NEWS
CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (4/00)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kari Johnson, Centenary News Service
318-869-5120

Joby Ogwyn '97, Youngest American to Conquer Mt. Everest, to Speak, Present Slide Show April 5 at Centenary College

Joby Ogwyn '97 Atop Mt. Everest Joby Ogwyn '97 atop Mt. Everest, May 1999

SHREVEPORT, LA -- Joby Ogwyn, Centenary alumnus from the Class of 1997 and the youngest American to conquer Mt. Everest, will share his experience during a talk and slide show Wednesday, April 5 at Centenary. The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Smith Building's Kilpatrick Auditorium, corner of Kings Highway and Woodlawn Avenue.

Ogwyn, now 25, reached the summit of the Earth's highest mountain in May 1999. Everest was the fifth of the "seven summits," the highest mountains on each of seven continents, that he has mastered, all on his first attempt. He previously climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro in Africa, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Mt. McKinley in North America, and Mt. Aconcagua in South America. If he completes peaks in Antarctica and Australia in the next few years, he will be the youngest person to climb all seven on the first attempt.

Ogwyn has been climbing since he was 18 years old. "I like to climb and I like to travel," he said. "I hope to be climbing into my '50s."

The event is being coordinated by Kelly Stover, assistant director of student activities, and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ms. Stover at 869-5736.

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