Laurel Springs School Hosts Online Symposium with Ted Turner

OJAI, Calif., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Laurel Springs School, a leading private online college preparatory school for students in kindergarten through grade 12, hosted an online environmental symposium with businessman and environmentalist Ted Turner on Wednesday, April 4. Turner joined a long list of notables who spoke as part of Laurel Springs' "Meetings with Remarkable Men & Women" series, which is exclusive to Laurel Springs families. The live online symposium brought together students from around the world to learn about the global impact of Turner's environmental work. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about Turner's life, goals, and many accomplishments. 

Both Turner and Laurel Springs are active with the Clinton Global Initiative, an organization that works to inspire, connect and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. As a United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honour recipient, Laurel Springs is committed to protecting and preserving our environment and instilling a sense of global citizenship in its students. Laurel Springs' families enjoyed the opportunity to discuss Turner's work to protect more than 50 endangered species, his role as chairman of the United Nations Foundation, and his creation of Captain Planet, the first environmental cartoon for children. Executive Director and Laurel Springs Founder Marilyn Mosley Gordanier serves on the Captain Planet Foundation board chaired by Turner's daughter Laura Turner Seydel.

"We were thrilled to host Mr. Turner and highlight his entrepreneurial vision and philanthropic endeavors," said Gordanier. "The opportunity for our students to interact one-on-one with such a well-respected and accomplished individual was the highlight of a lifetime. Laurel Springs is proud that our school is able to bring these unique opportunities to our students, and we look forward continuing this kind of programming."

The "Meetings with Remarkable Men & Women" series provides an interactive venue for Laurel Springs' students to celebrate and engage with unique individuals who followed their dreams. Other speakers in the series include Dr. Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, the first Romanian astronaut; Marion Stoddart, a community leader committed to positive social and environmental change; Christina Stevens, an award winning film maker and interim Executive Director of the Captain Planet Foundation, who also graciously moderated the Turner symposium; Lily Venizelos, vanguard of the wildlife conservation movement; Mary Maranville and Laurel Springs alumna Madison Stevens, who led a joint symposium about their Antarctic expeditions, and Dr. Linda Brent, Ph.D., founder of Chimp Haven, The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Laurel Springs was founded in 1991 to offer personalized distance learning programs, and in 1994 was one of the  first schools to harness the power of the Internet for interactive education.  Laurel Springs has now grown to include students who live throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. The school has been a pioneer in developing quality distance learning options for students seeking alternatives to the traditional classroom setting. Today, Laurel Springs is one of the most respected providers of online education for students in kindergarten through grade 12, with outstanding college prep academics.

About Laurel Springs School

Laurel Springs School is an accredited online private school serving students in kindergarten through grade 12. It honors the talents, learning styles and interests of all its students through a personalized approach to college prep academics. With more than 20 years of experience, the school has the expertise to ensure students receive an excellent private school education. Our students are fully supported by qualified, caring teachers and staff and are connected to a global community of learners. Laurel Springs is a private school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). For more information, visit www.laurelsprings.com.

SOURCE Laurel Springs School