Webster University is Top 10 in National Global Poverty Awareness Competition

ST. LOUIS, March 5, 2009 –Webster University was declared number six in the ONE Campus Challenge this Tuesday as the challenge moves into its final round. With this declaration Webster receives a $1,000 grant to create a poverty-focused awareness campaign in an effort to become first in the challenge. The winning school will receive a concert by Vampire Weekend, named the “Year’s Best New Band” by SPIN magazine.

The ONE Campus Challenge is a competition between more than 2,400 schools in the nation, all working to get points based on activities they complete to raise awareness around extreme, global poverty. Students have received points by doing anything from engaging presidential candidates on the campaign trail to holding events for World AIDS Day and Stand Up Against Poverty.

“The ONE Campus Challenge is ONE’s effort to empower, inform and mobilize the next generation of social justice activists. The students’ energy, idealism and creativity are unmatched, and they are accomplishing great things on campuses across the nation. The final ten schools will use their grants to take their advocacy to the next level and impact larger audiences than ever before," said David Lane, ONE President and CEO.

ONE Webster, the student organization responsible for mobilizing the Webster campus, began the school year by getting approval from administration to declare Webster University a Campus of ONE. Along with the administration, 17 student organizations and the Faculty Senate signed this proclamation. Since that time ONE Webster has hosted a Vice Presidential Debate Watch party with former Missouri Governor Bob Holden, traveled twice to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congress and engaged deans, celebrities and even politicians including President Barack Obama while he was speaking in St. Louis.

“I am proud to see Webster break into the top 10. It’s been an effort by the entire campus community and it speaks to Webster’s international focus. I am very eager to see what we can pull off as a campus this month. We can win first place,” says Nick Stevens, ONE Webster Founder and President.

ONE Webster has till the end of March to complete and submit its campaign. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of celebrity judges and voted on by all students participating in the challenge. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 7, 2009.

ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 2 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org.

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