Supporting students with scholarship funds for the Semester on the United Nations
August 2024 – Inspired by a transformative experience during Drew University’s Semester on the United Nations, Dalton Valette C’18 established the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship.
The new scholarship provides financial aid to Drew students with a preference to those participating in the Semester on the United Nations. “Individuals in the Semester on the United Nations will be able to get the most fulfillment with the least amount of financial stress,” said Valette.
Drew’s Semester on the United Nations was the driving force that brought Valette to Drew. “I was so fascinated with the program,” he said. “Growing up in Colorado, the UN, New York City, international governance, and politics seemed out of the realm of possibility. With Drew, it seemed a lot more tangible. No other university offered such a tailored and unique program as Drew’s Semester on the United Nations. I was very eager to not only attend Drew, but also partake in the semester.”
“After learning about Drew, I knew that this was the university I wanted to attend,” he said.
Today, Valette is a senior project manager at Canna Advisors, a consulting firm assisting individuals and organizations entering the legal cannabis marketplace. He is also an internationally published writer, historian, and is serving as the Chair of the Home Rule Commissioner for his hometown in Superior, Colorado.
We sat down with Valette to learn more about his experiences at Drew and the inspiration for the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship. This is what he had to say.
How was your experience participating in Drew’s Semester on the United Nations?
The Semester on the United Nations fed all my wildest expectations. I give a tremendous amount of credit to Carlos Yordan [Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations and the Director of the Semester on the United Nations]. He opened my eyes to so much about the UN; its role, impact, history—and shaped my own thinking when it comes to politics, governance, and good leadership.
Even if you’re not working in an inherently political environment, you can learn a lot about quality leadership through a program like the Semester on the United Nations, which can translate to work in multiple fields.
Why did you choose to establish the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship?
I think it’s essential to give back. I was introduced to Drew and its wonderful programs by my uncle, George Burril C’65. He was very involved when he was a student at Drew.
Drew was incredibly generous to me as a student. Once I was in a financial position to give back to Drew in a meaningful way, I wanted to do that. Hopefully this will also encourage other younger alums to do the same. The Semester on the United Nations had such a massive impact on me, and Carlos Yordan was phenomenal in his teaching and his introduction of Dag Hammarskjöld, the second UN Secretary General.
Why is Dag Hammarskjöld the namesake of the scholarship?
I encourage you to look up and learn more about Dag Hammarskjöld. I wanted to use his namesake for the scholarship because he is such a fascinating individual who has been unfairly sidelined in history.
I wanted to dedicate this scholarship to him for his global work and involvement at the UN. He had a personal impact on me—I’m a massive history fan and he is a leader that connected with me.
As I learned about him, I knew that he is the type of leader we need in today’s world. He was often overlooked because he never sought the spotlight. He did the work effectively and managed to create the UN and guide it at the peak of its power. There was a lot of optimism, enthusiasm, and hope associated with the UN during its first 10-15 years. Dag Hammarskjöld truly embodied the belief that we can have a global united community.
His leadership qualities are very rare to find. He was able to live up to and actualize his virtues and ideals, something which is uncommon amongst even the best individuals in history.
In launching this scholarship at Drew, I hope to emulate a fraction of what Hammarskjöld did and be a leader by helping other individuals.
