2009 Distinguished Speaker Series Features Renowned Author, Philanthropist

The Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation is delighted to be hosting Greg Mortenson as part of the upcoming school year’s Distinguished Speaker Series.  Mortenson is an author, philanthropist and mountaineer whose book, Three Cups of Tea, has been on the New York Times bestseller list for two years.  A young reader’s edition of Three Cups of Tea and a picture book, Listen to the Wind, were introduced in January 2009.

Mortenson will be meeting with Gull Lake students on Thursday, Oct. 29.  “We are so excited that Greg selected Gull Lake as one of his speaking engagements for late 2009,” said Marie Stech, chairperson of the Foundation.  “He receives up to 800 requests a year to speak to various schools and organizations and is able to honor only 160 to 180 of them.  We are fortunate and excited that he will be here.”

Mortenson will meet with students at all grade levels during presentations during the school day.  A ticketed community event will be held that evening at Gull Lake High School.

The event is being co-chaired by Foundation Trustees Kara Wittenberg and Sandi Feuerstein and GLEA President and middle school teacher Joyce Gibson.  They selected Mortenson after extensive research to identify a thoughtful speaker that will have impact on students of all ages in the district.  The co-chairs have been working together to spearhead the event and have a strong committee of volunteer leaders to help.

Through the efforts of Joyce Gibson and her curriculum sub-committee, Gull Lake teachers have had an opportunity to order Three Cups of Tea and will be able to use the book in their classrooms next year to acquaint students with Mortenson’s work before his visit.  Gibson is working with Director of Curriculum Bev Hundley to incorporate Three Cups of Tea into the curriculum at all levels, and in such wide-ranging subjects as social studies, math, music, art and physical education.

More information about Greg Mortenson is available at www.gregmortenson.com, www.threecupsoftea.com and www.ikat.org.

Look for information in late summer about how to obtain tickets for the community event on Oct. 29.