O’Fallon local scholars, March 16
University of Illinois Springfield
The following area student was recently named to the fall 2022 Dean’s List at the University of Illinois Springfield:
Ryan Reilly of O’Fallon
Local student attends the Clinton Global Initiative University
Submitted by Kate Wexell
From March 3-5, 18-year-old Shiloh resident Kate Wexell was selected from over a thousand applicants to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) annual meeting at Vanderbilt University to represent her non-profit, The Compass Online.
CGI U is a 10-month program intended to inspire student leaders and global innovators to tackle pressing challenges in their communities. The annual meeting convenes hundreds of students, experts, and celebrities at a university. Students bring with them a “commitment to action” that is a plan to develop early-stage social impact ideas into scalable projects.
“Not only was I able to share the message of my non-profit, but I was able to meet some of the most fantastic students, activists, a former president, Olympians, and people who are genuinely changing the world,” Wexell said. “It was one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve ever had.”
During the meeting, Wexell had the opportunity to meet figures like former president Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Olympic athlete Allyson Felix, and founder of Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani.
She also presented her non-profit during the Idea Exchange. Wexell’s educational non-profit, The Compass, is dedicated to promoting global understanding. She does this by providing modules about different cultures, global issues, and sustainable development goals.
The Compass is also working on two outreach initiatives. Wexell is partnered with Eco Diversified International and four other non-governmental organizations in Nigeria to provide 40,000 university students at ten Nigerian universities with climate change education. Students will work over the course of three months to develop community sustainability projects.
She is also working on Project Code Red through the University of Missouri – Columbia Deaton Institute. This initiative partners with the non-profits Femme International and the Grevy’s Zebra Trust to provide women and schoolgirls in Kenya and Tanzania with feminine hygiene products. This enables them to go to school and work.
Currently, Wexell has received a grant from the Jane Goodall Institute for this project, but is seeking to raise another $40,000 to provide 10,000 women with reusable feminine hygiene products for a year.
The Clinton Global Initiative University will be assisting Wexell with further developing her nonprofit over the next several months through a mentorship program.
“Change in the world is needed, and I’m excited to use my new skills and connections from this experience to take action,” said Wexell.
