June 20, 2008

Bismarck, ND--The Emerging Leaders Academy, in association with the Harold Schafer Leadership Center at the University of Mary, is pleased to announce the 2008 Global Village Institute U-Mary fellowship recipients.

Harold Schafer Emerging Leaders Academy students Blaze Culliton, '09, Great Falls, MT, and Brianna Strahm, '09, Jamestown, ND, have been chosen to participate in the prestigious Global Village sponsored by the world-renowned Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University.

The Iacocca Institute selects the best of the best from around the world to take part in this annual event. Culliton and Strahm are two highly motivated, outstanding students who have earned an invitation.

"The Emerging Leaders Academy has given me so many opportunities to network locally and regionally," commented Culliton. "Now the Iacocca Institute will allow me to network globally."

"I knew when I visited campus that Mary was the place for me," said Strahm. "It all happens for a reason. By attending the Institute my international opportunities will be endless."

This six-week Global Village, created by Lee Iacocca, is made up of 90 young business leaders representing more than 40 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America and Europe. This year's event will be held June 28, through Aug. 9, 2008, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Through company projects, executive meetings, and interactive courses, students gain enhanced leadership and entrepreneurial skills, business and industry knowledge, and an understanding of other cultures.

Making Culliton and Strahm's selection an even greater honor, these University of Mary students account for two of the nine American positions available each year at the institute.

"Our two students make up a good percentage of the American representation which is testament to how the University of Mary, America's Leadership University, has become one of the premiere leadership universities in the United States," says Tharaldson School of Business Assistant Professor Karel Sovak. "These two students, without a doubt, are two of our most committed young servant leaders. They will represent North Dakota well and make us proud."

Sovak has been honored with an invitation to be a guest speaker at the opening session of the Global Village on June 30th. He will take part in a panel presenting on "Servant-Leadership in Business."