DD
Dillon Davis
  • Biology
  • Class of 2019
  • Curwensville, Pa

Dillon Davis, of Curwensville, Pa. (16833), Attends International Conference In Vietnam

2016 Sep 21

Dillon Davis, biology, recently had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Hanoi, Vietnam, to learn about making positive transformations in small communities. Davis attended the University Scholars Leadership Symposium, an international conference intended to raise global awareness of disenfranchised communities. The event was held from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7, 2016.

The weeklong symposium gathers exceptional people from around the world to participate in hands-on, experiential learning with marginalized communities.

More than 700 students from 69 different countries attended the symposium themed, "Inspiring Individuals, Transforming Communities." Sessions covered humanitarian issues like human trafficking and refuge crises with speakers from NGOs, the United Nations and university faculty. Wilkes students had an opportunity to interact with locals, visit a war museum and discuss the effects of agent orange with veterans, visit a leprosy hospital and present books to children in a local elementary school.

Mark Allen, Wilkes' dean of students and director of the honors program, selected the student delegates according to interest. Allen said the symposium experience fit one of the honor's program's core values - leadership. He said the students were eager to take advantage of the experience. "I was particularly proud of our sophomore level students who were quick to engage with other students on substantive issues such as the refuge crisis and human trafficking," Allen said.

The trip was funded in part by Wilkes University's Mentoring Grants.

About Wilkes University's Honors Program:

The Wilkes University Honors Program offers bright, ambitious students an enhanced and interdisciplinary academic experience. Selected students from across Wilkes majors take part in honors classes and extracurricular activities designed to increase intellectual, professional and personal achievement. Honors students reside in a living-learning community. Benefits include an annual academic enrichment grant, unique in higher education, which students can use to help fund study-related expenses such as travel or technology.