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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Laura Ingalls (laura.ingalls@worldlearning.org) in Washington, 1.202.464.6973
SIT Student Keena Kaye Wins Commitment to Service and Civic Engagement Award
Award is given for both the breadth and depth of community involvement
BRATTLEBORO, VT (March 30, 2007) -- At a ceremony held in Montpelier, VT on March 29, 2007, Keena Kaye was presented with the Vermont Campus Compact / TD Banknorth Commitment to Service and Civic Engagement Award.
Keena Kaye is an SIT graduate student in the PIM program, Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management and is the lead organizer for SIT chapter of Net Impact's Race for a Reason. Keena has taken the lead on giving this year's Race for a Reason high visibility and co-sponsorship by SIT/World Learning. Race for a Reason has set a goal of $10,000 for the 5k/10k event, which is designed for walkers and runners of all ages and abilities. This year’s race will be held at the SIT campus on May 12, winding around the scenic landscape as runners raise money for the people of Darfur, Sudan. All proceeds will go to benefit Global Grassroots, which is a non-profit organization offering social entrepreneurship training and seed funding to help women launch sustainable, life-changing social ventures such as a peace library, a school cafeteria, and a women's market cooperative. Global Grassroots started in 2005 with refugees who had fled to Chad from Darfur. Global Grassroots has continued to work in the Darfur region, where the United Nations estimates the genocide has caused the deaths of over 400,000 and displaced approximately 2 million since early 2003. Funds raised by the Race for a Reason will help Global Grassroots fund new projects designed by the refugees themselves.
Vermont Campus Compact (VCC) is a statewide consortium of colleges and universities strengthening the civic mission of higher education. Each year VCC honors students, faculty and staff, and community agencies with whom they partner, for their contributions and impact on Vermont communities through campus service, service-learning and/or civic engagement. All winners and finalists were honored at the VCC Gala on March 29th, at the Vermont State House in Montpelier. Marc vanderHeyden, Saint Michael’s College President and VCC Chair, presided, and TD Banknorth President Phil Daniels presented the Commitment to Service and Engagement Awards.
World Learning works globally to enhance the capacity and commitment of individuals, institutions, and communities to create a more peaceful and just world through education, training and exchange programs.
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