November 20, 2005: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Obituaries: Argus Leader: Friends in Dell Rapids remember Wyatt Ammon
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November 20, 2005: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Obituaries: Argus Leader: Friends in Dell Rapids remember Wyatt Ammon
Friends in Dell Rapids remember Wyatt Ammon
Dell Rapids native Wyatt Ammon didn't measure success in the way others might. "I don't want to work for money or prestige," he wrote in a recent statement of his aspirations. "I want to work for change and satisfaction."
Friends in Dell Rapids remember Wyatt Ammon
Dells native dies in Zambia
Saw Peace Corps as a way to help
CORRINE OLSON
colson@argusleader.com
Article Published: 11/20/05, 2:55 am
Dell Rapids native Wyatt Ammon didn't measure success in the way others might.
"I don't want to work for money or prestige," he wrote in a recent statement of his aspirations. "I want to work for change and satisfaction."
He was preparing to do just that as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia when his life was cut short.
Ammon, 24, died Thursday from injuries he sustained in a fall.
"I'm sure he just wanted to do something good," said Dennis Daugaard, a family friend of the Ammons, talking about what might have attracted Ammon to the Peace Corps. "He didn't always take the conventional path."
Ammon had just completed a training program he began in September to learn the Zambian language and culture. He was selected by his peers to speak at a swearing-in ceremony and deliver remarks to the delegation of Zambian officials in their language.
Daugaard said he planned to help develop fish farms in Zambia.
George Henry, Ammon's guidance counselor at Dell Rapids High School, remembers the 2000 graduate as an accomplished, popular student.
"He was in National Honor Society, homecoming king, student body president, and was good in football. He also played basketball," he said.
Despite his popularity and involvement, Henry said Ammon was individualistic. "He was a very unique person. He did not always go in the direction everyone else did."
Henry hadn't spoken to Ammon about his plans to join the Peace Corps, but he said it doesn't surprise him that he chose that path. "He talked about serving. He was always talking about doing things for people," he said.
That commitment to helping others came from the way he was raised and the service that his entire family does.
Ammon is the son of Greg and Jeannie Ammon and is survived by three sisters. He graduated in 2004 from Hamline University in St. Paul.
Reach reporter Corrine Olson at 331-2311.
When this story was posted in November 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9. |
| Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
| Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now. |
| 'Celebration of Service' a major success The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here. |
| PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident" The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted. |
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Story Source: Argus Leader
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Zambia; Obituaries
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