NSHSS Vice President Beth Pann will lead a workshop at this year’s Summer Youth Assembly at the United Nations on August 11, 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.  She will be joined by a panel of 5 lifetime NSHSS members who are actively engaged in their community addressing one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals comprising the United Nations’ Agenda for 2030. The Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations is a unique platform created by Friendship Ambassadors Foundation to foster dialogue and generate partnerships between exceptional youth, UN high officials and staff, the private sector, civil society and academic institutions.

Claes Nobel and James Lewis established NSHSS in 2002 to connect scholars with enriching experiences, scholarships and resources to advance their academics, personal growth and career interests. Mr. Nobel’s personal vision and the legacy of his great uncle, Dr. Alfred Nobel, who inspired him to pursue his passion for universal peace and environmental sustainability, is shared among the Society’s lifetime members.  Active in education, health, social justice, peace, environmental, economic and poverty issues, NSHSS scholars are significantly contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Follow @NSHSS and @YouthAssembly on August 11th to see live Tweets from the Summer Youth Assembly at the United Nations. You’ll hear more from these amazing NSHSS scholars participating in the workshop.

Panelist Profiles

Rose Carolyn Arbittier
Princeton University, Class of 2020

Rosie Arbittier is from York, Pennsylvania, and will begin her freshman year at Princeton University this fall where she will study public policy and nonprofit management. She hopes to change special education policy in schools and create a global nonprofit that involves special needs students. Rosie founded Rosie’s Class, a student-run, extracurricular organization that gets disabled students integrated in the school system and progresses their socialization. She was named a “GlobeChanger” by the Jefferson Awards Foundation, and represented York County and Pennsylvania as a Distinguished Young Woman sharing the “Be Your Best Self” message with children. In addition to volunteering, she loves to sing, horseback ride and spend time with friends and family.

Christian Boujaoude
Columbia University, Class of 2020

Christian Boujaoude has been active in community service throughout high school, through his faith and within the global and local communities. He has founded a nonprofit service organization to combat the evils of human trafficking called “R U Aware”. He promotes awareness through many arenas such as social media, interactive community service initiatives, and educational seminars. Christian has lobbied ten local towns to enact a proclamation designating Human Trafficking Awareness Day for January 11th. Furthermore, Christian has started his own R U Aware club in his local high school. Christian will be attending Columbia University in the fall.

Katlyn Grasso
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2015
Founder and CEO, GenHERation

Katlyn Grasso is the founder and CEO of GenHERation. She is a recent graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she received a B.S. in Economics with concentrations in finance and strategic globalization. She is one of the inaugural recipients of the President’s Engagement Prize created by Dr. Amy Gutmann at the University of Pennsylvania. This award provides graduating seniors with $150,000 to develop innovative projects that have the potential to change the world. Katlyn has been featured across national media outlets, including Forbes, Seventeen, Wharton Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, CBS Radio, CNBC, and NBC. 

Virginia Leach
Drew University, Class of 2020

Virginia is a young woman with impressive goals and the work ethic to reach them. Last summer, Virginia was a part of the pilot class of Public Health Civic Service Fellows where she focused on the intersection of homelessness and public health. She was chosen to travel to Stockholm, Sweden, for Nobel Week through the NSHSS. Her time in Sweden enhanced her desire to study International Relations, work for the United Nations and open up her own school for girls. She currently works for Middle Grades Partnership to improve education for girls in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Anna Catherine Lubitz, B.S., MBA, MPH

Stony Brook University, Class of 2016

Anna Lubitz is a graduate of Stony Brook University, earning her Bachelors of Science in Biology (minor in Music), as well as her Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Public Health, concentrating in Health Care Management and Community Health. She is currently working on Advanced Certificates in Healthcare Management and Health Communications, and is applying to dental school.  She aspires to become a pediatric dentist.  Anna currently works as a Graduate Assistant for the School of Health, Technology, and Management in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs at the Health Sciences Center. She also conducts clinical research at the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine.