2009 JMB Graduate Derek Wu Chosen To Serve As 2010 Olympic Torchbearer

Derek Wu, 17, of Salisbury has been selected as one of 10 U.S. teens to serve as a torchbearer for 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Currently a freshman at Princeton, Derek is a 2009 graduate of James M. Bennett High in Salisbury. While a senior, he served as the student member of the Maryland State Board of Education and as SGA president for James M. Bennett High School. He earned many honors and awards for his achievements in academics, extracurricular activities, service and music.

Derek's parents, Drs. Ying Wu and Hong Yao, teach in the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, where Derek was a familiar face on campus as a student (taking six college courses while in high school)and competitor (a winner in the annual high school math competition co-sponsored and hosted by SU's Mathematics and Computer Science Department). Last spring he held a piano concert on campus with the assistance of SU's Department of Music and Cultural Affairs Office to raise money for the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). Dr. George Whitehead, Professor of Psychology, served as Derek's mentor with the YLA and nominated him for the Olympic honor. Derek was also engaged in the Sister Cities program and presented at the 2008 National Conference on Undergraduate Research held here.

Coca-Cola chose 20 inspiring people to be Torchbearers for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. The U.S. Torchbearers were selected because they each use their passion for positive living to affect meaningful, enduring change in local and global communities.

The Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through Calgary, Canada, on Jan. 18-19, 2010 as it makes its way to Vancouver and the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 12, 2010.

The Olympic Torch Relay, presented in part by Coca-Cola, will last for 106 days, cover more than 27,000 miles (45,000 kilometers) and link together more than 1,000 communities and places of interest throughout Canada.

Torchbearers were selected because of their commitments to sustainably promoting three aspects of positive living, including:

Balanced Living – staying active and physically fit while having fun with family and friends

Community – working to make good things happen for people throughout the community

Recycling – helping the planet by recycling or donating time to a recycling program in the community or school

Among those chosen to carry the Flame are 10 teens, five leaders from national health organizations, three Coca-Cola North America employees and Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson and Steven Lopez, who are part of the Coca-Cola “Six Pack” of Olympic athletes and competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. People can view the Torchbearers’ route and learn more about their personal stories by visiting www.LivePositively.com.

“These inspirational people have shown remarkable dedication in encouraging others and making a positive difference in so many lives, traits that Coca-Cola has long embraced.

Coca-Cola is saluting these champions of positive living by recognizing them with the special opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame,” said Celeste Bottorff, Vice President of Living Well, Coca-Cola North America.

Torchbearers were nominated by peers, teachers and leaders of youth organizations, and selected because of the significant contributions they have made in promoting healthy, active lifestyles, community involvement or recycling. In its announcement, Coca-Cola said of Wu:

Derek Wu of Salisbury helped found the Youth Leadership Academy in Wicomico County, MD, a three-day workshop for middle and high school students to hone their leadership skills in their schools and communities.