Youngstown State student April Courtney of Niles participates in South Africa trip

2011 Jul 12

April Courtney of Niles, Ohio, was among 10 Youngstown State University students who recently traveled to South Africa to deliver more than 500 pounds of supplies to 11 poor, rural schools. During the 17-day trip, students also participated in various educational activities, including a visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, a tour of Kruger National Park and a workshop on AIDS at the University of South Africa.

Courtney is majoring in Counseling at YSU.

The trip was sponsored by Project Learning Around the World, an organization dedicated to delivering school supplies and enhancing the learning environments for children in rural township schools in South Africa and other developing countries. PLATW was founded by Audrey Ellenwood, YSU associate professor of Counseling and Special Education. Students held various fund-raisers throughout the past school year to finance the trip and to pay for the supplies and playground equipment for the schools. For more information on PLATW, visit http://www.platw.org/.

Youngstown State University is a comprehensive urban research university that offers 15,000 students more than 135 undergraduate and graduate programs backed by a strong tradition of teaching, scholarship and public service. As a major educational and economic development resource in the region, YSU is known for its focus on academic research and creative programs that transform its students into successful professionals, scholars and leaders. Located in the heart of the Tech Belt between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, YSU provides opportunities for students to actively participate with accomplished faculty, often in one-on-one settings, on advanced research and creative collaborations. The beautiful 145-acre campus includes high-tech classrooms, state-of-the-art labs and performance facilities, a variety of on-campus housing options and recreational facilities among the best in the nation. The university's 18 athletics teams, including the four-time national champion football team, compete on the Division I NCAA level, while the Dana School of Music and the Department of Theater and Dance offer a variety of performances on and off campus.

For more information, visit www.ysu.edu.