Vote Kakenya Ntaiya for the top CNN Hero

Kakenya Ntaiya ’04 is one of the top ten CNN Heroes of 2013. Beginning today, the Randolph College community and others who admire her work can vote daily to make her the top CNN Hero for the year.

Ntaiya is a member of a Massai tribe from Kenya. She convinced her village leaders to allow her to be the first girl to leave and attend college in the United States. After graduating from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and receiving a doctoral degree, she returned to Kenya to open a boarding school where girls are receiving an education that empowers their lives.

To vote, visit the CNN Heroes voting page and select Ntaiya’s picture. Complete the voting by entering an e-mail address or logging in with a Facebook account. Each person may vote once per day. Voting will continue until November 17.

Winning the top CNN Hero award would provide $250,000 to grow the school and transform the lives of more girls, Ntaiya said in an e-mail to supporters. “I want to thank CNN for believing in my dream and that of the many girls around the world,” she wrote. “And I want to thank you, our supporters, for your continued support. Together we are changing the lives of girls in Kenya in a positive way.”

Learn more about Ntaiya here on CNN’s feature page about her.

Alumna honored as CNN Hero

We knew Kakenya Ntaiya ’04 was a hero. Now CNN agrees.

The broadcasting network has named this alumna one the CNN Heroes of 2013, and she was the headline story on the CNN Heroes page this week.

Ntaiya was the first woman to convince leaders in her home village to allow her to attend college in the United States. After attending here for undergraduate school and proceeding to earn a Ph.D., she returned to her home village in hopes of providing education and brighter futures for girls there.

Last week, we shared Ntaiya’s TED Talk about her journey. Today, we are proud to present another telling of her courageous story. Read her story, “Woman challenges tradition, brings change to her Kenyan village,” and watch her video here:

Alumna's TED Talk now available online

Kakenya Ntaiya ’04 has captured many audiences with her personal journey that included becoming the first woman from her African village to attend college. Now a TED Talk about her accomplishments is available online.

Ntaiya delivered the speech last fall as part of the popular TED Talk series that features thought leaders from various fields. Titled “Kakenya Ntaiya: A girl who demanded school,” the talk details life in her Massai village, her strategic efforts to convince her father and the village leaders to allow her to break tradition and attend college, and her decision to open a school for girls in her home village.

The speech was placed on the TED website this week. Watch it here: