Motivational speaker Spencer West has impacted global communities through his fundraising and advocacy work, overcoming tremendous obstacles in doing so.
On Feb. 12, 2014, West will deliver a special address, aptly named A Celebration of Redefining Possible, at the 21st annual University of Lethbridge International Dinner.
At five years of age, West lost his legs from the pelvis down, and has faced enormous physical and emotional challenges throughout his life. Despite these challenges, West has made impacts at a global level, inspiring hundreds of thousands of people along the way.
Rather than giving up or turning inward, he learned that by connecting with others and working to make the world a better place, he could transform his life.
Alternating between walking on his hands and using his wheelchair, Spencer has built schools in poverty-stricken villages in Kenya and India and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for a global clean water initiative while raising awareness of the devastating drought in Africa.
Spencer’s inspiring story and valuable life lessons have been embraced worldwide. He believes it is possible for all people to overcome their personal roadblocks, embrace their own leadership skills and become a force for positive change.
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin says the annual dinner recognizes the importance of creating an international environment at the U of L for the benefit of all students, and further, for the benefit of external communities. The U of L is the institution of choice for nearly 500 international students representing 87 different countries.
“Our University benefits from being exposed to different cultures. Creating a global environment ensures stronger students,” says Hakin. “These students enrich our community through activities they undertake and many become valuable community leaders and employees in our region, province and country after they graduate because of their backgrounds and global experience.”
In addition to West’s powerful presentation, the dinner will feature food from around the globe.
The February 12 event will be held in the Students’ Union Ballrooms at the U of L’s Lethbridge campus. Cocktails for the event will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $60 and can be ordered at http://www.uleth.ca/international/dinner. For more information about the dinner, please call the International Centre for Students at 403-329-2053 or e-mail international@uleth.ca.