MISSION STATEMENT

The Global Studies Academy (GSA) exists to equip students to effectively solve the challenges society will face in the future while developing multi-faceted global citizens. Students are empowered to become innovative global thinkers who celebrate diversity. The Academy also fosters leadership by exposing its members to a variety of situations from a globally integrated perspective while offering opportunities in student government, community service and cultural awareness activities. 

The Global Issues Summit

The Global Studies Academy is a high school program dedicated to promoting global citizenship by the means of focusing on languages, culture, and current events. As a part of that mission, the Academy hosts an annual student-run event called the Global Issues Summit (GIS) to spread awareness about a range of global concerns to students around the community as well as inform them about measures being taken to alleviate these issues in order to "Turn Awareness into Action." The Summit features speakers ranging from Presidential appointees to NGOs operating on a global level, with past participation from institutions such as UNICEF, the US State Department, the US Trade Representative's Office, the Pangea Network, A+ Challenge, Magic Bus, the Aga Khan Foundation, United Against Human Trafficking, and many others. 2022 will mark the tenth annual Global Issues Summit.

​The past seven Summits have focused on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. They provide clear guidelines and targets for all countries to adopt in accordance with their own priorities and the environmental challenges of the world at large. Further, the SDGs seek to tackle the root causes of poverty and unite us together to make a positive change for both people and the planet. The SDGs are grouped into the 5 Ps; People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership. This year, the Summit is organized around 2 of the P's: People and Partnership.