8th Annual International Student Leadership Conference
March 28 and 29, 2008
Impossible is Nothing!
Please note: We understand that some groups may have experienced difficulties with the on-line registration form. If you are unable to submit your registration via the online form, please email all pertinent data to Jonathan Kratz.
Keynote Speaker
 The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Deng Lual, a native of Sudan and recent graduate of Central Washington University. In 1987, Deng, now 23, was forced to flee his home village of Bor, located in the southern part of Sudan, due to violence from a civil war. Soldiers from the north burned the village and killed many of its inhabitants. Deng was just 4 years old. Separated from his parents and 11 brothers and sisters, he had to walk more than 1,200 miles, eventually settling in a Kenyan refugee camp. Many other children also fled, and are now known as the “Lost Boys of Sudan.”
Deng lived in the camp for the next 14 years. In April 2001, he came to the United States through a United Nations resettlement program and was taken in by Phyllis and Gene Pugnetti’s family in Issaquah, Washington. Deng went on to graduate from Skyline High School and, in May 2007, he received a degree in Philosophy from Central Washington University.
“When I look at seven years, it seems like seven minutes,” he said about his time in the United States.
A dual United States and Sudanese citizen, Deng wants to use his education to help people affected by the conflict in Sudan. He dreams of working for the United Nations one day. He has also reconnected with his family back in Sudan and now speaks to them every weekend.
“I grew up in the refugee camp virtually my entire life,” he said. “I feel like I want to give something back.”
Theme: Impossible is Nothing
The theme for this year’s conference, Impossible is Nothing, was chosen with the four-year-old Deng Lual in mind. Imagine how impossible it must have seemed for that child to envision a life of relative ease, with plenty of food, clothing and loving support surrounding him. Imagine how impossible it must have seemed to a 10-year-old boy in a refugee camp to dream about a future which would one day include a college education. Imagine the strength it took for that young boy to overcome all obstacles and face the massive challenges of day-to-day life. Surely his life is testimony to the fact that the strength of the success is in the challenge. Our challenge is to find the strength within and grow as leaders no matter the obstacles in our path. Our challenge is to believe that Impossible is Nothing.
Moderator
 Salorne McDonald has agreed to serve as advisor to the ISLC Committee, and as the moderator of the Conference. Many of you remember Salorne as the 2006 keynote speaker from Trinidad and Tobago who was kind enough to return in 2007 to lead Friday night activities and a workshop. With Salorne acting as advisor and moderator, we anticipate increased conference cohesion and energy.
Salorne was born in the rural eastern part of the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. During his formative years Salorne was involved in youth clubs, debating competitions, and school student councils, which provided rich training
for his current work, and helped to develop his gift of gab. Ardent work with the youth of his own nation and others around the world has given him an uncommon understanding of the life and development issues that young people face globally.
Becoming involved in HIV and AIDS peer education sparked a special
passion with Salorne, whose current position is the Regional Behavior Change
Communication Manager with PSI/SFH in Trinidad. Salorne also works with the
local YMCA and Trinidad Youth Council, providing education and leadership training
to youth in his nation and abroad. A specialist in working with particularly
vulnerable populations, he continues to aid in policy development as well as project
planning and execution.
Location of Conference
Due in part to James Madison University's Centennial activities, the 2008 conference will not be hosted at JMU. Instead, Friday night's registration and activities will take place at Eastern Mennonite University. The Saturday events will be held at the Plecker Center, located at Blue Ridge Community College. This excellent facility is made possible to ISLC through a generous donation from the McCandlish Holton Immigration Practice Group of Richmond, Virginia. For directions to both events, please click here.
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