Brother Rice H.S. Wins United Nations Foundation Global Debates
Students will travel to New York for Youth Leadership Summit on Climate Change
Bloomfield Hills, MI, July 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Brother Rice High School (www.brrice.edu) was selected as a winner in an international debate competition and will travel to New York City this week for a Youth Leadership Summit, July 15-18.
The United Nations Foundation’s Global Debates program, which engages more than 2,000 high schools from 90 countries in climate change debates and action, will bring 150 students and teachers from seven countries to the United Nations. They will spend three days immersed in panel discussions with UN leadership, workshops on climate science from grassroots youth activists, and service with local organizations working to offset climate change in New York City.
“We have been incredibly impressed by the thousands of students who took part in the 2008 and 2009 Global Debates,” said Kaitlin Barry, Director of the UN Foundation’s Campus Outreach. “It is inspiring to see students create detailed Climate Change Action Plans, debate whether or not developed nations have a higher obligation to combat global warming, and work with their communities to engage everyday people in climate action. This year’s summit will bring together the most active Global Debates schools and celebrate the enthusiasm of these impressive young leaders.”
Each team participating in the Youth Leadership Summit consists of four to six students accompanied by two of their Global Debate teachers. UN Foundation Senior Advisor Gillian Sorensen and Janos Pasztor, the director of the UN’s Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team will be among the featured speakers.
Youth climate activists from 350.org will help the Summit students prepare detailed grassroots organizing plans for International Day of Climate Action, which will take place on UN Day, October 24th, 2009. Lastly, partners such as Goldman Sachs and the New York Restoration project will support participants in their efforts to engage in local environmental service.
“The UN-sponsored Youth Summit was the culmination of a year’s worth of experience that will carry with me through the rest of my life,” said Brother Rice sophomore Evan Hebert, who attended last year’s World Youth Summit. “Going to New York, meeting other students from around the globe with similar interests, and hearing lectures from some of the leaders in climate science were all opportunities to share my views and defend them in a forum that was both open and informative.”
Brother Rice Debate Coach and Speech Teacher Nancy Lauer added: “Our guys have accumulated more than 30,000 points throughout the school year to earn this distinction among other schools. But the main thing they have learned is what it means to become active participants in making a difference in the world in which they live. It is such a wonderful experience to communicate with students from around the globe and work together.”
Global Debate Winners from Rice attending this year’s Summit will be: Seniors Alex Tolksdorf, Damon Tang, Robert Armstrong and Junior William Giorgio.
The top 10 U.S. schools and top six international schools who have won a trip to the Summit include: Madison Central High School, Madison, Mississippi; Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Kerr High School, Houston, Texas; Santee High School, Los Angeles, California; Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, Layton, Utah; Princeton High School, Princeton, Texas; Del Valle High School, Del Valle, Texas; Monsignor Kelly High School, Beaumont, Texas; Norman High School, Norman, Oklahoma, Kearney High School, Kearney, Nebraska; Prometeu-Prim, Chisinau, Moldova; Liceul Academiei de Stiinte, Straseni, Moldova; Hobby School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Secondary School of Mathematics “Baba Tonka,” Rousse, Bulgaria; CheongShim International, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, Mantin, Malaysia.
For more information about the UN Foundation’s Global Debates and Youth Leadership Summit, visit http://www.unfoundation.org/our-impact/engaging-youth/the-global-debates.html.
About The UN Foundation
The United Nations Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas, and capital to help the United Nations solve global problems. We build partnerships, grow constituencies, mobilize resources and advocate policy changes to support the UN’s work for individual and global progress. The UN Foundation’s work - focused on select global problems - is decreasing child mortality, improving disaster relief, protecting diverse cultures and environments, creating a clean energy future, empowering women and girls, and improving U.S.-UN relations.
About Brother Rice
Brother Rice High School is a private, fully accredited, four-year Catholic College Preparatory school for young men. Brother Rice was founded in 1960 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers of Ireland. Visit www.brrice.edu for more information, or contact Media Relations at (248) 647-2526, x. 155, or e-mail northrup@brrice.edu.
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The United Nations Foundation’s Global Debates program, which engages more than 2,000 high schools from 90 countries in climate change debates and action, will bring 150 students and teachers from seven countries to the United Nations. They will spend three days immersed in panel discussions with UN leadership, workshops on climate science from grassroots youth activists, and service with local organizations working to offset climate change in New York City.
“We have been incredibly impressed by the thousands of students who took part in the 2008 and 2009 Global Debates,” said Kaitlin Barry, Director of the UN Foundation’s Campus Outreach. “It is inspiring to see students create detailed Climate Change Action Plans, debate whether or not developed nations have a higher obligation to combat global warming, and work with their communities to engage everyday people in climate action. This year’s summit will bring together the most active Global Debates schools and celebrate the enthusiasm of these impressive young leaders.”
Each team participating in the Youth Leadership Summit consists of four to six students accompanied by two of their Global Debate teachers. UN Foundation Senior Advisor Gillian Sorensen and Janos Pasztor, the director of the UN’s Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team will be among the featured speakers.
Youth climate activists from 350.org will help the Summit students prepare detailed grassroots organizing plans for International Day of Climate Action, which will take place on UN Day, October 24th, 2009. Lastly, partners such as Goldman Sachs and the New York Restoration project will support participants in their efforts to engage in local environmental service.
“The UN-sponsored Youth Summit was the culmination of a year’s worth of experience that will carry with me through the rest of my life,” said Brother Rice sophomore Evan Hebert, who attended last year’s World Youth Summit. “Going to New York, meeting other students from around the globe with similar interests, and hearing lectures from some of the leaders in climate science were all opportunities to share my views and defend them in a forum that was both open and informative.”
Brother Rice Debate Coach and Speech Teacher Nancy Lauer added: “Our guys have accumulated more than 30,000 points throughout the school year to earn this distinction among other schools. But the main thing they have learned is what it means to become active participants in making a difference in the world in which they live. It is such a wonderful experience to communicate with students from around the globe and work together.”
Global Debate Winners from Rice attending this year’s Summit will be: Seniors Alex Tolksdorf, Damon Tang, Robert Armstrong and Junior William Giorgio.
The top 10 U.S. schools and top six international schools who have won a trip to the Summit include: Madison Central High School, Madison, Mississippi; Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Kerr High School, Houston, Texas; Santee High School, Los Angeles, California; Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, Layton, Utah; Princeton High School, Princeton, Texas; Del Valle High School, Del Valle, Texas; Monsignor Kelly High School, Beaumont, Texas; Norman High School, Norman, Oklahoma, Kearney High School, Kearney, Nebraska; Prometeu-Prim, Chisinau, Moldova; Liceul Academiei de Stiinte, Straseni, Moldova; Hobby School, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Secondary School of Mathematics “Baba Tonka,” Rousse, Bulgaria; CheongShim International, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, Mantin, Malaysia.
For more information about the UN Foundation’s Global Debates and Youth Leadership Summit, visit http://www.unfoundation.org/our-impact/engaging-youth/the-global-debates.html.
About The UN Foundation
The United Nations Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas, and capital to help the United Nations solve global problems. We build partnerships, grow constituencies, mobilize resources and advocate policy changes to support the UN’s work for individual and global progress. The UN Foundation’s work - focused on select global problems - is decreasing child mortality, improving disaster relief, protecting diverse cultures and environments, creating a clean energy future, empowering women and girls, and improving U.S.-UN relations.
About Brother Rice
Brother Rice High School is a private, fully accredited, four-year Catholic College Preparatory school for young men. Brother Rice was founded in 1960 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers of Ireland. Visit www.brrice.edu for more information, or contact Media Relations at (248) 647-2526, x. 155, or e-mail northrup@brrice.edu.
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Brother Rice High School
Mike Ingberg
248-855-6777
www.brrice.edu
Mike Ingberg
248-855-6777
www.brrice.edu
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