Alumni Attend Iceland Leadership Conference
It’s not often that high school freshmen get an opportunity to interact with world‐renowned innovators and leaders like Dr. Stephen Chu, President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Robert Barber. Not one, not two, but five 2015 Orchard graduates got a once‐in‐a‐lifetime opportunity to meet these innovators and others at the Global Student Leadership Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Reykjavik, Iceland. While the March trip was amazing in itself, our graduates were more than participants. Roughly 450 student leaders attended the conference, and each Orchard graduate was recognized in some way.
Of the 200 students who applied for an internship and completed a series of Skype interviews with conference leaders, Maggie Molander was selected as one of ten interns. Maggie led the conference with the other interns. In addition, she interviewed Nobel Laureate Dr. Stephen Chu, as well as the author of “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” William Kamkwamba. Maggie gave an impromptu speech to the conference after Dr. Chu’s presentation. Teacher Becky Burton, who accompanied the students on their trip, said Maggie was articulate, poised and confident.
Three other alumni who attended the conference, Sai Chalasani, Reed Rouch and William Wallentine, were chosen to debate fossil fuels versus renewable resources in front of the entire conference. The filmmaker of “The Future of Energy” chose the boys out of 100 who applied because of their outstanding debating skills.
The culminating event at the conference was the presentation of the students’ project, “How Might We Design The Future of Energy.” The students were broken into random groups of nine with other students from around the U.S. and Iceland. Dr. Chu and other scientists judged the students’ presentations. Orchard alumni Sam Troughton’s group won the competition. Sam and his group’s Malaria Water Filter will soon be on display at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. William Wallentine’s group project was chosen runner up.
The five Orchard alumni who attended this leadership conference were the only students from Indiana. At 15‐years‐old, they were also the youngest. Most of the participants were 17 or 18‐years‐old. “Our progressive, hands‐on project‐based education is evident in the success of these amazing students,” says Becky.
Several parents accompanied the students on the trip, including Board of Trustees Member Carolyn Molander, Dr. Naga Chalasani and Satya Kolli.
Our alumni were so inspired by their journey they are joining the Federal Climate Change Lawsuit filed by Our Children’s Trust. For more on Our Children’s Trust and their lawsuit, click here.http://ourchildrenstrust.org/us/federal‐lawsuit
“The message of the conference was you can make a difference now,” saysBecky. “Many of the presenters began their amazing journey as a teenager, and I know our students will go forward and make the world a better place.”
“I remember going to sleep (one night) with dozens of questions in my mind of my capabilities and what I can do to save our earth,” said Reed Rouch. Maggie Molander added, “I left behind friends that I may never see again, but I most definitely plan on seeing Iceland again. They have some big ideas we could use here at home. I’m ready to make a change.” Maggie added, “The whole summit and tour felt insanely surreal. There was so much information thrown our way that it could be hard to keep up, but it was a privilege to work with all of the wonderful speakers and interns. With this trip to Iceland, me and hundreds of other students visiting and being educated, will change the world.”
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If you’re interested in attending next year’s summit, “The Future of Food,” which
If you’re interested in attending next year’s summit, “The Future of Food,” which
will take place in France and Italy, please click here. http://www.eftours.com/tour‐ website/1865384YF
