Laureate International Universities Sponsors Students at Fifth Annual Clinton Global Initiative University

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Laureate International Universities sponsored six students to attend the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting March 30 to April 1 at George Washington University in Washington, DC. The students, representing six institutions in the Laureate network, were selected based on their leadership skills, commitment to social change and academic track record. The students were:

• Sandheep Nair from INTI International University (Malaysia)
• Daniel Balogun from Stamford International University (Thailand)
• Raquel Battle from Walden University (USA)
• Rehab Khoumania from Universite Internationale de Casablanca (Morocco)
• Gabriel Hernandez from The National Hispanic University (USA)
• Daniel Veiga from Universidade Salvador - UNIFACS (Brazil)

More than 1,000 students participated in this year's CGI U, which is organized annually to educate and motivate young people to make a positive impact in the world. The event offered panel discussions and skill-building sessions on the meeting's focus areas of education, the environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health. The attendees also took part in a community service project held in conjunction with the USO and Rebuilding Together to refurbish homes for low-income families. The Laureate students completed various home improvement projects needed by a female homeowner in Washington, DC.

Each Laureate participant has completed a CGI U Commitment to Action to make a positive contribution to society. For example, Daniel Veiga, a Mechatronics Engineering student from Universidade Salvador - UNIFACs in Brazil, has committed to finalizing and raising funds for an affordable, functional prototype of a prosthetic device he designed to help stroke patients regain mobility. While other devices exist, they are inaccessible to individuals of limited economic means. "I am so inspired by Laureate students like Daniel who are taking what they learn in the classroom and applying their skills to improve the lives of others. CGI U is a wonderful and unique event and I know our students will take away a great deal from the experience," said Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education, Inc.

About Laureate International Universities
Laureate International Universities is a trusted global leader in providing access to high-quality, innovative institutions of higher education. The Laureate International Universities network includes 60 accredited campus-based and online universities. Our more than 675,000 students are part of an academic community that spans 29 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Laureate universities offer hundreds of undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, law and medicine. President William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, serves as The Honorary Chancellor of the Laureate International Universities network, a role in which he offers advice on social responsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education. For more information, visit www.laureate.net.

SOURCE Laureate International Universities