Iowa Staters to share what matters to them

Iowa State's student-run multicultural magazine Uhuru will host "What Matters to Me and Why" on Wednesday, April 23 (8 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall).

Ten individuals from the Iowa State community will present on life experiences, lessons learned and values solidified. Each was invited to speak for about five minutes about anything that fits her or his definition of "what matters to me." A time for audience Q&A will follow their talks.

The event is free and the public is welcome. The magazine staff hosted its first "what matters" event during fall semester 2012.

The scheduled speakers are:

  • Onalie Ariyabandhu, senior, president of Iowa State's International Student Council and survivor of the 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami
  • Nicole Donato, senior, ROTC cadet and recipient of the ROTC Medal for Heroism for saving a life
  • Daniel Edozie, junior and Cyclone men's basketball player
  • Thomas Hill, senior vice president for student affairs and former Olympic, collegiate and military track athlete
  • Spencer Hughes, senior and past president of the Government of the Student Body
  • Peter Orazem, University Professor of economics and Ames City Council member with research interests in labor economics, economic development and government policy
  • Debra Satterfield, interim chair of graphic design with a research interest in art therapy for those living with developmental disabilities, epilepsy and autism
  • Caleb Swank, sophomore and president of The Green Umbrella sustainability organization
  • Catherine Swoboda, agricultural humanitarian, director of planning for The World Food Prize Foundation and youngest recipient of Iowa State's Outstanding Young Alumni Award (2013)
  • Cassidy Williams, senior, leader for Women in Computer Science and recent speaker at a White House tech summit and the United Nations