- Chancellor launches The Campaign for Western
- WCU sets $40M goal in first comprehensive campaign
- Kehrberg appointed to lead new College of Fine, Performing Arts
- Major arts festival at WCU March 23-24
- Cirque Le Masque, puppet theatre to perform at WCU
- Pair of weaving programs set for March 4
- WNC students to gather at WCU for Odyssey tournament
- Programs mark TRIO Day
- Student and Scout leader to meet George W. Bush
- Two books co-authored by WCU's Hatley reissued
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Marguerite "Maggie" Belli will meet President Bush in late February. |
Belli, a 2003 graduate of South Point High School and daughter of Mark and Becki Belli of Gastonia, said she’s very excited about the prospect of meeting George W. Bush even though her visit, as part of a small group of Scouts, will be very limited. She has been asked to talk briefly about the Venturing program and present a small gift. If she had time to chat, she said, “I’d ask him about a typical day in the life of a U.S. president. I’d want to know how busy his life is, what his responsibilities are.”
That is not because she has dreams of national political office for herself some day. “Honestly, when my term as president of Venturing is over, I want to concentrate on getting through school,” Belli said. A senior in Western’s parks and recreation management program, she plans to work after graduation for a nonprofit organization in youth programs. In the meantime, she has had to give up some activities, such as membership in the Honors College and performing in the Pride of the Mountains marching band, because of the time she must devote to her current presidential obligations.
Belli was elected national head of Venturing after serving as regional president for the Southeast and leader of her local crew in Gastonia. She first got involved because her two brothers, Nicholas and Christopher, who also are students at Western, were active in Boy Scouts. At the time, the Girl Scouts did not offer many outdoor activities, which she loves, so she joined Venturing, an organization established in 1998 for young men and women ages 14-20, as soon as she was old enough.
She has been moving up in the leadership ranks ever since, with responsibilities that now range from presiding over her cabinet and discussing goals and objectives for each region of the organization, to public speaking and presentations like the one coming up in Washington.
Asked if she’d like to discuss the war in Iraq or national issues with President Bush, Belli said, “No. That never crossed my mind. But I would like to tell him more about Venturing’s great programs for young adults.”
On that, she’s got plenty to say.