Swain Graduate Returns To Alma Mater For Global Awareness Month

Laurence Birdsey, a 1996 graduate of in Salisbury Township, stopped by his alma mater on Friday to participate in the school's Global Awareness Month celebration. Now a resident of New York City, he is the executive director of Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA), an organization that runs elementary schools for low-income residents in Honduras. In a presentation to Swain's middle school students, he described many aspects of Honduras, including information about its economy, language, educational system, people and importance to the United States.
 
Swain's Global Awareness Month celebration included a Community Service Day, where middle school students visited local organizations such as the Allentown Health Bureau and Resurrected Life Community Church. Students in fourth- through eighth grade displayed their understanding of history at the annual Social Studies Fair on Tuesday evening.  In addition, Muhlenberg College anthropology professor Dr. Chris Kovats-Bernat talked about Haiti with the students and Bethlehem attorney Joe Yannuzzi talked about his trek to the top of Mt. Everest. After his successful trip, Yannuzzi returned twice to build school libraries in local villages.
 
Additional scheduled events for later in the month include presentations about Guatemala and Costa Rica, and the school's annual celebration of Earth Day.