Bernard Londoni (photo from Boca Mag)

A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bernard and his family relocated to Zimbabwe in 2001, where they lived in a refugee camp. In 2005, Bernard became a student at Lynn University, and today, he is at George Mason University working on his master’s and Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies.

“Without the scholarship I was granted from Lynn University, it would have been impossible to study in the U.S.A.,” says Bernard.

As my fellow blogger Jason wrote last month, “Watch out world… Bernard’s one to watch. He’s going places.”

CNN is learning that first hand today. According to Bernard, he and Dougherty will discuss the benefits of Education USA, a program sponsored by the State Department Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to educate international students around the world about opportunities for studying in America.

And what was special about Bernard’s education at Lynn? “I had the opportunity to diversify in different areas of study,” says Bernard. “I majored in International Relations but took many classes outside of my major. This is not common in my country.”

We don’t know when the interview will air yet, but I’ll keep you posted! Keep reading, and congratulations Bernard!

For those of you who missed it, Little LU, our small but significant, tiny but tough face of Lynn University – and the smaller sidekick to “Big LU,” the taller but softer Lynn mascot, has been getting himself into some sticky situations lately…

In fact, earlier this year Little LU got kidnapped for, as his assailants say, “too much traveling and well… just being a celebrity really. If you are willing to pay the ransom we might be willing to provide proof of life.”

These evil-doers were no match for our little guy. LU easily escaped the rubber band that held him captive for only a few short days.

He may be strong and tough, but he’s still not staying out of trouble. There have been reports of Little LU nearly drowning in the bottom of a lake during the Adirondack Experience and others have reported seeing LU decapitated after one of his wild adventures.

All I know, is that Little LU needs to start playing it safe and being more careful during his world-wide travels.

Have your own Little LU adventure story? Please share below!

The first article titled, “Long line to get college advice,” talked about the ratio of advisors to students at some of our Florida universities. The standard ratio, it says, is 300-to-1, and at the school just “across the street” from us – FAU – it’s a whopping, 1,332-to-1. Can you imagine? Not much individualized attention there. Clearly we have a distinct advantage with an advising ratio of approximately 25-to-1. Granted we are not a big state school, but it’s just another great plus at Lynn, where “individualized” is one of our hallmark strengths.

In the second article, “FAU students to stage protest about parking,” it says parking at FAU has become “so scarce that students are holding a protest on Tuesday, saying they can’t make it to class on time.” It was also mentioned that some schools are offering valet service (FIU); and at UF most students aren’t allowed to park on the central part of campus until they’ve earned 120 credit hours!

Here at Lynn, I know that parking is a hot issue and most students and employees, if asked, would say we have a parking “problem,” but compared to these larges universities, our “hike” across campus is much more like a walk in the park. You can really get anywhere on foot in just 10 minutes. Now, during our fast-moving rain deluges or our Sahara-like scorching heat, it can be a bit uncomfortable and inconvenient, but you’re not exactly walking a marathon.

So, Lynn’s small class size and small campus hopefully cut down on those big headaches. What do you think?

Former student body president Londoni takes Lynn with him wherever he goes (this was taken last year while he was interning with UNICEF in Washington, DC).

The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe just posted a story about former Lynn student (and student body president) Bernard Londoni. Bernard, who graduated in May from Lynn, was highlighted on the embassy’s Web site for his transformation “From Refugee to Political Activist.”

Bernard, who wound up at the embassy in Zimbabwe after fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo,  is now at George Mason University working on his master’s and Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies.

In a nod to his alma mater, Bernard said in this interview that at Lynn he “quickly realized that the opportunity to diversify was of paramount importance. In a very individualized, innovative and international campus, I had the privilege to expand my horizons.”

As anyone who knows him will tell you, Bernard’s one to watch. He’s going places. Though he says he has no distinct destination in mind, he does have a purpose (one many of us heard him mention during his time here). He wants to help his home country, continent and its people.

“There is failed leadership in the DRC and in most Sub-Saharan countries,” he says in the story. “I am convinced that the destiny of our continent is in our hands.”

Watch out world.

Wincing only slightly, President Kevin Ross was among the dozens of faculty and staff who lined up today to get a needle in the arm. Tis the season. The university’s Employee Services office, in partnership with the Health Center, started doling out flu shots today to staff and faculty. Students will all have access to flu shots beginning Thursday in the Health Center (cost to students: $10) .

The payoff: A little extra protection this flu season. Oh, and a band-aid. Those are free . What’s not to like? (Besides the obvious, that is. But as I overheard in the flu line earlier, you’ll “barely feel a thing.”) True? Let’s hope so. Hard to tell!

President Ross will be competing with 7 other local celebs at the Boca Hotel & Resort tomorrow night. Will he rack up enough points from the judges for a win? (If he does, he’ll be in the illustrious company of last year’s champ, Mayor of Boca Raton Susan Whelchel.) Will a dance trophy adorn the president’s office come Aug. 28? I’ll keep you posted …

Yesterday, there were a crew of workers taking the old flags down and raising the new ones. You can check out a few more pictures on Lynn’s Facebook page.

My fellow Knight Writers weigh in (so to speak): Says Jason, “I am probably more excited than most students,” while Laura says, “I’m not excited at all. I have no self control.” Well, either way, returning students are sure to be wildly excited, while the new students will wonder what all the fuss is about. But for those on the front lines of the ice cream “fight,” i.e. the SGA board, it is a sweet victory, indeed.

P.S. If hot dogs are more your guilty pleasure, we’ll have those too – a new kiosk will be camped out daily near the library fountain.

So, what do you think? Just how sweet is this news?