Ten St. John's University students, including Joshua Marino from Massapequa, recently headed to Hanoi, Vietnam for an unprecedented 5-day forum with their Vietnamese peers from the Institute for International Relations to address issues of bi-lateral relations, international peace and international development, the economy, environment and our shared global future. The students will return to the United States Jan. 20.

"The youth of today are our most precious resource," said Frank Biafora, one of the project directors and associate dean at St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Studies. "At this time in history, it is imperative that we invite and ignite the passion of our nations' youths on issues of global concerns and the complexities of cross cultural dynamics. The goals of this conference are clear: To listen to the youths of our two nations and to see through their eyes the world that is before them and how they see their future within it."