Educator Mortenson to be honored by NEA
Greg Mortenson of Bozeman was to be honored by the National Education Association for his work building schools and promoting education for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mortenson was to receive the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award, named in honor of a former NEA president, in San Diego, Calif., on Thursday.
Mortenson, 51, founded the Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit organization that has established more than 90 schools since 1993. He is also the co-author of “Three Cups of Tea,” the best-selling account of how promoting education became his life’s work.
Mortenson’s humanitarian work grew out of his gratitude to members of Pakistan’s Korphe village, who nursed him back to health after he nearly died during a 1993 attempt to climb K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
(c) Great Falls Tribune, The Associated Press 2009
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090702/NEWS01/90702010/Educator+Mortenson+to+be+honored+by+NEA
