KRITAARTH IS HEADING TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE TEACH AFRICA LEADERSHIP SUMMIT!

THIS IS A FORT BEND COUNTY STUDENT WE ALL CAN BE PROUD OF!

Clements High School junior Kritaarth Mahankali is one of two Houston high school student leaders selected to receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the first Teach Africa Leadership Summit - jointly organized by The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa in partnership with The United States Department of State - on June 3rd, 2010. He will be representing Clements High School, the Fort Bend Independent School District, the World Affairs Council of Houston, and the city of Houston at the educational summit that will engage 290 high school student leaders from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in addition to 8 others (two each) representing the cities of Los Angeles, Portland, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.

The first Teach Africa Leadership Summit is an innovative day-long Africa immersion, leadership program - funded by the United States Agency for International Development - during which, high school student leaders will come together to participate in workshops, review case studies, and discuss a variety of critical issues as they relate to the African continent. Participants will meet with ambassadors, policymakers, and professionals during the summit in addition to conversing with their counterparts in Liberia, South Africa, and Cameroon through interactive digital video conferences. During afternoon workshops, experts will lead discussions on topics focused on Africa, including: leadership, conflict resolution, women, science & technology, media & US foreign policy. The distinguished guests who will speak to the students include: The Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Michael Blake, Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement, & Deputy Associate Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; His Excellency Nathaniel Barnes, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia; and Her Excellency Fatou Danielle Diagne, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal.

The following Africa Society Teach Africa Partners selected students from their respective cities to attend the State Department program: The World Affairs Council of Portland, The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, The World Affairs Council of Houston, the Southern Center for International Studies, and the UCLA James S. Coleman African Studies Center. Kritaarth was selected on the basis of his significant interest in African & international affairs, and achievements in the classroom, student organizations, and community service.