Alumnus Honored by White House as 'Champion of Change'

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The White House honored Joseph McKenna -- a 2011 RWU graduate who double-majored in criminal justice and psychology -- this week as a local hero and “Champion of Change” for his work empowering youth with emergency preparedness skills in Texas.

McKenna was recognized as a Champion for Change for Community Preparedness and Resilience, a program which celebrates Americans who are preparing communities for disasters and helping them respond and recover. The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals, businesses, and organizations doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.

McKenna's award comes after success as a research specialist and youth preparedness camp coordinator for the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University, where he is he currently pursuing a Ph.D. With funding from the Department of Homeland Security, the RWU alumnus singlehandedly created a school mentoring program focused on developing emergency preparedness capacities for local youth.

McKenna has also encouraged the integration of CERT programs into local K-12 schools through his facilitation, instruction and support, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable preparedness programs for educational institutions. Additionally, he supports various youth groups as they deliver the message of disaster preparedness and the role youth can have in disaster situations.

To learn more about the Champions of Change initiative please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions.