Sixth-Grader to Interview President & CEO of the World Wildlife Fund
Sixth-grader Charlotte Mayer will be taking a memorable trip this summer. She has been invited to the world headquarters of the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. in late August to interview the organization’s President & CEO Carter Roberts.
Charlotte came to the attention of Mr. Roberts because of a speech about endangered species she wrote and delivered as part of the sixth grade public speaking unit. A friend of Charlotte’s mother who had recently interviewed Mr. Roberts for Forbes Magazine was impressed with Charlotte’s speech and forwarded the video clip to Mr. Roberts. Within a few days, he emailed Charlotte. “He told me what a great job I did, and he invited me to Washington so we could interview each other,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte has been working with her teachers Suzy Taylor and Clara Brodie to prepare her interview questions. She would like to know how Mr. Roberts became interested in wildlife and what young people should do to help with preservation efforts. The interview will be featured in the fall issue of the World Wildlife Magazine.
Charlotte’s passion for wildlife preservation began in second grade. She did a report on the red panda, which has a declining population and is currently classified as a “vulnerable” species. “I was and am still obsessed with pandas.” Her interest grew in fifth grade when she learned more about the World Wildlife Fund as part of 5B Cares, an activity where students pick a non-profit organization to research and promote among their peers.
“I have always wanted to work on wildlife issues. I just didn’t know it was going to be so soon,” she said.
New Canaan Country School
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