Karl Lindgren-Streicher ’02 has contributed to society more in the three years since his graduation than many people do in a lifetime.

“It was a gradual social awakening process that began in high school. I realized the privileged position I have in the world. I just wanted to do something,” he said. “At Colorado College, a lot of people really pushed me to expand my mind, and the intensity of the Block Plan prepared me for future challenges.”

Among others, Lindgren-Streicher says, professors Bob McJimsey, Peter Blasenheim, and Bryan Rommel-Ruiz challenged him to think critically and deeply engage himself with ideas and texts. He began tutoring other students, which awakened his passion for teaching and reaffirmed his growing desire to help others.

Determined to make a difference, Lindgren-Streicher volunteered for the Peace Corps. In 2002, he was sent to Namibia, Africa, where his primary task was teaching children English, math, science, and geography; his school’s pass rate increased 80 percent. With a charity, SchoolNet, he got seven computers with wireless Internet installed. He also raised funds for and built a much-needed fence.

In addition, he coordinated many small-scale efforts to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and education in Namibia. Founding a school club dedicated to discussion of the disease, and getting children to make posters for AIDS Week, were significant accomplishments in a country where it is often taboo to speak about AIDS.

Lindgren-Streicher now works as an instructor at Sound to Sea, an environmental center on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It emphasizes a hands-on approach to teaching science and environmental issues to kids from third to eighth grade, using physical experiences to stimulate learning and make science fun as instructors take them into the wilderness to study the beach, forests, and ponds.

Help CC students find opportunity on the front lines of a changing world.
Support public interest fellowships at publicinterest@ColoradoCollege.edu