International humanitarian and author John Bul Dau visited The Williston Northampton School on Tuesday, November 8. Mr. Dau addressed the entire student body in the Athletic Center in the morning. Parents and alumni were invited to view his presentation via a live webcast. Following his presentation, Mr. Dau spent time in Williston’s classrooms, meeting with students and participating in class discussions.
In preparation for his visit, many students, including those taking World Civilizations and all Middle School students, read his memoir, God Grew Tired of Us. The book chronicles Dau’s journey as one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” He traveled over 1,000 miles by foot, subsisted in the desert, and finally arrived in the United States as a refugee. He has since attended Syracuse University and created the American Care for Sudan Foundation, which has raised more than $170,000 to build a clinic in southern Sudan.
Author and Humanitarian John Bul Dau at Williston
The 13th Writers’ Workshop Series series kicks off with author Suzanne Strempek Shea on September 29, 2010, 7:00 p.m. in the Dodge Room in the Reed Campus Center. Winner of the 2000 New England Book Award, Suzanne Strempek Shea is the author of three memoirs and five novels, including Selling the Lite of Heaven, Hoopi Shoopi Donna, and Lily of the Valley.
In an ongoing effort to use the latest technology to enhance the Middle School’s academic program, seventh and eighth graders will begin their year at The Williston Northampton School with a laptop for their own use.