Rwanda President Paul Kagame is scheduled to speak at the University of the Pacific on April 14, 2005. He will discuss progress Rwanda has made in the last ten years.

Many Americans have been moved by the powerful performances in the films “Hotel Rwanda” and HBO film “Sometime in April.” Few understand how far Rwanda has progressed in the past decade. “Hotel Rwanda” abruptly ends with soldiers moving in to stop the genocide. Those soldiers, of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) were led by then General Paul Kagame, who was ultimately elected President of Rwanda in 2004.

For the past ten years President Kagame has worked to rebuild his country, achieving remarkable success.

In recognition of these accomplishments, University of Pacific President Donald DeRosa will present Kagame with an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.

It will be the first time and American university has conferred an honorary degree on Kagame. DeRosa and Kagame will also announce a student exchange program with the Rwandan Ministry of Education. It will be the first such program with an American university.

The School of International Studies Gerber Lecture Series at the University of the Pacific is proud to present President Paul Kagame on April 14 at 6 p.m. in the A.G. Spanos Center. The presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

Tickets are required and can be picked up at the box office or at www.tix.com. Tickets can be found by typing in Kagame” in the keyword box. For more information please call the School of International Studies at 209 946-2818.

EDITOR: The news media are invited to attend and cover the speech. A news conference (restricted to working press only) will be held in George Wilson Hall at 5 p.m. (PST). Press interested in interviewing President Kagame should contact Dr. Joe Brennan, executive director of marketing, at 209-946-2746  or by email jbrennan@pacific.edu.

For more Rwanda News, visit www.bridge2rwanda.org