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UWG Professor receives peace award

October 23, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - “Conducting service projects abroad is my mission in life,” revealed Dr. Jim Burton, professor of business administration in the Marketing and Real Estate Department at the University of West Georgia. Having traveled to countries such as Poland, Haiti, Turkey and Guatemala to participate in international peace projects, no one can argue that Burton is not fulfilling his life mission.

His many years of promoting international peace was recognized recently when Congressman Phil Gingrey presented Burton with the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Ambassadors for Peace and the American Leadership Initiative. He received the award in Washington, D.C. during an awards banquet in the Rayburn House of Representatives for his selfless service to others in the pursuit of world peace.

He began his quest for international peace in 1985 when he was selected as a citizen diplomat to visit the Soviet Union during one of the first “Friendship Tours” to the Soviet Union by the United States.

Burton has also served as sponsor, fundraiser, site leader, education director, and trainer for many youth service projects in the United States and abroad. The primary focus of these projects is to facilitate better communication and conflict resolution among different races, cultures and religions. The programs are dedicated to the ideal of humanitarian service as a spiritual practice.

The youth service projects that he participated in were in Poland (1990), Hungary (1991), India (1993), Turkey (1994), England (1996 and 1997), Haiti (1997), Guatemala (1998 and 20002), El Salvador (2002), and Honduras (2002). He also sponsored and participated in service projects in Atlanta in 1994, 1995, and 1996.

“These are life transforming events and have changed my life in a positive way,” says Burton. “I discovered that I could make a difference. The feelings of joy and ecstasy I felt in seeing the positive differences that I was making in other countries was overwhelming, which is why I continue to participate in these kinds of events.”

In May of 2003, Burton also participated in an interreligous conference among Christians, Jews and Moslems in Jerusalem, Israel, which was sponsored by the American Clergy Leadership Conference.

As Burton plans to visit India in December to promote peace among Hindus, Muslims and Christians, he continues his life mission to leave his mark on the quest for world peace.

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