uvu awards banquet
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UVU BanquetTRANSCRIPT
UIMF Awarded UVU’s Club Excellence AUIMF Awarded UVU’s Club Excellence Awardward On April 12, 2012 Utah Valley University held its annual end of the year Clubs Award Banquet in the UVU Grande Ballroom. Utah International Mountain Forum participated in it for the first time. The Utah International Mountain Forum is comprised of 7 separate campus clubs, each with a different focus, yet each with a common thread that unites them together. Amongst the 7 clubs (Foreign Affairs, Sustainable Mountain Development, Model UN, College Democrats, College Republicans, Russian/Slavic, and American Israeli Alliance) all the students have a focus on political science, international relations, and the development of skill sets that each future leader involved will use in his or her professional career. This group has worked together over the last year in a combined effort to bring to campus numerous VIP speakers and dignitaries, both foreign and national, who have graced and enlightened our campus on current global events and allowed many of our club members a chance to practice international diplomacy and obtain an insight into the international arena. UIMF since September 2011 hosted such dignitaries as: 1. DR Gary Gray, Expert on International Terrorism 2.H.E. Murad Askatov, UN Ambassador of Uzbekistan 3.H.E. John O’Keefe, US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan 4. Ahmad Faqiri, Deputy Chief of Mission to Afghanistan It also organized international Conferences: 1.Celebration of the International Day of the Mountain’s 2011: This event marked a milestone for UVU, as it was the only US academic institution to observe this internationally celebrated UN recognized day. 2. Women of the Mountains 2 and 3: These events highlighted international efforts on the part of UVU in the field of sustainable development and gender issues. This event provided students with a platform to present on sustainable mountain development issues and also provided students with a window into advocacy within the international arena. 3. “Understanding Operation Enduring Freedom”: This event brought speakers from academia, the state department, the UN, and the military to capture varying views and perspectives on the war in Afghanistan. The most unique aspect of this event was the panel of student veterans that contributed to the discussions. 4. “Developing ties between mountain communities of Central Asia and North America as a model for other regions in the world”: This event gave students an opportunity to sit in on a lecture from a renowned international scholar on the importance of regional alliances. This was an opportunity for students to meet on an intimate level with a true professional in the field of sustainable development.
As a highlight of its activities, and integral part of the community engaged learning approach at UVU, the UIMF focused on advocacy of the United Nations related sustainable mountain development activities. Students of UIMF were able to : 1. Host UN dignitaries on campus, and actively perform diplomatic duties therein 2.Travel to such places as South Africa, South America, Russia, and Central Asia 3. Contribute to official UN documents Taking into account everything which was achieved by the students, members of the coalition, during the banquet, the UIMF was awarded by UVU with the Club Excellence Award. This is the most prestigious award a UVU campus club can be endowed with. What is even more remarkable about this nomination is that for the first time in UVU history, a nomination for this award was given to a coalition of clubs. This award was preceded by a video that highlighted many of the achievements of the coalition during the whole year. All 7 clubs had representation at the banquet and took the stage to receive the award, including: (to mention all of the names and clubs). Members of UIMF appreciated such great recognition of their actions and deeds aiming on raising profile of the UVU nationally and globally and understand that it will be very important for them to continue to keep the same very high level of activities. They continue in their combined effort to promote international education and professional development, and also continue to nurture its club members in the direction of international professional development that they pursue.