09/10/12 ema

HAYS, Kan. -- Michel Chikwanie, a 23-year-old motivational speaker and former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo, will tell his story of endurance and unimaginable pain at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the Black and Gold Room at Fort Hays State University's Memorial Union.

Chikwanie, who was kidnapped by rebels and forced to kill at the age of 5, leaves audiences with a new perspective on life, a sense of hope through social responsibility and a desire for change.

Chikwanie's presentation is on of several events sponsored by the university's Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) in September and October.

As a nationally recognized institute for citizen leadership development, the CCL provides high-quality educational programs and initiatives designed to enhance civic leadership capabilities among participants.

Other events on the schedule:

Sept. 11: Tigers In Service will place 297 flags around campus to represent the 2,977 men, women and children who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Tigers In Service encourages those on campus to remember the victims with a moment of silence near the flags at 9:59 and 10:28 a.m.

Sept. 14: Tigers In Service will have a campus wide clean up from 4 to 5 p.m. All materials will be provided as well as free snacks. To volunteer, contact service@fhsu.edu or meet at Custer Hall, room 202 at 4 p.m.

Sept. 17: From 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the American Democracy Project (ADP) along with Forsyth Library will host the Ben Franklin Papers. It will be an educational day for fifth-graders to learn about Ben Franklin's inventions, contributions to our nation and the Constitution.

Also on Sept. 17th, the ADP will honor the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. Volunteers will by hand out T-shirts and sign students up to vote on TurboVote.

Sept. 19: In honor of Mexico's Independence Day, Global Leadership Project will host a Hispanic community service work day at Colonial Gardens in Hays. Volunteers will pick up trash and do yard work and other projects. Information regarding "Jana's Closet," a project through the Trinity Lutheran Church which provides gently used clothing for occasions such as job interviews, will be provided.

Sept. 22: Tigers In Service volunteers will help with a Family Fun Day hosted by Smoky Hills Public Television from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Ramada Inn in Hays.

Sept: 25: The ADP will sponsor FHSU's version of National Voter Registration Day, a nationwide event to inform citizens about their right to vote, and provide tools needed to register to vote. Place and time are yet to be decided.

Sept. 26: Dr. Chapman Rackaway, associate professor of political science, and his political science class on the presidency will give a Times Talk presentation titled "The Roles of the United States President" from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Forsyth Library.

Sept. 29: Partnering with the Hays Rotary Club, Tigers In Service will help paint houses. Teams and individuals are welcome as well as applications for houses to be painted. Time is to be decided.

Oct. 2: At 3:30 p.m., the Women's Leadership Project will hold an American Association of University Women meeting in the Memorial Union's Stouffer Lounge.

Oct. 3: Students and faculty will discuss health care in America at "Healthcare Policy," a Finding Common Ground discussion series event sponsored by ADP at 12:30 p.m., in Forsyth Library.

For more information, contact Dr. Curt Brungardt, Omer G. Voss Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies and director of the CCL, at 785-628-5592 or email cbrungar@fhsu.edu.