AUSTIN, Texas—University of Texas at Austin sophomore Heidi Boutros today (April 25) was named as one of 16 undergraduates from across the United States honored as Goldman Sachs Global Leaders. They are among 100 outstanding second-year university students from 17 countries who are being recognized in similar ceremonies around the world this spring.
The Global Leaders were selected based on their academic abilities and leadership achievements. Boutros, a Dallas native, is majoring in honors liberal arts and government. She wrote the first academic code of conduct at the university, organized UT Amnesty International’s first lecture series and participated in volunteer projects to stop violence against women.
She has co-authored a country discrimination report on South Africa for the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, interned with prisoners’ rights organizations in Russia and traveled to India to rescue people sold into slavery.
The Goldman Sachs Foundation, along with its partner organization, the Institute of International Education, created the Global Leaders Program to identify and reward the academic excellence and leadership potential of 100 of the most accomplished second-year students from all disciplines worldwide. The competition helps foster their leadership skills and prepares them for distinctive service to society and their future professions.
The 100 students will receive awards of $2,000 each and will participate in award ceremonies at which renowned leaders in the public, civic and private sector will discuss the challenges of leadership in the 21st century.
Through interviews with a panel of leaders from business, government and the nonprofit sector, eight of the 16 students from U.S. universities will be selected to participate in the Goldman Sachs Global Leadership Institute in late July in New York City, along with 42 other students selected internationally this spring. Upon successful completion of the institute, these 50 students will be awarded “Top Honors,” including an additional $3,000 award.