Moon Township, Pa. – Two hundred high school students will spend a day at Robert Morris University (RMU) on Friday, Nov. 14, to dream big dreams about their future.

Approximately 250 students from 16 high schools in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties will convene for the university’s 8th Annual America’s Promise Youth Summit, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Sewall Center. The summit’s theme is “Dream Big! Choose Well!” and aims at helping students make choices in their lives that will ensure future success.

The day will include workshops, a health fair and lessons in zumba, the Latin dance aerobics sensation, as well as a children’s book drive benefiting the Bradley Center, a regional treatment facility for children with severe psychological and emotional trauma. WTAE-TV news anchor Sally Wiggin will emcee the RMU-sponsored event, while Crystal White from the Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania will give a keynote speech. RMU President Gregory G. Dell’Omo also will address the gathering.

The America’s Promise Alliance (www.americaspromise.org) was founded by retired Gen. Colin Powell in Washington, D.C., following the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997. Its focus is to provide all children, especially those most at risk, with caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and service opportunities. Gen. Powell is now the group’s national spokesman; his wife, Mrs. Alma Powell, chairs the board of organization.

The local youth summit is an initiative of RMU’s Office of Student Civic Engagement.