KINGSTON, R.I. – November 1, 2006 – In the Northeast, the impact of Hurricane Katrina has probably faded in the minds of many people. In fact, many New Englanders may have never even heard the full story. Students from the University of New Orleans, however, are still coping with the storm’s aftermath.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in Edwards Auditorium, Student Ambassadors from New Orleans will bring their stories to the University of Rhode Island in the multi-media presentation, “Surviving Katrina: A Year in Review.”

They will express their personal experiences and show footage of the storm’s impact on the university as well as stories of other people affected by the hurricane. They will discuss topics including President Bush’s actions, cleanup and restoration, and the effects of the hurricane on their university.

Eleven students and a staff member from URI’s Student Alumni Association were able to view this presentation by the University of New Orleans at the Association of Student Advancement Programs national conference in San Antonio last summer. They were so impressed and moved that they decided to bring the show to URI to share the message with other New Englanders.

“You don’t realize how dramatically people’s lives were changed by this hurricane,” Nicole Aragi, a member of the student alumni group and a junior at URI, said. “We were all under the impression that everything was being taken care of, but we were very wrong. It has been more than a year, and people are still out of their homes and paying mortgages on houses that they will never live in again.”

The cost of admission is $3 for students ($5 at the door), $12 for alumni and URI staff, and $15 for the general public. All proceeds will go to the University of New Orleans to help it rebuild. For more information about the event or to register, contact Kristal Cardone, Kristal@uri.edu.