2008 Conference Schedule

Schedule

We encourage all participants to join us for the entire conference, including the events on Friday night.

2008 Conference Schedule

Friday to be hosted at the Campus Center, Eastern Mennonite University

Saturday - held at the Plecker Center, Blue Ridge Community College

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.”

Friday Night

We strongly encourage all conference participants to attend the Friday night activities, which will take place on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University. Come prepared to eat pizza, then enjoy creative activities with students from around the world, led by our moderator, Salorne McDonald. We've got a lot in store for Friday night and hope that you come ready to engage, interact and learn. You won't be disappointed! Seriously, this will be the best Friday night to-date!

Saturday Night

A Semi Formal Dinner (traditional clothing encouraged) will once again place on Saturday night, where YOU will be featured in a talent show. Please let us know what you can give - will it be music, poetry, dramatic reading, dancing, or something else? The talent show can only be as wonderful as you make it! Please talk with other friends who will attend, and volunteer to participate as a group or individually. We have created the following rules for this year's show, to make it more enjoyable for everyone:

• Each student may only present one act;
• All acts must be turned in to the ISLC committee no later than 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th so the agenda can be confirmed ahead of time;
• All acts should be in good taste, with advanced preparation to ensure quality performance.

These rules are not meant to discourage anyone from participating; instead, they are designed so that everyone will have the opportunity to present their talent to the group and we can all enjoy acts from various parts of the world.

Fun & Games

Each year we have had fun awarding prizes and trinkets to participants throughout the conference. It is likely that in 2008 we will again encourage you to bring items which you would donate for this fun cause. A few schools have been involved in previous years - this year we'd like to open it to anyone interested. If you have excess tee-shirts, water bottles, stress balls, or (fill in the blank), please bring them along and advertise your organization and school. Simply hand them in at the registration desk when you sign in and we'll take it from there.