New Photo of Clay at Yale University

A new photo of Clay attending a Georgraphy teachers' conferences at Yale University earlier this month is up at Yale's website and at the Geography Action! blog.

Connecticut Geographic Alliance Welcomes Indonesian Ambassador and Clay Aiken

On November 1st, 2007, PIER at Yale and the Connecticut Geographic Alliance sponsored a Geography Action! Kick-off event providing professional development and resources for Connecticut teachers to host their own Geography Action! Asia Geo-Games event in area schools. The highlights of the event included the special guest speakers Clay Aiken and H.E. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Ambassador of Indonesia.

Clay Aiken, UNICEF Ambassador for children and education, and multi-platinum recording artist, has worked with UNICEF since 2004 and visited Banda Aceh, Indonesia, during the aftermath of the December tsunami. Recently, he traveled with Mary Propes, his high school history teacher, to Afghanistan to examine the schools and education of children in the war-torn region. Mr. Aiken, a former special education teacher in North Carolina, felt that this year’s Geography Action! focus on Asia was timely. “Nine in ten recent high school graduates cannot find Afghanistan on a map of Asia, and fewer than half (48%) know that Sri Lanka, the site of the devastating 2004 tsunami, is in Asia,“ Mr. Aiken reported. He and Mary Propes spoke about their experiences in Afghanistan with the audience of Connecticut teachers, and addressed the need for cultural and geographic literacy in our schools.

Clay Speaks At Yale University

Clay spoke to a group of Connecticut teachers at Yale University recently, reports from the boards and from the local FOX News affiliate (the clip is up at ClackUnlimited and on FOX 61's website).

From CH:

Clay was talking to Connecticut teachers about geography and how kids don't know enough about it. He wore Fifth Grader jacket, blue shirt and glasses. He did his own hair. *g* There were only about 30 people in the audience. The keynote was the Ambassador of Indonesia. They mentioned that Clay was a teacher and his UNICEF ambassadorship. He joked about Fifth Grader. It was a nice piece.

From the CB's claytonlady:

OH MY WORD -- it was totally totally great. I have to play the tape to get everything; because it was really long. I couldn't believe it. It was so respectful of him. He was speaking to Connecticut teachers and teaching them about geography. The news anchor was so respectful, mentioned Clay being on Fifth Grader - mentioned UNICEF. Clay said he gets more joy out of helping children than being a superstar. I wish I knew how to cap. He was wearing his rimless glasses. I have to play it again to remember everything. He showed a map of Central Asia and the teachers were supposed to know the countries. He was teaching the teachers. I mean I just can't believe how respectful the whole thing was. Clay is finally getting RESPECT

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Update 11/3: photos added. SecretlyLovesClay's cap of the local FOX News report is up at ClackUnlimited.