Cadets work together on the :eadership Reaction Course at Fort Pickett, VA.

photo from www.mlacamp.com

Most high school students consider a number of career options following graduation.  Very few, however, get the chance to actually experience one of those options before making such an important decision.  The Military Leadership Academy, hosted by Freedom Alliance, provides high school students an opportunity to experience the military lifestyle while learning valuable leadership knowledge.

“The military is a viable and fulfilling career choice for many young Americans,” explained Tom Kilgannon,  president, Freedom Alliance.  “Students who are interested in an interactive opportunity to evaluate life in the Armed Forces should think about spending two weeks at the Military Leadership Academy.”

Cadets will participate in a program based on the curriculum of the U.S. Army.  Physical training, tours of military bases, leadership simulations, land navigation, field tactics, urban warfare training, and a visit to Washington, DC are a few of the many activities included at the Academy.
The first class is July 4th – 17th; the second class is July 25th – August 7th.  Both will be held at Fort Pickett, a National Guard Post in Blackstone, VA.

The Academy seeks motivated high school students who wish to challenge themselves to become stronger and more confident leaders.  Students leave the program with a better appreciation for the military, leadership tools to be successful in life, and understand the value of serving something greater than oneself.

For more information and/or to apply please visit www.mlacamp.com, email info@mlacamp.com or call 1.800.475.6620.  Applications must be received by June 1.

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The 1958 American Velvet Giants of the Mystic Junior League, with David Erskine seated at the left end of the front row.

David Erskine, a high-school athlete years before he became Stonington’s chief of police, will review 150 years of local sports in a presentation titled “The Playing Fields of Stonington.” He will be assisted by Marsha Standish. Both David and Marsha are members of the board of directors of the Stonington Historical Society.

The illustrated program will be offered at the La Grua Center, 32 Water Street in Stonington Borough, at 6pm on Wednesday, April 28. The event is part of the Stonington Historical Society’s 2009-2010 lecture series.

David will recall teams and stars of the past in baseball, which dates from 1855, tennis, golf, track, and cross-country running. He and Marsha are planning a further program, for 2011, that will cover other sports.

As a member of Stonington High’s class of 1962, David played on a state-championship  football team and a conference-championship baseball team, and captained the basketball team. He now serves on the Stonington High School Athletic Hall of Fame selection committee.  He hopes to introduce members of the Hall of Fame as part of the program.

The program is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the main/ North  Stonington Commons Community parking lot. The Dog Watch Café, 194 Water Street in the Borough, has again kindly agreed that for patrons attending this program who mention the Stonington Historical Society, it will donate 15 percent of the tab to the Historical Society.

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story & photo
by Maren Schober

All it took was listening to her friend Linda Wilkinson talk about the needs of African women and children in Zambia, Africa, and Sabrina Buehler of North Stonington was hooked. 

“My friend Linda and her husband Bruce are living in Zambia where Bruce works for World Vision.  When I heard Linda speak about the tremendous needs of African women, I knew I had to help any way I could.  My daughter Carly, age 17 at the time wanted to travel to Zambia and help as well. We went together in 2007 and spent two weeks helping these African women at the project.  As a result of this experience my life and focus is completely changed,” Sabrina shares with me.

As we all hear and know HIV/AIDS is of epic proportions in Africa. It robs mothers of their children and robs wives of their husbands.

“When Linda Wilkinson met one widow and her seven orphaned children in Zambia in 2005, she knew she had to help,” Sabrina reflects. “ Out of this love and compassion for the needs of African women, Linda founded the Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project.”

Trips to Zambia in both 2007 and 2009 enabled Sabrina to see first hand how the lives of African women and children are being transformed through this project.  Sabrina continues to explain, “A school for orphans whose family members cannot afford the fees for public education began with just 30 children in 2005.  Now the school includes 60 widows and over 300 hundred children, 30 single moms and 23 grandmothers!  The program is based in Ng’ombe Township and targets women whose lives are devastated by poverty and HIV/AIDS. The project restores dignity and brings hope to these women and children.”

Part of the Chikumbuso Project is the Grassroot Soccer program founded in 2002 by Ethan Zohn along with other professional soccer players.  The mission of the Grassroot Soccer program to use the game of soccer to teach African children through a tailor made curriculum about HIV/AIDS  prevention. 

“To see so many people in our communities such as rotary clubs, churches and schools raise funds for these projects is very heartwarming.  Students and teachers at Wheeler High School raise funds each year.  They supplied the Girls Grassroot Soccer Team with Wheeler High School uniforms which are proudly worn by the team members!” said Sabrina.

To learn more about the Chikumbuso Project and Grassroot soccer visit the websites: www.chikumbuso.com and www.grassrootsoccer.org

Better yet come to Wheeler High School Gymnasium, North Stonington, on Thursday, May 6th at 7:00 to meet Ethan Zohn yourself!  Ethan is the inspirational speaker that night to help promote the coast to coast bike ride that will raise awareness and funds for 100 bikes for school children in Zambia through World Bicycle Relief.

Other fund raising events are coming up for these causes.  The 24 Hour Run-A-Thon starts May 7th  at 3pm at Wheeler High Soccer Field. Saturday May 8th the Family Fun Ride starts at noon from Wheeler Middle School. For more information about coming fund raisers contact Sabrina Buehler at sabrinabuehler@aol.com.

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