First Year Student Reflections 2018 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Avila Publications

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2018 STUDENT REFLECTIONS The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind First Year Experience Truman Lecture Series

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2018 STUDENT REFLECTIONS The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind First Year Experience Truman Lecture Series

e Preface A Deep Gaze Into Sustainability From Jordan “Sunny” Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm, Kansas City, MO

o outside. Kneel and pinch a piece of the soil into the palm of your hand. Gaze deeply in awe and amazement as to how the entire universe, yourself included, is built of these same elements crumbling between your fingers. All around us the world is crumbling into more fragmented pieces, fueled by the illusion of separation between its many parts. The root to the stalk of sustainability is recognizing our interconnectedness to all of creation. In preparation for addressing students at the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series I had a standard bag of devastating environmental statistics and stories of separation in mind. Fortunately, instead of leading with fear-based statistics, my heart led the way with a message about the importance of rediscovering our connections to all parts of this earth. I want to thank Avila University for the invitation to “stand in” and speak about the necessity of sustainability in place of those who cannot speak for themselves: the trees, the rivers, the soil which we walk upon, the climate refugees, the generations yet to come. The generations that will question why those who came before them didn’t care to create a sustainable way of life. In his book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba uses his creativity to build a wind turbine, creating a future for his community. He mentions often in the book that he was inspired to create change out of deep love for his family and friends. Creating a sustainable future for his community was never a choice, he saw it as a necessity. It is important to recognize that if you are connected to anyone, then caring for creation should be one of your greatest concerns. You can be a doctor and heal people, a social worker and help people, a teacher and inspire people; while valuable, all these actions are jeopardized if we continue to neglect our Mother Earth. Pope Francis said, “the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor: she groans in travail” (Ladauto Si, 2). Let us seek to heal her wounds, help her flourish abundantly, may we teach our future generations of her needs, and hold her in our hands gazing deeper into our interdependence with her.

Introduction “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein, Physicist

he Avila University mission and values were alive in our First Year Experience! As stated in our mission, Avila prepares learners who will contribute to the global community and our values state the importance of a right relationship with creation. This publication serves as the culmination of multiple experiences shared among our first year students (Appendix A) to begin to understand the global issues around environmental sustainability. It is our hope that through the curriculum in first year seminar, students have developed individualized and educated thoughts and opinions on the subject and will become change agents for the world. Below outlines some of the experiences that led to these culminating projects. Each year, Avila selects a common reading for our first year students. Students have the summer to read the selected book and respond with an essay prior to the start of fall class. Additionally, the University dedicates the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture to the selected book. To compliment these experiences, all first year students enroll in a fall semester class, First Year Seminar, which provides an opportunity to expand on the global topics within the book. The book selected for 2018 was The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Kamkwamba, born in Malawi, shares his story of perseverance, ingenuity, sorrow, celebration, and educational initiative. With scrap metal and an outdated science textbook written in a language he did not speak, Kamkwamba describes how he built a windmill behind his house to bring electricity to his home and water to their crops. Avila welcomed William Kamkwamba to campus on October 24, 2018 as our Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer (Appendix B). He spoke to an audience of nearly 500 and shared that through the challenges he faced, he learned that challenges are there to make you grow. He knew that education would allow him to move in different pathways so he kept learning at the forefront even when traditional education was not possible. This temperament and these acts completely changed his life, the lives of his family and those who live in his community.

The University also hosted an experienced and educated panel prior to the lecture comprised of Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with Resource Conservation at the Environmental Protection Agency; Jordan “Sunny” Hamrick, Curbside Compost Manager at Jerusalem Farm and Thomas Schlange, Manager of Community Recycling Centers at Bridging the Gap. Each panelist shared their passion for living a sustainable life and informed the audience on why they feel it is important for others to live sustainably. The panelists did not always agree with one another on the details, but they provided an excellent example of peaceful and nonviolent ways to disagree. Panelist did agree that we are our brothers and sisters keepers. They emphasized that we are interconnected and it will take a deep belief among all of us to care for our common home. Students are encouraged to be creative with The Culminating Project in First Year Seminar. Students can write a traditional essay or create a unique personal project such as the creation of a poem, song, piece of artwork, etc. The project helps students explore the complex issues surrounding environmental sustainability and to explore their role and responsibility in resolving environmental issues through a peaceful and nonviolent means. These projects are a direct reflection of the multiple experiences in First Year Seminar including the classroom curriculum as well as the common reading and the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture. This publication is a compilation of several projects submitted and an opportunity for first year student to do what Albert Einstein suggests… solve problems through critical and creative thinking. In turn, we hope it can move us closer to the Avila mission and values by contributing to the global community and building a right relationship with creation. Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA Director of Student Engagement and Success Avila University

Avila University Mission

e Avila University, a Catholic University founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.

Avila University Values

e Excellence in teaching and learning e The worth, dignity, and potential of each human being e Diversity and its expression e The development of the whole person e Right relationships, with God, self, others, and creation e Service with the dear neighbor

Acknowledgments Thomas Sigsgaard (2019) shared that to be sustainable is to make something useful and to solve a problem not yet been solved. This is exactly what William Kamkwamba achieved. This publication is dedicated to William Kamkwamba who made a windmill in his small village among what appeared to be unsurmountable adversity. He embodies dedication, perseverance, an ever-ending desire for education and a belief to leave things better than when you found them. Thank you, William. A special acknowledgment and many thanks to William Kamkwamba, author of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and the 2018 Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecturer. Thank you for sharing your journey and your story. Thank you for reminding us that challenges are there to help us grow and that education can create life pathways never thought possible. The Truman Lecture would not be possible without the support of our presenting sponsors Joe and Sue Fahey, Kevin and Connie Fahey and the J.M. Fahey Construction Company. We appreciate and value your support of this event as well as many others in our Avila community. Thank you for allowing our students the unique opportunity to hear first-hand from the author of our common reading book. A heart-felt thanks to Bill and Jean ’76 Buchanan and the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence. Your generous spirit and support helped the issues of sustainability permeate through the curriculum of first year seminar and helped to inspire our first year students to find ways they can approach difficult issues though a peaceful and nonviolent manner. Avila is forever grateful to you! Thank you to our outstanding Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Panel comprised of Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with Resource Conservation at the Environmental Protection Agency; Jordan “Sunny” Hamrick, Curbside Compost Manager at Jerusalem Farm and Thomas Schlange, Manager of Community Recycling Centers at Bridging the Gap. Your service to others and passion for the many issues surrounding sustainability is inspiring and pushes all of us to find peace with the earth. Thank you to the Avila University Common Reading Program Committee led by Dr. Paige Illum. Members were Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley, Dr. Abigail Lambke, Dr. Natalie Cobb and our awesome student representative, Rachel Day. We appreciate your time and dedication! The Truman Lecture Series Committee affects students, faculty, staff and community members by bringing talented speakers to our campus. Through the extreme hard work of Aaron Bennett, Dr. Charlene Gould, Dr. Paige Illum, Darren Roubinek and the insightful leadership of Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley, our students experienced a unique and thought provoking opportunity. Thank you! Many thanks to Darren Roubinek, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, and Aaron Bennett, Events Coordinator, for their countless hours of dedicated work to make The Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture a success. Also to Maureen Reardon and Mary Sommerhauser who designed this reflection book with wonderfully creative and on-target project management skills. The members of the Office of Marketing and Communication, the Advancement Office, the Theatre Department, Information Technology Services

and Campus Services helped implement a flawless series of events and festivities surrounding the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture. Thank you for your excellent attention to detail and expertise in your respective areas. Through the tireless efforts of our First Year Seminar Instructors our students were able to gain important worldview lessons through the First Year Seminar curriculum. You all led students through multiple experiences and made the First Year Experience come alive through projects and discussions. You were cooperative and dedicated. You all DID make a difference! Thank you to Dave Armstrong, Regan Baker, Jason Baldwin, Brian Capers, Bailey Carr, Cristina Cowan, Julie Cowley, Sara Eckinger, Paige Illum, Deborah (DJ) Jones, Kristi Littleton, Anissa Martinez, Arica Maurer, Maggie Mohrfeld, Alicia Murillo, Caroline Riley, Joseph Roberts and Priscilla Subramaniyam. We also thank those who helped educate our first year students in unique and meaningful ways though the First Year Seminar curriculum. A sincere thank you to the faculty and staff who spoke to the first-year students connecting their area of expertise with issues of sustainability. Each presentation provided a unique perspective that broadened worldviews! Individuals included Dr. Chad Cooley in Chemistry, Dr. Jim Johnson in Physics, Dr. Francis Origanti and Ms. Lindee Petersen-Wilson in Social Work, Mr. Dave Armstrong in religious perspectives and Dr. Carol Coburn in Peace Studies and Nonviolence. A warm thank you to two first year seminar instructors who influenced the FS 101 learning experience. Julie Cowley, Assistance Director of Campus Ministries and Chair of the Avila Sustainability Committee who created a learning tool to help students understand the significance of sustainability to earth and introduced Avila’s “Be Purple. Live Green.” campaign. Also, Arica Maurer, Coordinator of the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence who helped students understand that environmental sustainability is key to promoting a more peaceful world and one of the most effective ways to make a positive change is through a nonviolent, well-informed, logic based approach to problem solving. Through the generosity of the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, first year students constructed 27 rain barrels with the help of Kansas City based organization, Bridging the Gap and Thomas Schlange who serves the organization as the Manager of Community Recycling Centers. After assembly, the barrels were donated to organizations around the Kansas City area including Boys Grow, Swope Ridge Geriatric Center, Project Rally, Synergy Services and Gregory Ridge Neighborhood Association. We are so thankful to Thomas from Bridging the Gap for assisting with the coordination of this project and to the organizations who came to campus to share details about their mission and how the rain barrels would benefit their sustainability efforts. Lastly, thank you to all of the Avila University first year students. Thank you for your commitment to understanding the many issues and challenges related to sustainability, searching for ways to reach a peaceful resolution to these sustainability challenges and for welcoming William’s story of courage and determination into your hearts. We challenge you to live the mission and values of Avila University as you learn more about how you can contribute to our global community. Thomas Sigsgaard, “Eco Warrior Princess,” Eco Warrior Princess, January 20, 2019. https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2016/01/60-great-quotes-aboutsustainability-green-living-our-environment-2/

Thanks to our presenting sponsor

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4 Preface 5 Introduction 6 Acknowledgments 8 Student Reflections & Projects 23 Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar 29 Student Reflections & Projects 40 Appendix A: Avila First Year Students 41 Appendix B: Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Program 42 Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives

Student Reflections & Projects

e Nickie Najar

or my culminating project, I chose to do a painting that explores the complexity of the interconnectedness that comes with sustainability. The painting itself shows the image of a hand holding a lightbulb. Featured inside the lightbulb is half of the earth with it split horizontally. In the top half of the lightbulb, there are various different elements that tie in with sustainability, including windmills and solar panels. In the background of the elements, there is a skyline including various different buildings with light shining inside of them. The reason I chose to go about my culminating project in this way was that I was inspired by a speaker during the panel at the Truman Lecture Series. I was inspired by his idea of interconnectedness and how it affected the way we went about a sustainable way of life. I chose to do my project in this particular way due to the interconnectedness that comes from the use of electricity. I featured the lightbulb with the windmill and solar panels inside of it, showing the alternative methods of creating energy as opposed to using natural resources such as coal and fossil fuels. These methods as well as human activities overtime all become connected with one another.

Major: Radiologic Science Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Marilyn Orta

hen someone gives you a gift that you adore and cherish, you take care of that gift. Earth is a gift given to us humans, so why do we not care and protect our Earth like any other gift we love? We have seen our Earth change for the worse: we have contaminated our planet, made many animals’ natural habitat unlivable, and we still have the mentality that everything is fine. In First Year Seminar this year, we were fortunate enough to have read and heard from such an inspiring person as William Kamkwamba and the other guest speakers at the Truman Lecture panel. As a first-year Avila class, we volunteered at Harvesters creating more than 12,500 meals, built 28 rain barrels for local organizations, and became educated on sustainability issues. We have recycling bins available for all students to have in their residence hall rooms, which motivates students to be conscious of the items they may have previously thrown way but instead they now may recycle. All of these experiences helped us to realize that environmental problems have been handed down to us; they are impacting our local neighborhoods here in Kansas City or back where we came from before Avila, and now it is our job and responsibility to fix our environment and our neighborhoods. Learning about food deserts while at Harvesters and during the rain barrel project made me think of how this is experienced in our local neighborhoods. The USDA has defined food deserts as parts of the country, usually in impoverished neighborhoods, void of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods (Wright, Donley, Gualtieri, and Strickhouser, 2016). Having food deserts leads to diverse issues that can be linked back to the lack of grocery stores, farmer markets, or healthy food providers: issues such as a higher rate of obesity due to those neighborhoods only having fast and convenient food near them. With obesity, other health problems will develop. Even though some of us may not be affected by a food desert, it is still an issue we should be aware of and care about, especially because Kansas City itself struggles with areas of food deserts. Organizations like Bridging the Gap in Kansas City are working to address these problems through community gardens, but the problem continues to impact our local neighborhoods.

they probably did not think it would lead to all these issues for individual neighborhoods and communities. That is why we need to learn from our history and know that what we do today, even though we may not think it will cause problems in the future, will have an impact. We need to be conscious of our choices and ensure that we try to do what is safe for not only us humans, but also for our environment. This class has taught me to be respectful, to care, and to pay attention to my actions. What I do to be environmentally cautious or destructive not only affects, me but also the surrounding neighborhoods and communities. My actions can and will affect the other side of the world. We have to be responsible for our actions because we will one day leave this Earth and since we were children, we have always been told to leave a place a better than how you found it. This saying should be applied to our Earth. We college students are the future generation, and the change has to start with us. We need to take a stand as we start our careers or families; we have to lead with our example and make a change. Whether we do small actions like recycling, become involved in politics, or focus our whole life in changing how industries affect the environment, any action we take individually or as a society will lead to a better future. Avila has led us into this path of sustainability, now the role falls on us to ignore the problem or be the solution. Works Cited Bissell, G. (2018, Feb. 21). Lawsuits: Widespread radioactive contamination in North County. Retrieved from www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/ lawsuits-widespread-radioactive-contamination-in-north-county/63-521781927. Wright, J. D., Donley, A. M., Gualtieri, M. C., Strickhouser, S. M. (2016, Feb.). Food deserts: What is the problem? What is the solution? Society, 53(2), 171–181. doi:10.1007/s12115-016-9993-8.

An issue that has affected my community from back home near St. Louis is having radioactive waste contaminate the area. According to Bissell (2018), the waste was moved in the 1940s from a facility near downtown to a place near the St. Louis airport. After this, the waste was moved to a nearby city, Hazelwood, in an open creek. Eventually during the 1970s, the waste was illegally dumped at West Lake Landfill, which is located within five miles of my house. Because of the radioactive waste, there are human health threats and impacts: for instance a higher chance of developing childhood brain cancer. School districts near the landfill have sent parents detailed letters on what to do in case of an emergency at the landfill, also recommending parents have extra medication at the school in case children have to stay for an undisclosed amount of time. Radioactive waste has been found inside homes in Spanish Lake Village, a nearby subdivision. Since radioactive waste has been found in this neighborhood, air monitors have been installed in the local children’s park, which makes residents fearful of letting their children outside (Bissell 2018). This contamination is not only an issue for residents, but also affects our larger environment. When it rains and there is rainwater runoff through West Lake Landfill, the water goes to an open storm water drain that runs into the Missouri River, contaminating it and affecting the ecological habitat of the aquatic animals. The EPA has ordered the removal of this waste, but this will cost a large sum of money. The removal will also cause problems in the excavation process, which could potentially lead to more health risk (Bissell 2018). When the government decided to move the radioactive waste,

Major: International Business Hometown: Maryland Heights, Mo.

e Joshua Castaneda Sustainability We have been gifted this planet to live on. We call it Mother Earth ironically. We don’t treat it like we treat our mothers. We abuse her and take her for granted. We do not realize that this is our home. We are destroying her and what she has provided us with. She retaliates by showing us her power. It can be seen in natural disasters or climate change. If we would not have pushed so far. If we would’ve taken better care. If we would’ve been more careful. We could have used our resources more sustainably. We could have gotten along with each other. We could not have created nuclear warfare. We could’ve realized that we are all humans. We are all a family, brothers and sisters. We should not hate each other. We could treat each other how we deserve to be treated. We would not have needed to look to external artificial resources. We do not realize that Mother Earth does not need us. We depend on her, she provides us with life. We need to love her and show her we do care.

Major: Radiologic Science Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Brielle Beavers

or my project I chose to create a piece of art because some things are just better shown than told and also can almost be better understood this way. I did a drawing that consisted of an Earth snow globe shape. There is a tree in the middle that has a world map as its leaves. This snow globe is melting on to the hands that are holding it. It also contains the words “our Earth is melting, stop global warming”. When I created this, there was some surrounding deeper meaning that went along with it. The tree with the world map as its leaves represents nature that is being affected. It is not just a community, city, state, or even the country that should start to worry. The entire world needs to band together to stop this crisis or it will all be for naught, because it affects everyone on the planet. I chose this snow globe shape to surround it for two reasons. One of which would be that it can represent that we are isolated in the fact that this is the only planet we have. There is nowhere else to go but this planet, so we have to save it. The other reason was to show the melting almost like an ice cube onto the hands that quite literally mean that the world is in our hands so we need to do something about it before it is too late. This project helped me realize the interconnection between every individual and action to quite literally everything, and that no one but us can fix it, so we need to do something. I have always recycled and turned lights off, essentially the “basics” behind things we can do as individuals, but this project also helped me to become more conscious of myself and my actions. I am going to think more about the things I am doing to help the Earth and every inhabitant of it, because no matter how insignificant it may seem for one person to do something, each and every person has to do things individually to make a difference for the world.

Major: Nursing Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.

e Sierra Reed

he project created was meant to answer three reflection questions I selected from the list given to students in class. They include: (1) What is climate change and why should I care? (2) How can I personally contribute to developing more sustainable practices (both locally and globally) when it comes to reversing climate change?, and (3) What are some of the current global environmental issues and what are my opinions on these issues? The project focuses on the ins and outs of climate change starting first with defining it in the oval in the center. The top section of the poster contains pictures and collected facts that illustrate the devastating effects on the environment due to climate change caused by human activity. The bottom section proposes a list of solutions that can be put into action to increase sustainability peacefully and nonviolently while also helping to reverse the effects of climate change on the Earth. This list includes both local, more personal solutions, and global solutions to help the crisis. Reflection: I have been a part of discussions pertaining to climate change and global warming many times before, but it was a quick, meaningless discussion every time that went somewhat like this: “Climate change is happening. Global warming is an issue. We should change our ways. “While all of that is true, a more in-depth look into climate change during this class has helped me begin to actually understand how our actions affect the world around us and what we can do to sustainably counteract those undesirable changes. Sunny Hamrick, project director at Jerusalem Farm and one of the panelists from the Truman lecture series, focused on the idea of interconnectedness during his speech. He said that everything is interconnected. All of our actions affect the world and those around us in some way. By living more sustainably in our own homes, schools, and communities, we can make a difference. Small actions add up such as unplugging products in our homes not being used, switching to energy saving products, and carpooling with friends to decrease carbon emissions. Kamkwamba came from a very poor country and did so much to better his community with very little resources. I, and we, can do it too by making small changes. Tackling complex issues like sustainability and climate change in first-year seminar and during this project has forced me to think more about my environmental surroundings and my role in its upkeep. Climate change is just one part of it. The effects of climate change are ones that cannot be ignored. The earth will become unlivable over time. If we do not reverse or slow its effects, humans will surely feel the burn. It is also important to note that it is not just one person or country’s problem. If we don’t all unite to fix this issue, then the problem will not ever be solved. We must work together as one world to reduce the amount of gas emissions we send into the atmosphere. We cannot do that by fighting each other. There are peaceful sustainable solutions that we can put into action personally, within our local communities, and on a global level that will help to hopefully reverse or slow the effects of climate change.

Works Cited “What is Climate Change?”. Warm Heart Worldwide, 2018. https://warmheartworldwide.org/climate-change/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjvXeBRDDARIsAC38TP5fQO4QyjnAv13fU1kqJ1oYxcPSi5Bx0-MAsz9QPp2ElIlBScyBC_IaAg5cEALw_wcB “A Student’s Guide to Global Climate Change.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 3 Mar. 2016, https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange// kids/impacts/effects/ecosystems.html “What is Climate Change?”. California Institute of Technology, 15 Oct. 2018, https://climate.nasa.gov/

Major: Prehealth Professions Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Victoria Aguilar

efore reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, I had never thought much about sustainability in one’s environment. I had thought about and felt for those experiencing things like unclean water and famine, and I knew that something had to be done, but I just did not know what needed to be done. Sustainability as a solution never crossed my mind, especially not in the way that William Kamkwamba utilized sustainability. He made something extraordinary out of parts and pieces that people categorized as trash or only useful for one thing. He dreamed of decreasing the chances of his family suffering from famine again and helping them have more than one harvest a year. He dreamed of building an irrigation system, yet created a windmill that sparked curiosity and wonder in more than just those in his village. After he experienced all of his success, he did not just look away from his past and those that still needed help. He used his success to show others how to create a sustainable life; he did not just give others what they needed, he educated and showed them how to do it for themselves so that they could show others and pass on that knowledge.

My painting is of two people in a situation such as William’s and his village: it depicts a man giving another man a book. In one side of the painting, it shows a field that is dry and has very little crop growth with blueish grey skies giving the scene a bit of a gloomy feel to it. On the opposite side, there is a flourishing field and watered soil symbolizing the passing of the wealth, which to me is knowledge. This illustration represents the old saying: give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. In my eyes this is exactly what William did. He never gave up or turned his back on the people he grew up around. He passed on what he learned so they could better their lives and help others better theirs long after. It is a cycle in my opinion that should always be continued.

Major: Psychology Hometown: Kansas City, Ks.

e Sean Farley

eing in First Year Seminar has changed how I think about environmental issues such as sustainability. Before, I did not normally think about these issues. I knew they were a problem, but they were not having an obvious impact on me, so I did not give them much thought, figuring that was somebody else’s problem to worry about. However, reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and participating in the activities in class made me more aware of how environmental sustainability affects everyone, and how everyone can and should do their part in helping to create a better world for everyone to live in. Reading William Kamkwamba’s story in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was a big part of this. Kamkwamba was faced with what I would view as seemingly impossible challenges, yet he never gave up. Despite all the odds being against him, he had an idea, he persevered, and his idea came to life. Kamkwamba became an inspiration to me, and meeting him at the Truman lecture was a great experience. It was strange in that, while I knew it was coming for most of the semester, it was a shock to get to see him, regardless. Reading his story, I learned that I should never give up on my goals either, and I am so grateful that I got to read about and learn from his experiences. Besides being motivational, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind also contained valuable lessons on sustainability. Perhaps the most important of these is that change can start on a local level and gradually expand and become something larger. This is true not only for people like Kamkwamba, who live under difficult conditions, but for everyone. Anyone can create positive change in their community if they want to. Another lesson was more of a grim warning of what happens without sustainability. Kamkwamba’s village in Malawi suffered from famine, as most of Malawi lacked such things as flowing water and electricity. Without a strong and sustainable environment, people can face real suffering. Kamkwamba’s resourcefulness helped him fight through his problems and make creative inventions. One particular step he took toward building his windmill, that I thought was interesting, was the use of bicycle parts. It certainly gave the windmill a unique aesthetic. Like Kamkwamba, we can also use everyday items to make creations that help us live more sustainably. An example would be the rain barrels made this semester, which used relatively simple parts. Climate change is a serious problem the whole world must face in this age. At first glance, the meaning of climate change is simple: just a change in climate. But climate change is much more than that. Climate change affects everyone, as it makes the world hotter and less forgiving to live on. It causes natural disasters to increase in frequency, and some scientists

worry that if people wait too much longer to pay attention to it, it may be too late to stop it. While we need nature to survive, it will live on without us. It is absolutely in everyone’s best interests to keep nature safe and welcoming for humanity. As previously noted, everyone can contribute to making a more sustainable world. This is true on both local and global levels. On the local level, we can foster community involvement in environmental improvement projects. This involves talking to people and getting them interested in environmental sustainability, creating an avenue for improvement in our world. If this is done, it becomes easier to make a change on a global level. While an individual can make an impact on a global scale, it is easier when they have a group of like-minded people behind them, involved and interested in their cause, and wanting to share their ideas with anyone in the world who can listen and can help. The Avila mission of preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community connected very well with the experience I had in First Year Seminar. In class, there was a strong emphasis on both learning and on giving to the world. There were also days of class dedicated to certain Avila values, such as right relationships and service. Attending these classes was an experience I am glad to have had, and it gave me a great appreciation for what Avila does. It is truly good to know that my university believes in the importance of being a positive force in the world. In the future, I want to help by taking more responsible actions on a personal level toward creating a more sustainable world. I could stand to reduce wasted electricity by turning the lights off more when I leave the room, and I could find a reusable water bottle to reduce my use of plastic. Notably, I can make a larger impact by telling others about the lessons I learned in this class, in the hopes that they can live more sustainably too. While I was taught some new things in this class, the most important thing it did for me was that it reminded me of just how important it is to take care of our world, so that it can take care of us. First Year Seminar has been an eye-opening experience for me. The people with the power to change our environment for the better are too often distracted by other influences to remember to make the changes that matter. As individuals, our lifespans are relatively short compared to our planet, and it should be our responsibility to make sure we are creating a better world for the generations after us to live in. This class and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind served as great reminders of this, and I want to remember the lessons they taught for the rest of my life.

Major: Computer Science Hometown: Kansas City, Ks.

e Hussan Riaz

ustainability is defined as the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. In other words, it is how something can be continued indefinitely through the use of a plethora of different aspects to assist in this process. Sustainability is a rather significant topic due to the fact that it could maintain and oftentimes even better the environmental quality. In order to live a healthy lifestyle, a community needs to maintain its feature or attributes. For instance, a fit environment would need to maintain or even improve proper natural resources. Sustainability could reasonably impact anything in the world that could be utilized to sustain the areas that each and every one of us live in. Because of factors such as the effects of climate change, pollution and other environmental aspects that can harm an individual’s health, our world is continually changing and it is what we do right now that will affect those moments in the future. Sustainability can play a vital role to maintain the health of the land, air and sea. One key way to partake in this significant topic could be as easy as making the place you live in more sustainable. Making a house more sustainable is crucial because people spend the majority of their time within their homes. Sustainable homes are beneficial to the environment and can lead to individuals caring more about the world that is surrounding them. As Global Warming is taking affect and resources are utilized each and every year, we are beginning to see that the time to act has come or the world might be facing some very difficult complications later on. Houses that are more sustainable are more energy efficient and easier to maintain. They are designed to save money during construction and over the lifetime of the house. Features are also used to provide flexibility and comfort for people of varying abilities at different life stages, including children and people with limited mobility. All in all, a sustainable house is designed to save water, energy, and reduce waste.

with an uncomplicated layout to assist with airflow throughout the house. After completing my assignment, I began to realize how necessary it is to incorporate these aspects into our everyday lives. Although it may be more cost effective and not many individuals can fully grasp this concept, small progress can go a very long way and it can be as easy as beginning to recycle. I really enjoyed learning more about this subject because if this was not brought up in our class, I know that, just like others, I probably would have never pondered upon sustainability. With having a better understanding of the subject, I believe I can make a significant change and incorporate these sentiments in my life and even encourage others to do so as well. Bibliography: Jewell, Nicole. “Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building.” Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building, Inhabitat, 3 Oct. 2018, inhabitat.com/tag/sustainable-homes/. Ackerman, Jessica. “Why Is It Important to Design a Sustainable House?” The Pros and Cons of Saltwater Pools | DoItYourself.com, DoItYourself.com, 15 Sept. 2011,

After discussing sustainability in First Year Seminar for a great deal of the semester, it really opened my eyes on how each and every individual can impact the future and its well-being. I chose to make a model of “A Sustainable Household” in which I made a simple and passive design that can be replicated fairly easily in real world. A simple design is very essential in building a sustainable home as it can reduce cost, carbon footprint and even have areas of natural heating and cooling. I chose to incorporate some significant aspects such as rain-barrels and a recycling bin along

Major: Prehealth Professions Hometown: Olathe, Ks.

e Olivia Rose Robinson

usic is a measure of equality because it often expresses the experiences that we all have in common. I was inspired to curate a playlist because of the universality of music and sustainability. Efforts in sustainability are efforts that benefit every person and animal. The need to survive and care for our children is within our most innate pressures as humans. Similarly, experiences like those described by William Kamkwamba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind about his parents are universal. Most of us get butterflies and have the capacity for love no matter where we are from. Those themes of humanity are extremely common in music though some music has culturally specific subject matter. I included individual songs that I found expressed issues that are lyrically relevant to those in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba: corruption, poverty and triumph. I used mostly western music because it fits more within my personal taste, but also to express how no social issue is completely isolated. I am hoping this will highlight the universality of both music and the human experience. I love music for providing that bridge over cultural gaps and inspiring change. I started the playlist off by including a Malawian reggae group referenced in the book, the Black Missionaries. “Babylon System” by the Black Missionaries is about corruption in the government. Though specific to Malawi, a similar sentiment is expressed in “Get Free” by Major Lazer (featuring Amber Coffman). “Get Free” is about a poor financial situation making it difficult to dream or grow, with lyrics expressing the lack of government support: “Never got love from a government man”. I think both songs could score parts of Kamkwamba’s life considering how his dreams were challenged and dampened by poverty year after year. “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, by two of my favorite musical artists Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill, is the most specific to American culture. It tells a story of institutional racism in The United States by comparing material gains and cultural growth with the setbacks in the justice system. “I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc is about poverty and financial struggle. “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant is more about the desperate measures taken by those living in poor conditions. Some of the more striking moments in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind are the gruesome survival tactics displayed by members of Kamkwamba’s community. For example, the snatching/stealing of food and trampling of people, even children, in front of locations delivering aid to the starving. I used the song “Blood Type” by Cautious Clay to illustrate this point because the lyrics “sometimes we all gotta be cold-blooded” and “my heads all good but my body’s in shambles” illustrates in my mind a situation where both active minds like Kamkwamba’s and desperate measures are involved.

Finally, “The Prophet’s Song” by Queen and “Lovely Day” by alt-J represent, to me, the most basic love of the planet that could inspire a change in our everyday habits. I thought this was important to my point because sustainability and efforts towards it are really the least we could do for a planet that blesses us in so many ways. The preservation of Earth has the power to make our global community so much more united. I would recommend my playlist to anybody who has read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and to anybody struggling to make healthy decisions in times of stress. I would also recommend listening to Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot speech for a different take on a similar point. To find my public playlist: 1. Open iTunes 2. Search “Olivia Rose Robinson” 3. Select the “FYS Culminating Project” Playlist Items: 1. “Babylon System” by Black Missionaries 2. “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” by Nas* 3. “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley 4. “I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc 5. “Mercy, Mercy Me (the Ecology) by Marvin Gaye 6. “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant 7. “Waterfalls” by TLC 8. “FOR MY PEOPLE” by Joey Bada$$* 9. “Get Free” by Major Lazer 10. “First World Problemz/Nobody Cares” by Brent Faiyaz* 11. “Soul” or “Soul (Remix)” by Caleborate* 12. “Shine” by Buddy* 13. “Blood Type” by Cautious Clay 14. “Love Yourz” by J. Cole* 15. “The Dreamer” by Anderson .Paak (featuring Talib Kweli & Timan Family Choir)* 16. “The Prophet’s Song” by Queen 17. “Lovely Day (Bonus Track)” by alt-J 18. “Blood Money” by Protoje

Although poverty, human struggle and sacrifice make it difficult to consider the bigger picture, it does not make it impossible. Kamkwamba is a perfect example of the kind of magnitude a person can have despite the huge humanitarian issues most cultures face at one point or another. Sustainable purchases and practices should not only be accessible for the privileged, because we all deserve sustainable lives. I included songs that I think express the triumph of Kamkwamba’s story and offer some inspiration to a listener. “Shine” by Buddy is somewhat of an anthem about perseverance. Many of Buddy’s songs reference life in the ghetto of Compton, California and “Shine” is about resisting the urge to settle. The imagery of death in “Shine” is an accurate reflection of the feeling of mortality in really desperate situations therefore, expressing the vivid urgency to act (similar to Kamkwamba’s building of the windmill). “FOR MY PEOPLE” by Joey Bada$$ speaks to the heroic nature of peace efforts. This song inspires me to be what Bada$$ would consider a hero.

Major: Psychology Hometown: Prairie Village, Ks.

e Patrick Feuchter One Flower a Many One precious flower bestows dwelling to many many sans amends One brilliant day many a joyous people relishing away Terrific climates many become complacent looming rue awaits One depressed gleaner after a feeble harvest clamors unsought flak One a many blabs a bearing of shunned tidings a flower disdained Lack of heeds taken grants the flower to succumb

his poem demonstrates a general relationship between the world and the people that inhabit it, and it is meant to exploit humans’ history of having an absence of feelings for sustaining Earth. I felt as though the poem should structurally resemble something environmental and that is when I decided to use the repeated haiku stanzas as its format. This is because a haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally meant to evoke images of the natural world. The flower symbolizes Earth in its beauty and fragility, so easily destroyed if not taken care of. Humankind must unite to restore our flower to a healthier state; this will prove to benefit all of those who reside here and allow this incredible planet to continue to be habitable for a long time to come. A recurring theme is the many who abode on Earth having a history of turning their heads to the issues that concern the sustainment of Earth. This class and the creation of this poem have helped me come to realize that education on environmental concerns is most essential to widespread, even global, contribution in sustaining Earth. However, there also lies the biggest problem to turning the tides is that it requires effort from everyone to hold up their end of bargain. It is evident that many countries do not take drastic action for improving the quality of Earth. This is because countries that are developing, newly or long-time, typically face many social issues that requires much government funding. These countries do not have a strong financial backing and cannot afford to launch environmental awareness campaigns; ergo, the people are not educated on the subject enough to care about it. Another economic inhibitor is the accessibility and financial availability to implement alternative energy sources as opposed to cheap, efficient fossil fuels. Too often, alternative energy sources are overlooked for the sake of efficiency and cost effectiveness, but this naivety comes at the expense of the quality of Earth. A large step to creating a more sustainable Earth would be educating people on the impacts of environmental ignorance and making alternative energy sources more convenient for more people worldwide. But most importantly, we have to remember that everyone has their own contribution to make and, together, we have the power to prevent catastrophic climate change, should we choose to do so soon.

many become woke One flower wilting harboring many a glum their abode withers

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Hometown: West Palm Beach, Fl.

e Keito Sugasaki

expressed five questions answered in my artwork. The main theme of my picture is “what we do is what we get.” It means if we do something good for the earth such as do not litter and waste water, we can live on a healthy earth with many plants and animals. The woman at the right corner represents us and that flag shows it not only a problem for one country or an area, but also for everyone around the world. The reason why the woman is smiling is she is also a next-generation person, which is an answer to question one. She represents all human beings to show how people can be happy with living on a healthy earth. The flags and the vase also represent the power of gathering individual acts. The vase represents what we are doing and our human being’s power of action, which is an answer to some of the current global environmental issues. If everyone tends to do worse things, the environmental situation will be worse off, but if everyone is eco-friendly, the hope of getting a better situation will bloom. I hope the situation will get better, so I drew the bright part more than the dark side. The rabbit symbolizes the importance of protecting animals’ inhabits. The tops of the rabbit’s ears are getting dark which means environmental destruction is stealing the animal habitats and the black spot behind the rabbit shows animals are always in danger. However, the other part is full of flowers because of the hopeful rainbow, which is the act of environmental protection. All human beings and animals live on the earth, so we should care about climate change. We should protect ourselves to live on the earth and make the big flower bloom.

Major: Marketing Hometown: Fukuoka, Japan

e Allissa Kridner

ustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. The subject that we talked about in class that stuck out the most to me was recycling. I have always wanted to get into recycling, but I never knew how to get into it. When talking about it I took notes on easy ways to contribute to making the world sustainable. I learned many ways that you can be sustainable that I never would have thought about. To contribute to developing a more sustainable world, I will bring my own container to restaurants, so I will not have to use their “to go” boxes. I am also going to take my own reusable cup when I go to QuikTrip to get a fountain drink or when I go to a fast food restaurant to eat. If I want an ice cold water I always use my Yeti because not only does it keep the water cold longer, it saves plastic water bottles. The average time for a plastic water bottle to completely degrade is 450 years. On average there are 60 million water bottles used every day in the United States. About 18,834,000,000 end up in the landfill every year. Before this class I never thought about how using water bottles was bad. It was something I grew up doing but now knowing what I know I will cut back as much as I can. These tasks are simple, but they will make a difference. Another thing I am going to do is ask my parents to get a recycling bin, so we will no longer have an excuse to not contribute. This will give my little sisters the opportunity to become sustainable at a younger age which will make it easier for them to do it later on in life. As a young adult, I wish my parents would have forced recycling a little more so I would know what needs to be done. However, after taking this class I have a better understanding of how I can contribute to sustainability. After, going through First Year Seminar I believe I will pay more attention to what I recycle. I will also pay attention to my surroundings and make sure people are recycling the right objects. I learned that if a recycling bin has one object that is not recyclable in it then the whole bin gets dumped with the trash because it was contaminated. I never knew they would throw out all recyclable goods just because of one non-recyclable object.

Our actions are not only hurting us but they are hurting the creatures around us. Once we are done here the animals are not. The world is not just ours, we share it with many creatures who surround us every day. I truly believe that we are putting ourselves in so much danger and not very many people are seeing it. Making a change starts with one person and I am going to be that person in my group. When the people around me see what I am doing they will pick up on it and do the same thing, and the people around them will soon begin to pay attention. I want to save the wonderful place we live in and I am going to start the change now. This class was truly a huge benefit for me. I not only learned how to recycle properly but I learned new ways to be sustainable. The Earth is ours but it also belongs to the animals that we have here so we need to be considerate with our actions. There are many ways to be sustainable but as I mentioned, I think the easiest way to get into it is to take one step at a time. Start small and end with something that could potentially change the world. Works Cited “At the University of Maine - Office of Sustainability - University of Maine.” Lobster Institute, umaine.edu/sustainability/umdefinition/. Plastic-Water-Bottles-150x150.” “Plastic Water Bottles Impose Health and Environmental Risks.” Ban the Bottle, www.banthebottle.net/articles/plastic-water-bottlesimpose-health-and-environmental-risks/. “Plastic-Water-Bottles-150x150.” Postconsumers, www.postconsumers. com/2011/10/31/how-long-does-it-take-a-plastic-bottle-to-biodegrade/plastic-water-bottles-150x150/.

My opinion on recycling has not necessarily changed, but my knowledge has grown. I went from thinking you had to be super crazy and recycle every single thing to realizing if you pick one thing and focus on recycling it then you will also be making a difference. I thought it was all or nothing when it came to recycling which was why I was never fully focused on doing it. Knowing what I know now, I will slowly become a person who recycles every recyclable object. But for now, I will focus on not using plastic cups, or the” to go” boxes you get at restaurants. By doing this I will be one step closer to being sustainable. Recycling helps in more ways than people know. Recycling helps us reduce the amount of energy that is used. It also reduces the consumption of fresh raw materials. It reduces air and water pollution. We are dumping way too much into the oceans which are killing all of the fish that live there. When we did the “problem tree” worksheet in class, my group talked about pollution and how it is making animals lose their homes. If we step up and recycle it will help preserve the homes of the fish. Not to mention it will make our oceans look better than they ever have. We have more problems with animals losing their homes because of cutting down trees. We need to stop cutting down so many trees because not only are the birds losing their homes we are also losing clean air. So many kinds of birds have been endangered or even become extinct because we are taking their homes away.

Major: Major:Accounting International Business Hometown: Independence, Hometown: Kansas Mo. City, 19 Mo.

e Mallory Kimbell

or my culminating project, I decided to make a poster dedicated to sustainability. This poster informs readers of ways that they can easily be sustainable in their own homes. There are four ways listed on the poster that can help someone live a more sustainable life: turning off lights that are not being used, recycling, walking, and reusing items rather than using wasteful items. This poster has helped me to think of new ways to become sustainable, and it has also helped me expand my knowledge on the term ‘carbon footprint’, which goes hand in hand with sustainability. While I was doing research over new ways to be sustainable, I came across the idea of turning off lights in your house. I never realized that something so easy could help save energy and also reduce someone’s carbon footprint. Another way that people can be sustainable is to recycle. This is one of the most common things that people do to help the environment. My roommates and I participate in recycling; we have a recycling bin in our room that we throw plastic water bottles and empty boxes in. The discussions in class have helped me expand my viewpoint on sustainability. I did not even know what sustainability was going into college. In the First Year Seminar class, I learned that you can be sustainable in many ways – and recycling is the main one that stood out to me, which is why I chose this project. I learned that being sustainable can affect the environment in a positive way. Overall, I have learned that being sustainable is doing things in order to improve the current and future environment of the earth. Many things can be done to help this; things as simple as turning off a light and recycling a plastic water bottle in recycling bins across campus. This experience that I have with sustainability from First Year Seminar has already impacted my life. I am now recycling daily when I never actively participated in recycling before I came to Avila. I am sure that I will continue these practices of sustainability even after I leave Avila.

Major: Kinesiology Hometown: Harrisonville, Mo.

e Joelle Shurtz The sun is shining, The sky is blue, The birds are flying, And the breeze is cool. Mother Nature is trying her best To give us nothing but beautifulness, But what do we do? We make her a mess. One touch of nature makes the world kind. Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory. There is a garden in my heart where beauty grows. We never know the worth of water till its dry. We see it as our mission. Now and in the future. Because we all share this planet, we have to learn to live in peace With each other and With nature. This is not Just a dream, but a necessity.

his poem reconciles Avila’s mission by making meaningful contributions to the global community. You may know the campus movement “Live Purple. Be Green.”; Avila takes this very seriously, with the purpose of making progress in caring for our planet. We develop as a person by becoming one in the community. The main objective at Avila is to strengthen right relationships with others, ourselves, and most importantly God. Here are three ways that we can personally contribute to develop a more sustainable world: 1) Drive less and drive green. This can be accomplished by walking, biking, carpooling or using public transportation whenever possible. I can also combine errands to make fewer trips. 2) Go plastic free. Start cutting down on our plastic waste by using reusable bags when we shop, ditch water bottles and straws, and avoid products made from or packaged in plastic. 3) Use our voices to vote because we matter: urge governments to pass stronger policies by limiting greenhouse gases, fighting climate change, and protecting our wildlife. I chose to write this poem while I was back home, relaxing outside. I enjoyed a beautiful day outside on my driveway and listened to nature. Every day as we drive to our destinations, trash cans are full, people litter, and the streets are a mess. This gave me inspiration on what to write my poem about. When listening to the breeze, Mother Nature was telling me something. She said, “Why do you destroy me? I gave you a gorgeous day and society ruins it”. We are damaging the earth by not cleaning up after ourselves. Our main pollution issues stem from the use of plastic, glass, and other substances that take years to decompose in the natural environment. Recycling our materials can help reduce the amount of waste in the environment. We are the voice for our planet. We must keep it beautiful and protect our children. Litter has a negative impact on our sense of community and safety. It can also pose health and safety risks, especially for curious children who are more likely to pick up litter and harm themselves. I will help make a change for our planet but everyone needs to help for success to happen. I ask that everyone at Avila helps pick up trash because not only will you feel better, but may inspire others as well.

Major: Radiologic Science Hometown: Topeka, Ks.

e Kaysen Higa

Song to the tune of the “Wheels on the Bus” The recycled goods go round and round, round and round, the recycled goods go round and round, all through the town The recycled glass goes clink, clink ,clink, clink, clink, clink the recycled glass goes clink, clink, clink all through the town The recycled plastic goes dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk the recycled plastic goes dunk, dunk, dunk all through the town The recycled metals go tink, tink, tink, tink, tink, tink the recycled metals go tink, tink, tink all through the town The recycled papers go woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh the recycled papers go woosh, woosh, woosh all through the town

he recycled goods go round and round, round and round, the recycled goods go round and round, all through the town. My culminating project is based on recycling. I chose to create a song that everyone is familiar with, Wheels On The Bus, and tweak it to be about recycling and what kind of simple materials you are able to recycle. This is a simple and easy way to teach the youth about recycling from a young age. The hope is they will remember what to recycle and carry it throughout their lives. We all remember, Wheels On The Bus, so why would not young children be able to remember the recycling song years from now and apply it to their everyday life. I thought Kamkwamba’s story was amazing. What really shocked me was how he started at such a young age and it really made me think. It would never be too early to learn about the problems going on in the world today and what the youth could do to help the cause. He began this whole windmill project before high school, even without high school. If he can make such a big difference in middle school, elementary students can start making small ones. A lot of small differences will continue to add up, and they are able to pass it down from generation to generation increasing the trend of recycling and helping save the world little by little. I can personally contribute to the problems going on by doing little things throughout my day to help the environment: things like carpooling to help limit the amount of gases being emitted into the atmosphere. I can recycle my bottles and cans and also help encourage others to make small impacts in the growing problem. I could pick up trash along the beach to help stop pollution and make sure we do not litter on the beaches. I have learned there are many things one person can do to help the problem, there just has to be enough people making a little difference to make a big one.

Major: Undeclared Hometown: Kapolei, Hi.

As students assemble rain barrels during First Year Seminar class, a representative from Boys Grow shares how they will utilize the rain barrels within their organization. Boys Grow mentors Kansas City’s urban youth through agricultural mentorship.

Avila first year students assemble rain barrels purchased through the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence. Avila donated the assembled barrels to various organizations throughout the Kansas City area.

Avila students share conversation with William Kamkwamba during dinner the evening before the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture.

The Truman Lecture opened with an experienced and educated panel who spoke to the audience about sustainability. Pictured l to r: Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with Resource Conservation at the Environmental Protection Agency; Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Thomas Schlange, Manager of Community Recycling Centers at Bridging the Gap and Sunny Hamrick, Curbside Compost Manager at Jerusalem Farm.

Moderator and Chair of the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., opens the Truman Lecture in Goppert Theatre.

Avila student, Brielle Beavers, calculates her carbon footprint at the reception before the featured speaker.

Sunny Hamrick with Jerusalem Farm urged the audience to be conscious consumers and emphasized that we are all connected and it is only together that we can fully care for our common home.

Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA, President, Avila University welcomes to the stage William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker.

William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker shares experiences growing up in Malawi and displays the cover of the book that inspired him to build a windmill behind his home.

William Kamkwamba graciously signed books for students, faculty, staff and guests.

Members of the Truman Lecture Panel (l-r) Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with the Resource Conservation at the Environment Protection Agency; Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Thomas Schlange, Bridging the Gap; William Kamkwamba, Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author; Sunny Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm; and Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Truman Lecture.

Sunny Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm, discusses sustainability with a student at the reception.

First year students Marlon Jones and Brooklynn Hufft present a gift of thanks to author and Truman Distinguished Lecturer, William Kamkwamba.

A first year student listens intently to William Kamkwamba, author and Truman Distinguished Lecturer, during the book signing event.

William Kamkwamba shared details about his continued plans to create a more sustainable world during dinner following the lecture. Pictured l to r: Aaron Bennett, Advancement Event and Meeting Coordinator, Avila University; Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA, President, Avila University; Suzanne Slepitza, Avila First Lady; Bill Buchanan, Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence; Jeanne Buchanan ’76, Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence; William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker; Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Psychology and Chair of the Harry S. Distinguished Lecture Committee, Avila University; Joe Fahey; Harry S. Truman Lecture Sponsor, J.M. Fahey Construction Company; Sue Fahey, Harry S. Truman Lecture Sponsor, J.M. Fahey Construction Company and Paige Illum, Ph.D., Director of Student Engagement and Success. The educational opportunities provided through First Year Seminar and the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture would not be possible without the generosity of the Buchanan and Fahey families.

Student Reflections & Projects e Nia Musamali

uring the course of First Year Seminar, I learned many new things about environmental sustainability. I learned how positive contributions can be made to improve the environment and how negative ones can be eliminated. Learning different topics during class about the environment such as pollution, recycling, climate change, and many others impacted my thinking about environmental sustainability. These topics impacted my thinking because I never realized how greatly these issues were affecting our world. Negative effects such as glaciers retreating and increasing numbers of intense rainfall are only a few of the current problems that relate to environmental sustainability.

The example of Kamkwamba’s resourcefulness in building the windmill can serve as a model for us to live more sustainably in various ways. Kamkwamba used recycled materials to build his innovative windmill. He did not have any money to buy new products, but even if he did, why waste money on something new when something old could be of the same use? Kamkwamba using all recycled or trashed materials did not only make an impact with his windmill, he made an impact on me as a reader helping me realize that recycled materials can be just as good as new materials. Kamkwamba modeled a positive resourceful outcome by creating a functional windmill with the use of recycled and/or trashed materials. This can help others consider using recycled and/or trashed materials when starting a project rather than buying things brand new. In First Year Seminar, I was able to experience a situation using recycled materials when we built rain barrels for different places in our community. We did not use brand new materials to build any of the rain barrels and yet they were still effective. Kamkwamba helped show the world that recycled, and/or trashed materials should not be looked upon negatively, but as resourceful, useful, and innovative. William Kamkwamba’s story impacted me for several different reasons. William had such determination to help improve his community and lifestyle. He was determined to overcome poverty and become educated. He knew that education was his only way to success. Even though he could not afford to go to school, he still had self-motivation to go to the library and learn on his own. It really showed me how important education is and how far in life it can take me. Education and intelligence are something that no one can take away from you. When Kamkwamba lost so much in his life, he still had those two things. By reading his story, and then hearing about it in person, it really showed me that I am capable of anything that I put my mind to.

Climate change is a topic that was discussed on the lecture panel and throughout the course of First Year Seminar. Climate change is the action of our planet heating up. The causes of climate change can range from farming to deforestation. Everyone should care about climate change because it will not only affect us humans, but also our wildlife. Many of our wildlife such as polar bears or sea turtles are really struggling because of the temperatures and sea levels steadily rising. Climate change takes a toll on farming as well. It becomes extremely difficult to farm when temperatures, rain, and floods are increased. This makes it hard to produce food that we see in our local grocery stores or markets every day. To help with climate change we can turn off electrical equipment when we are not using it, use energy saving lightbulbs, buy local foods and more. Through this experience and everything that I learned, it has and will impact my future actions. It has already impacted my actions because my roommates and I decided to have a recycling bin in our room. We knew that if we had a recycling bin it would make us more willing to recycle. Being student athletes, the number of recyclable plastic water bottles used are endless; and to throw them in the trash every time that we use them would severely harm the environment in more ways than we are consciously aware of. As of for my future, I will make sure to make more people aware of environmental sustainability and how easy it is to make a positive impact. This experience has made me more cautious about composting and reading the different composting labels on the bins after I am finished in the cafeteria. Environmental sustainability is something that a lot of people know about. A lot of people are not fully educated on the negative impacts and how to eliminate them. The first step that people need to understand is that putting an end to the negative aspects starts with us. Everyone should try and do the little tasks. The little tasks will eventually become habit and by doing the little things a positive impact is being made. I found many things about environmental sustainability interesting and am going to be sure to change all of the bad habits I have that have a negative impact on the environment. We need to take care of the environment. As Kamkwamba said at the end of his book, “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try” (Kamkwamba p.281).

After learning about environmental sustainability through Kamkwamba, the lecture panel, and First Year Seminar, I learned there are a lot of ways that I can personally contribute to the development of a more sustainable world. Locally, around my neighborhood, community, and school I can do little things such as recycle and properly dispose of waste. I can walk when it is a short distance instead of driving, and I can use more recycled materials. Even though the tasks may seem little, they still make a positive impact on our environment. To contribute globally, I can bring awareness to the topic of environmental sustainability. I can help other people understand the importance of little tasks like composting waste, recycling, or even being cautious not to litter. These little tasks may not seem like they have an impact on our environment, but they do. Environmental sustainability is not something that you are going to see change right away. It takes time, and it takes enough people with the same mindset to want to improve our world.

Major: Criminology and Justice Studies Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Madison Baker

or my culminating project I decided to create a few things using almost every day items. Most of the time they just get thrown away, but with my creation it helps re-use them in a way many people have never thought about. For my first project, I had decided to make a trash can out of plastic bags you would get from a grocery store. Repurposing the plastic bag allows for less pollution and helps recycle in a way most people would not think about. But instead of a trash can, I decided to go with a small bowl because I feel like I would use it more. This part of the project relates to the story in the book because you are using what you had to create something new that someone can use. Granted it does not create energy, but you are taking something someone would throw away and turning it into something useful. For my second part of my project, I made a small windmill out of soda cans. I basically just cut the cans in a way to make it spin in the wind. I also added a solar panel onto the back along with a motor to run the fan. This project definitely relates back to the story in the book about the windmill but also relates to the rain barrel by putting pieces together to make one bigger object.

Major: Elementary Education Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.

e Cody White

ith increasing global surface temperatures, the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations not usually subjected to the power of the sea and to the erosive forces of waves and currents (USGS, 2018).

Works Cited “How Can Climate Change Affect Natural Disasters?.” Usgs.gov. N. p., 2018. Web. 13 Nov. 2018.

Climate change is resulting in an increase in natural disasters such as the recent hurricane in Texas. It is costing us a lot of money and that is why we need to be aware that climate change is something that we can change with daily actions. The three things we can do is to start recycling/ composting, carpooling to school and work so we use less fossil fuels, start conserving our water through rain barrels. These offset the negative impacts of climate change. How has Kamkwamba’s story impacted me? After hearing all about his life, it has really opened me up to the struggles that countries go through for survival. If something does not fall into place they can be in a lot of trouble. What is climate change and why should I care? Climate change is us polluting our atmosphere with CO2 and other gases that pretty much make a barrier around the earth and lead to warmer ground temperatures. We need to care because if we do not work to halt it, then storms will just get bigger and bigger and all the glacier ice caps will melt. How might this experience impact my future actions? I believe I will start making every day impacts that will go a long way like recycling and using reusable cups. The earth is slowly dying and something as little as that can make a world of a difference.

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Mo.

e Samantha Weickert Earth

It was made many eons ago Precious and kind; must be how we treat it for it to glow Lives are crying because it’s not clean, Earth is dying because it’s not green The green grass The flowing blue waters If we don’t protect it; the earth will get hotter All throughout the ocean, dolphins jump in sync Penguins jumping like they are in an ice-skating rink No matter where we go, the earth is our home Let us do more than wishing And make saving the earth a mission

his poem has a very strong meaning behind its quiet words and represents many things that have to do with the world and how it is treated. Many things about sustainability are shown with in this, as not only is the representation of how our earth is made, all the beauties and graces that God made for us; and people are taking it for granted. This earth is what we live on, and we are the ones who can make the change in this world and take preventative measures to help our society grow for the better and thrive. We are on a mission to better our earth and should only want improvements out of it. Throughout this course, I was given knowledge on saving the environment and was shown what it means to represent sustainability. Saving the environment is so important, not only to the world, but to yourself, as a clean environment is essential for healthy living. Not taking care of the environment causes pollution, which is detrimental to your lungs and organs. There should be a strong and prominent focus upon how our earth really looks, as many view it to be so wonderful and clean; but deep beneath the surface the earth is full of harmful pollutants and chemicals. With this, it makes it harder to view the true beauty of our earth that Mother Nature provides: Our green trees that reflect off the sun so beautifully, with the plants just beneath it. There is nothing more important than being a fully sustainable person in this world, as the world is so precious. It is something we can hold within our hands and protect so dearly, as it is what we are living on; and will be for many following years.

Major: Radiologic Science Hometown: Gladstone, Mo.

e Katrina Lassiter

hroughout the semester, I have learned many things about how to save our environment, how to create a better world and how simple it is to just reduce, reuse and recycle. Because of this course, it has shown me how damaged the world will be if actions are not taken on; as the earth is something we must take care of, and it takes seconds to be the change. Recycling is one of the most important factors in our society that is quite often taken advantage of, as many do not care to recycle their items. You may not be able to see the effects of recycling, but they are heavily noted. Harmful chemicals such as greenhouse gases are released from the rubbish in landfill sites; as recycling will reduce all of the pollution in the air and lessen all the harmful chemicals found in our earth. The change is within yourself as you must step forward to start recycling. For my project, I am accurately depicting how America poorly takes part in creating a lesser environment. The picture I drew has many skyscrapers and buildings with America bordering it. It is our perception that America looks perfect in the eyes of a human, but deep beneath the grass is really full of harmful chemicals and waste, that are slowly deteriorating our environment. All in all, it is up to us humans to be the change in what we want to see in America, as this is the world that we live in, not only are we helping our environment, but we are helping the future generations of America as this too is their land.

Major: Kinesiology Hometown: Olathe, Ks.

e Brandon Cochran

he book written by William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, is one of the best books I have ever read, because William Kamkwamba overcame so much during his childhood living in Southeast Africa in a country called Malawi. William Kamkwamba’s story has really impacted my life in many ways. One of the lessons I learned from his story is that no matter where you come from you can make a difference. Kamkwamba’s family lived in a country where only two-percent of the population had electricity. Throughout Kamkwamba’s childhood his family always struggled with having enough money. Kamkwamba’s father was a crop and tobacco planter and his mom did not work because she was taking care of the house and looking after William and his siblings. Kamkwamba’s family and the community of Malawi went through a stage of depression due to a famine where nothing was growing for them to sell and make money off the product they made in the fields. Because of this, the family had to cut down to one meal per day. Kamkwamba was forced to not attend school anymore because his parents could not afford for him to go to school, but this never stopped Kamkwamba from learning something. Kamkwamba found a public library nearby his house. He read many books because he did not want to fall behind the other students still going to school. Kamkwamba was inspired by one of the books about how to build a windmill. He wanted to make a difference for his family and his community with the use of electricity. Many days went by and he eventually he had success with the windmill. Many people were surprised that Kamkwamba did something like this. Dr. Machenzie, a man involved with education in Malawi, sought to find William after seeing the windmill. He was so impressed with Kamkwamba’s work. Dr. Machenzie invited Kamkwamba to give a speech at a conference on innovation. Many people from this conference offered to fund Kamkwamba for further research and inventions. Dr. Machenzie also arranged for Kamkwamba to attend a local boarding school. Kamkwamba is a great example for everyone, because he showed that anyone can make a difference in anything they want to do in life. Another lesson that impacted my life from this book is to never give up on something you want to do. During the time Kamkwamba had the idea of building a windmill, many people in the community thought he was crazy about this idea. Once he started building the windmill, he did not have the money to afford the materials and parts to build this windmill, but he knew behind the school he used to attend there was a junkyard. Many of his classmates spotted William one day going through the junkyard and made fun of him. It was this “junk” that William used to build his windmill.

The last lesson that I learned from Kamkwamba was to always be thankful for what you have and not be hateful for what you do not have in life. Many people in our society always complain about something bad about their day, but our environment is nothing that Kamkwamba experienced growing up. Most of the time people just complain over the dumb stuff, but there is always someone who has a more difficult life than yours. Always be thankful for what you do have, because you never know what other people are going though in life. These experiences in First Year Seminar have also impacted my life with my thinking toward environmental sustainability. It made me look at certain things a little differently. Before having this class I did not know how big of an impact recycling made to help other people around the world; even doing the smallest things can make a difference. This all started with our first event when first year students went to Harvesters and everyone had a different job to do. This connected with helping people in the community with having food. I was very surprised with how many people struggle everyday to just have food to eat. Our class put together rain barrels. This was another event I was very surprised about how people struggle just to have water every day. After having these two events, I realized how blessed I am to be able to have access to food and water without struggling every day to get it. I learned a lot from these experiences, but I was also thinking to myself there are many opportunities out there where I can help with environmental sustainability. One of the things I can do with helping out is growing my own garden. The food people purchase from the market goes through a process where the food is grown and transported into stores before it can even reach the shelves of the supermarket. You can reduce this use of fuel by growing your own garden. After these experiences with class, I know how important sustainability is now. It is important because it ensures that people have water, resources, and it protects the environment and human health. Sustainability can impact the context of environmental economics and social orders, including the sustainability of the ecosystem, private life and lifestyles. In conclusion, reading this book and having this class have changed my focus. I now consider others and am willing to help other people in need and the environment. Hopefully I can make the world a better place during my life.

Many days go by and William was still working on the windmill, but his parents were starting to doubt him because he was not having the success he wanted to have at the time. Eventually after many attempts, William finally had the success with the windmill and all the people thought Kamkwamba was crazy because he wanted the taste of the electricity. Everybody who doubted Kamkwamba was thanking him for this invention. This tells you, even if nobody believes in you, you can have success if you put your mind to it.

Major: Criminology and Justice Studies Hometown: Muskogee, Ok.

e Brooklynn Hufft

his project has helped me explore many of today’s issues with environmental sustainability. My art project specifically addresses deforestation, energy conservation, and water conservation. It is important to have a helping hand in the environment, because if we do not there could be no more environment to help. Energy conservation is one of the most critical aspects in today’s world. The particular light bulb shown in my art piece is a CLF (Compact Fluorescent Lights) light bulb which uses less energy, therefore, it is better for the environment. When less energy is being used, less toxic fumes are released by power plants, the Earth’s natural resources are conserved, and the ecosystems are protected from destruction. The next part of my art shows a building transforming into a tree. This is meant to represent afforestation (The opposite of deforestation.) Instead of tearing down to replace buildings, more trees should be planted. Trees have many benefits. They produce oxygen, promote beneficial water

quality, provide a home for many species, and reduce smog which helps with respiratory health. They are also a good way to obtain food. Overall, trees make the Earth a better place. The rain barrel in my art project represents water conservation. Conserving water reduces energy which means less pollution. Rain barrels are a good way to conserve water because if you are using rain water for everyday things, less tap water is being used. Also, rain barrels help with runoff into storm drains. As the water flows down the street, it picks up trash along the way and that trash makes it to the ocean. One person can make a difference with just a simple rain barrel. I believe I can make a difference in my everyday life by just conserving energy and water alone. Although I cannot stop deforestation, I can plant more trees or write letters to persuade others to stop cutting down trees. In order to achieve environmental sustainability, everyone has to put their minds together and think bright.

Major: Nursing Hometown: Independence, Mo.

e Bridget Dulle

have always had a passion for taking care of the planet, communities, and every piece of life. When thinking about this project I thought of everyone as a puzzle piece and when we put puzzle pieces together they create an image. I took an actual puzzle and created different images to represent what I have learned in First Year Seminar. The main picture is the globe, and it looks beautiful and full of life. That is just the perception of far away from the Earth. I created another image that shows life underwater. On the top, there is living things and life. When we do not recycle or just throw things on the ground and not pick them up, the rain/water picks up all of the trash and the trash gets dumped into the ocean. The trash then fills up the ocean and starts to kill animals and plant life. The solution to this is to watch where we put our trash. If we recycle the right things and pick up what we see on the ground, we are able to make an impact on ocean life. Everyone says that we cannot make an impact with just one person.

That is not true. I learned this by going through First Year Seminar and learning about sustainability and reading the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: that everyone makes an impact. No matter what you do, as long as it is positive, your impact makes a difference. My third and fourth images are a healthy green tree and the other image is a burning tree. With global warming and people just not recycling paper, there are wildfires because of global warming and trees are getting cut down to make more paper. Global warming has been a very big issue and each impact makes a good or bad effect on global warming. Some solutions to global warming and just saving trees are again recycling so the paper can be reused, help cut down fossil fuels to help decrease global warming. There are many things you can do to help the planet. Choose one or two things to change or adjust in your life to help save our planet and help save our planet for future generations.

Major: Nursing Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

e Shannon Henshaw

or my image, I chose to depict a rain cycle. Alongside I chose to draw a cycle of which I think sustainability follows. A rain cycle, because while completely sustainable on its own, needs all phases to work together smoothly to continue. This is how I have come to view sustainability from my First Year Seminar class. I have learned that there are actions we can all take, no matter how small: whether that be committing to researching current issues such as climate change or educating yourself and others on what actions can be taken or even committing to taking action and holding yourself accountable. All of these steps are crucial to living a sustainable life. And much like the rain cycle, without working on each step, the whole thing falls apart. The discussions within First Year Seminar have impacted me in many ways. I thought I knew a lot about sustainability before starting First Year Seminar but subsequently, I have come to realize I have a lot to learn. After a couple of class periods, I decided to do my own research and figure out what I could be doing to live a more sustainable life. I found myself not only recycling more, but trying to reduce as much waste as possible. More than both of those I found myself trying to reuse things I had already bought, such as turning a glass jelly container into something I could store my Que-Tips in inside my bathroom. Finally, with the cold weather approaching, I made an effort to buy from clothes brands that were headed in a sustainable direction. I never expected my First Year Seminar class to impact me as much as it did but it changed me in ways I never expected.

Major: Undeclared Hometown: Overland Park, Ks.

e Angie Pantaleon

or my project, I have created a board with a design of the recycling arrows. Within those arrows there are footprints covered in grass. Around the footprints there is sand. These components each represent different aspects relating to sustainability. The recycling arrows represent the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. The footprints that are placed on the sand represent the impact one can create by following three basic habits to make the world a better place. Not only are there three ways to create a better place for each of us, but there are more whether it is by cleaning up trash or helping out by building rain barrels for the community. My project helped me explore the complex issues of peace and nonviolence as well as one’s personal role and responsibility in these issues by letting me see how each section of the recycling symbol affects our world. When people reduce, they limit the amount of trash they make in their homes or anywhere they go. Reusing is a very important aspect since with most of the trash people find ways to use it instead of throwing it out. By recycling one can help create less waste in order to conserve natural resources. When a person uses “reduce, reuse, and recycle” they have the ability to change the world and make it a better place to live for future generations.

When we created the rain barrels, I learned that they are useful for people that live in a food desert. They rely on these rain barrels to help their community grow their own gardens. This project connected with the mission and values of Avila because First Year Seminar classes joined to create barrels to give to the community. This action contributed to the community, and created good relationships with the dear neighbor as well as creating a relationship between students as we worked and communicated while creating the rain barrels. The Avila campaign of “Be Purple. Live Green.” related to the topics focused in First Year Seminar because we learned that we can reuse rain water and store it until one needs it in order to water their gardens. People are reusing the rain water, reducing the amount of money they use to travel far in order to receive their groceries, and recycle all they scrape from their garden to create compost. I will contribute by recycling my water bottles, and I will learn how to reuse materials around me. This experience will help impact my future actions because it has helped me see how important it is to use all our surroundings wisely, anything is possible if you set your mind to it, just as William Kamkwamba did.

Major: Radiologic Science Hometown: Olathe, Ks.

Personal Reflections e Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D. Chair, Truman Lecture Series Professor of Education and Psychology

The Truman Lecture provides our students with an opportunity to meet inspiring individuals who have had a significant impact on the lives of people around the world. This wonderful program allows them to experience the Avila mission personally. It encourages them to explore their own potential to help the dear neighbor.

e Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA Avila University President

The power of the Truman Lecture Series and Avila’s Common Reading Program is to inform and educate our students of global issues that need to be addressed. The revelation is they can begin to change the world, right now.

e Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA

Director of Student Engagement and Success Adjunct Faculty Our goal is to provide the students with a meaningful academic experience while living our University mission and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph to help our dear neighbors. Avila’s mission shares that we will prepare students who will make meaningful contributions to the global community. This experience is the initial step in accomplishing this commitment to our students and honoring our relationship with the Sisters of St. Joseph.

From l to r: Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA and Paige Illum, Ph.D., CSJA

Appendix A: Avila First Year Students Gabrielle Adkins Victoria Aguilar Makayla Akin Miciel Arias-Mayen Josiah Asa Madison Baker Chelsea Barton Gretchen Beachner Brielle Beavers Kathryn Beckingham Thomas Bettis Elijah Biggers Rose Biggs Taylor Bintliff Reginald Black Avent Blueitt Kylie Boehmer Cassidy Brown Ejanee Brown Vivian Bueckers Samantha Butcher Mary Byrne Gabriel Carapinheiro Ramalho Silva Jesse Caraveo Joshua Castaneda Alexis Castro Correna Ceja Kaylie Chancellor Madeline Clardy Brandon Cochran Alexandra Comparato Jaedyn Cotton Gabriel Cuellar Kaitlin Culbertson Charlie Cunningham Matheus Da Silva Steinhaus Carmaleta Davis Madison Davis Megan Davis Sean Davis Adrian De Haro Kaylynn Donnell Bridget Dulle Montana Elliott Madalyn Emond Jeremiah Epps Juan Escamilla Paige Esry Sean Farley

Norelly Faudoa Patrick Feuchter John Flucke Isabelle Fox Samantha French Eden Fridlington Jahlil Funchess Abdell Garcia Austin Garrison Gabriela Goerler Jermaine Goodwine Travis Green Rymington Griffin Madalyn Hall Hannah Hawks Darby Hay Cavan Hendricks Shannon Henshaw Deannah Herron Kaysen Higa Dalton Hill Hannah Hill Reygan Hubbard Brooklynn Hufft Haley Hunter Key’shawn Jones Marlon Jones Matthew Kakareka Mallory Kimbell Chase Kleinsasser Allissa Kridner Cameron Krska Katrina Lassiter Cameron Leathers Brandon Leon Alexander Lewis Michael Love Kaylee Lunn Madison Malone Nathaniel Marquez Eileen Martin Johnathan Martin Alexander McCullough Josh McCullough Vivian Mccullough Eric Mcglown Skyelar Mcquillar Britany Mojica Garland Moore Kaitlynn Moore

Cody Morgan Trinity Morris Anna Munro Armen Muradian Nia Musamali Tumelo Musamali Nickie Najar Malik Nesbitt Daniel Netto Andrade Abigail Neuweg Abigale Nicas Megan Nieslanik Miranda Norman Oke Onemu Marilyn Orta Kameron Ozburn Sydney Ozburn Wuilton Palacios Angie Pantaleon Cristal Pesina Ashley Putnam Daniella Ramirez Croix Ratzlaff Thiago Raymundo Alves Sierra Reed Jaiden Reid Hussan Riaz Kristina Rivera Jacob Robbins Olivia Robinson Hannah Rogers Linsey Rogers Cailli Salmen Jaylan Schneider Teresa Shockley Hannah Shrauger Joelle Shurtz Terry Simpson Sean Smith Tiffany Stanley Deshayne Stevens Tanner Streiff Keito Sugasaki Peyton Taylor Khalee Teegarden Kiandre Thomas Kylie Tindal Kelsi Toy Sophia Trimboli Crystal Urizar

Maria Valleroy Jenna Vickers John Virden Emily Walton Yuki Watanabe Samantha Weickert Adrianna Wendel Onaje Wheatt Mikal Whisler Cody White Andrew Williams Anthony Williams D’Ovion Williams Claire Winkler Brandon Wortman Madison Wray Hannah Zimmerman

Appendix B: Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Program

Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives Students were asked to express their opinions regarding statements related to topics discussed in First Year Seminar both at the beginning of the semester and again at the end of the semester. The focus is to gauge how their opinions changed. The most significant changes occurred with these questions: •

I have a peaceful and nonviolent action plan to help resolve problems related to environmental sustainability.

•

I feel educated on issues related to sustainability and the protection of natural resources.

•

I am familiar with the challenges associated with environmental sustainability.

•

I connect issues of sustainability with peace and nonviolence.

•

I understand different perspectives of environmental sustainability such as religion, peace & nonviolence, and social work.

•

I understand how sustainability impacts different parts of our world in different ways.

Students were also asked to write about the most significant changes that occured within themselves throughout the course of First Year Seminar and why those changes occurred. Here are some of those responses: “I feel more educated now than before about these issues, and I’ve learned new ways that I can help sustain the environment. I started recycling more than before, and this whole process has helped to change my perspective.” “At the beginning of the semester, I had no idea what I could do to help sustain the environment. I now know big ways the environment can be sustained such as with wind and solar energy, and smaller ways such as growing your own produce or using a rain barrel.” “One of the most significant changes is that I now take a personal interest in helping this world and helping others.” “Before, I didn’t connect sustainability with other issues. Now, I connect it with religion, nonviolence, and social class.” “Before this class, I had no idea about sustainability and what it was. I now can tell you what it is and how it affects all of us individually.” “In the beginning of the year, I was doing nothing to live green. After a few classes of First Year Seminar, my roommate and I asked to have a recycling box to put empty plastic bottles. We use this religiously every day.”

Common Reading Program

vila University provides a common reading for all first year students as part of the First Year Experience. Student success research is clear about how this type of program can assist in emphasizing academic importance prior to the start of classes and assist in building community within a first year cohort. All Avila first year students receive information about The Common Reading Program during the summer prior to the start of classes. The topic of the Common Reading Program is always global in nature which connects with Avila’s mission of providing students with opportunities to prepare for contributions to the global community.

2014 They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, Benjamin Ajak with Judy A. Bernstein The memoir of three boys who walked with tens of thousands of other boys across the Sudan as a result of civil war within the country. These boys, many of whom came to the United States as refugees, became known as the Lost Boys.

2018 The Boy Who Harnesses the Wind by William Kamkwamba Kamkwamba, born in Malawi, shares his story of perseverance, ingenuity, sorrow, celebration, and educational initiative. With scrap metal and an outdated science textbook written in a language he did not speak, Kamkwamba describes how he built a windmill behind his house to bring electricity to his home and water to his crops. His initiative has brought a grater sense of food security to his community and changed the direction of the lives of Malawians.

2013 The International Bank of Bob by Bob Harris An inspiring memoir of an ordinary American who turned his brief brush with opulence into a joyful adventure of investing in the world’s working poor.

2017 The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande This memoir outlines the hardships and the heartaches of Grande’s immigration story from child to adult. Grande was two years old when her father left Mexico and crossed the border into the United States, hoping to earn enough money to build a home in Mexico when he returned. Eight years later he returned to take his family across the border. Once in the United States Grande sorts through many challenges as she navigates into adulthood. 2016 While the World Watched by Carolyn Maul McKinstry Carolyn was present on September 15, 1963 at the Sixteenth Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, when white racists bombed the church. Carolyn’s four young friends were killed. She was among thousands of students hosed by firemen during the 1963 marches. She survived a second bomb explosion that destroyed a portion of her home in 1964. She wrote this memoir in 2011. 2015 The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster by Jonathan M. Katz On January 12, 2010, the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western Hemisphere hit the nation least prepared to handle it. Jonathan M. Katz chronicles the terror of that day, the devastation visited on ordinary Haitians, and how the world reacted to a nation in need.

2012 Unbroken by Laura Hilenbrand A World War II story of survival, resilience and redemption of Louis Zamperini. 2011 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer A remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. 2010 Series of Articles Related to Hunger and Poverty Reid, Barbara. (2009, July 20-27). Always Enough: Heavenly Bread. America, p.45. New York: American Press, Inc. “Finding the Flexibility to Survive,” Copyright © 2008 by Brighton Earley. Part of the This I Believe Essay Collection found at www.thisibelieve.org, Copyright © 2006-2009, This I Believe, Inc. Reprinted with permission of This I Believe, Inc. United Nations. (2009). The millennium development goals report. New York, NY. “The Time to Help Is Now,” Copyright © 2008 by Maria Zapetis. Part of the This I Believe Essay Collection found at www.thisibelieve.org, Copyright © 2006-2009, This I Believe, Inc. Reprinted with permission of This I Believe, Inc.

Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series Avila University received exclusive rights from former President Harry S. Truman to establish a lecture series in his name in 1970. The permission was granted to Sr. Olive Louise Dallavis, CSJ, who served as President of Avila from 1960-1985. Recent Past Lecturers William F. Buckley Joseph Califano Clarence M. Kelley Nancy Landon Kassebaum Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ Louis Zamperini Bob Harris Alephonsion Deng Jonathan M. Katz Carolyn Maull McKinstry Reyna Grande William Kamkwamba

Political Analyst, Author & Columnist Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas Senator Social Justice Activist WWII Prisoner of War, 1936 American Olympian Author, The International Bank of Bob and Jeopardy! Champion Author, They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan Author, The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster Author, While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Right Movement Author, The Distance Between Us: A Memoir Author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Avila University • Avila.edu • 11901 Wornall Road • Kansas City, Missouri 64145 • 816.942.8400

First Year Student Reflections 2018 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Articles inside

Appendix C: Anticipation Guide Perspectives

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Appendix A: Avila First Year Students

Preface

Student Reflections & Projects

Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar