(Posted April 24, 2006)

Juniata College senior, Ryan Richards of Coupeville, has been awarded a summer fellowship by Humanity in Action based on his academic achievement, leadership ability, and demonstrated commitment to protecting the rights of vulnerable minorities. Richards is among the sixty-six American undergraduate students selected from a national pool of students from 147 colleges and universities for this prestigious award.

Humanity in Action sponsors six summer fellowship programs in Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, and the United States. Richards will participate in the American Program in New York City. In the five-week program, American and European college and university students will collaborate to study the condition of minorities in the host country and seek innovative ways to address these issues.

Following the program, fellows may proceed to internships at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the European Parliament, the United States House of Representatives, the Anne Frank Foundation, and other sites. Dr. Judith Goldstein, executive director of Humanity in Action, stated that Humanity in Action's goal is "to build an international network of young leaders in a variety of professional fields with the dedication and ability to identify and surmount institutionalized violates of the rights of minorities before they escalate violence."

Richards, son of Larry and Lurene Richards, is studying international development at Juniata College. He is a 2002 graduate of Oak Harbor High School.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.