PHOTO GALLERY

See photos from recent Global Scholars events in the Global Scholars Gallery.

Recipient of the Summit Education Initiative's 2004 Award for Business/ Community Organizations

“To solve most of the major problems facing our country in the 21st century requires
every young person to learn more about other world regions, cultures and languages."

— Colin Powell, Former U.S. Secretary of State

“I was particularly impressed during my visit to Akron with the quality and sophistication of the interaction I had with the group of high school students you assembled.

“The questions that the students raised with me during my meeting with them revealed a much higher degree of preparation for the session and an understanding of the issues involved in U.S.-Korea relations than I find at most universities that I visit.”

— Joseph Winder, President, Korea Economic Institute

"It was a pleasure to meet such eager and well prepared students. I was particularly impressed by their interest about Japan's current issues. It was very rewarding to engage in discussions with these young people, and I do wish them well in their future endeavors.

"Your individual effort to organize this event should be remarked, and also your sense of purpose in preparing these students for their future professional careers. If I were to choose the lasting impression of my trip to Akron, it would be the forward reaching dialogue of the community leaders and the students. I appreciate that I was able to contribute in some small way to the Global Scholars Program."

— Junichi Ihara , Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of the Economic Section, Embassy of Japan, Washington, D.C.

  
Global Scholars students

Global Scholars students engage in discussion at the briefing session

The Akron Council on World Affairs' Global Scholars Program helps prepare young people to participate in the global workforce. This extracurricular program for Akron public high school students was created by ACWA in 2002 and is supported by funding obtained by ACWA. 

Using a curriculum prepared by ACWA, Global Scholars students prepare for briefing sessions with foreign diplomats where students discuss their informed opinions on current issues.

The specific objectives of the Global Scholars program are to help students:

  • increase their cross-cultural communication skills
  • enhance their democratic decision making skills
  • become adept in discussions with peers, people from our community and international experts

Need for Global Scholars

ACWA’s Global Scholars program provides a vital global affairs supplement to the social studies curriculum in our public high schools.  This program addresses the urgent needs of our community and nation to have a more globally informed workforce and citizenry

Education experts agree that young people must acquire new skills and competencies, all requiring a broader global outlook and knowledge. They must increase their knowledge of other countries, cultures, and languages in order to succeed in the new jobs required for U.S. economic growth.

Whether students remain in Northeast Ohio or go elsewhere, the increasing diversity in the U.S. and abroad requires that they understand the cultural histories of others, both at work and in their communities.

Program Design

Global Scholars speaker Junichi Ihara and teacher Brian Nank Junichi Ihara, September 2005 presenter, with Kenmore High School faculty advisor Brian Nank

Program planning emphasizes identifying significant global issues in selected countries and how each country is working to resolve them. Programming enables students to understand the individual character of a given country, its leadership, and how groups within the country are working constructively — or against each other — on the issues.

Speakers are invited on the basis of their international connections and expertise, as well as their interest in discussing issues candidly with students.

Student Orientation

Linda Robertson Linda Robertson conducts student orientation

Before each semester's series of formal programs, students join in an orientation process held at a participating high school. Linda Robertson, Kent State University, manages the orientation. Students are given problems to solve related to current international events. In Spring 2005, student teams role-played how they would cooperate to rebuild their lives after the December 2004 tsunami devastated their communities.

Student Participation

Global Scholars students Buchtel High School students participate in Global Scholars briefing session

Global Scholars students arrive at informed opinions on key issues for the selected country through reading, discussion, and listening. Students from three Akron Public High Schools — Buchtel, Firestone, and Kenmore — are selected by their teachers based on their grade standing and motivation.

Students attend a formal briefing session on each country studied.  Ten students from each school participate in each briefing session.  The Speaker presents an overview of current issues related to his or her country. Students then discuss the issues in small groups, including direct exchange with the speaker. Teachers attend these sessions, broadening their own understanding of current global issues.

The Global Scholars briefing sessions provide students the rare opportunity to meet students from other Akron Public High Schools.

Following the briefing session, students attend a formal dinner and speaker presentation open to the public.  Students meet corporate executives, educators, politicians, and other community leaders, providing the opportunity to discuss academic and career possibilities.

Global Scholars Club

In Spring 2006, ACWA introduced the extracurricular Global Scholars Club to provide additional opportunities for participating high school students to explore international affairs issues and to support student preparation for the formal briefing sessions.

Club members are eligible to attend the E.J. Thomas Speaker Series events at the University of Akron.  They can also compete for the opportunity to attend the High School Academic WorldQuest competition in Washington, D.C., sponsored annually by the World Affairs Councils of America.

Contribute to Global Scholars

Buchtel High School faculty advisor David Jeffries Buchtel High School faculty advisor David Jeffries with Global Scholars student

We ask for your financial support so that we can continue this valued program.  Our young people have the capability and willingness to prepare themselves for a global future. Many have other significant commitments, including after-school work and family responsibilities, yet they give priority to Global Scholars program preparation and attendance. There are waiting lists in all the participating schools to attend the briefing sessions.

Join ACWA

Join ACWA and show these students your support of the time and effort they are bringing to their participation. At each of these events, you will have the option to interact with students and share your insights and experience on academic and career strategies.
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