be a tremendous benefit,” said Cynthia Oswald, CIDD director. “These projects are action-based and are designed to be implementable and successful, and the college will continue to support their action plans.”

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David Irwin
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Irwin@geneseo.edu