GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (Special to PNS) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-related Tusculum College’s “Help Me Help You” program has been honored by the Clinton Global Initiative University, a national foundation that recognizes innovative programs and projects that have global impact.
“Help Me Help You” and its co-founder, Luis Zamora, a junior business and economics major from Santiago, Chile, will be recognized at the Foundation’s global conference in Washington D.C. next March. The program was honored for devising and implementing a small-business support program that is applicable in underdeveloped regions such as Appalachia and Chile.
“This is a wonderful achievement and recognition for Luis, his program and for Tusculum College,” said the school’s president, Nancy B. Moody. “He is the epitome of what Tusculum College represents and hopes to instill in its students. Luis is a student-scholar and student-athlete who is very conscious of his civic responsibility.”
Every year, the Clinton Global Initiative University reviews thousands of projects and programs from all over the world in order to select the most promising commitments to action. “Help Me Help You” co-founders Xamora and Rodrigo Gimenez are both Chilean and are the first award recipients from Tusculum College. Gimenez serves as director of operations in Chile.
They have pledged to make the program available at no charge to any business student and/or academic institution that would like to implement “Help Me Help You” in their respective country. The program is already available in both Spanish and English.
Zamora ― who was named Tusculum’s Academic Freshman of the Year in 2009-10 and Duffield Award-winner in 2010-11 for being the student-athlete with the highest grade point average ― and Gimenez created “Help Me Help You” in partnership with the University of Chile in Santiago.
The program started last fall with nine participants and eight monitors completing a 10-week course that aims to create a mutual learning environment between students and small business owners.
Zamora has been invited to the Clinton Global Initiative University annual conference to be held at George Washington University March 30-April 1, 2013.
The Clinton Global Initiative University challenges college students to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. Members are encouraged to take concrete steps to solve problems by building relationships, creating action plans, participating in hands-on workshops, and working together as they complete their projects.
Suzanne S. Rickey is Tusculum College communications director.
