All employees are invited to learn more about the many academic, athletic, professional, and service heroes who surround us each day on campus and in the world community thanks to the University’s commitment to extraordinary Teaching and Learning, Faith and Formation, and Service and Leadership. Their stories can be found on the UP website at http://up.edu/heroes/. A small sampling:
- Kurt Berning ’12, Global Supporter and Fulbright Scholar: as a UP student Kurt spent one summer in rural Kenya teaching high school students, where he raised $1,200 online in one week to provide the school with electricity. His non-profit Global ADE, raised $20,000 in its first year to foster educational opportunities in developing countries, especially Cambodia.
- Matt Powell ’84, Educational Influencer and Community Booster: Matt saw potential where others did not. A decade ago, he helped found De La Salle North Catholic High School. His vision was for low income students in North Portland to receive an affordable, yet high quality, college preparatory education –tuition wouldn’t be the school’s main source of revenue. Instead, he modeled the financial system on that of Cristo Rey High School in Chicago where students work one day a week in the local community, gaining valuable work experience, and their earnings supplement tuition. At De La Salle North, this format helps fund 70 percent of the school’s budget. Tuition costs are $2,995 this year, but many families pay only $25 per month. The remaining balance is funded through donations. And the success of the school? Last fall, 95 percent of graduating seniors at De La Salle North were admitted to college.