Getting ready to blast off
March 6, 2008Ever since the University of Minnesota granted permission for our trio of students to travel to Juba, the preparations have been flying. On Friday, Kou will receive the Sullivan Ballou Award in a ceremony that is also our send-off for him, Robyn, and Kait.
The Ballou Award includes a grant that greatly helps us cover current costs. For Kou to be able to stay for more than a month in Juba, we need to keep fund-raising. Just as important, the award by the Sullivan Ballou Fund, based in Minneapolis, shows this campaign is supported by the greater Twin Cities community beyond the U. of M. campus.
At the same time, our support from the U. is getting stronger. The University News Service is helping us publicize the Ballou Award and the trip (see their press release and video segment). And two of our members (Amanda Lyons and Daniel Lynx Bernard) received word from the University this week that they each will be recipients of the 2008 President’s Student Leadership and Service Award at a ceremony May 5 .
This support means a lot as our team prepares to blast off. Kou’s flight is Monday afternoon; Kait and Robyn leave Wednesday afternoon.
