Student Leadership Program Receives Federal Money

by Stephanie CrosbyCongressman John Yarmuth of Louisville today delivered a check for $95,000 to the Muhammad Ali Center for a student exchange program.Yarmuth secured the funds from the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Act. It’s to support the Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students and the leadership programs there.Lyla Wasz-Piper is a member of the council and just returned from a leadership trip to Serbia, where she says they learned about that country’s history of ethnic cleansing.“And how the youth rallied together, and said 'we will not stand for this anymore, we will reclaim our country and we will reclaim our cultural identity.' And it was so moving for me and for the other students who witnessed that to realize what a group of organized, dedicated youth can do," said Wacs-Piper.Jacob Alvey, a junior at Oldham County High School, was also on the trip.“People in Serbia – a lot of the students – felt that we were just ignorant Americans traveling to Serbia to do nothing," says Alvey. "So we worked hard to dispel this stereotype. And dispel the fact that we are not just reality stars who have lots of money and live on Jersey Shore.”The leadership program also brings youth ambassadors from Serbia and Iraq to Louisville.