The Rocky River English Department, as a result of generous backing of RREF and RRCSD, brought nationally acclaimed local author Loung Ung to RRHS to speak–the capstone to the new summer reading program which promotes real, engaged, and community-wide reading during the summer.

Ung is a Cambodian refugee and a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide instituted under the Pol Pot regime. Ung’s story of how she lost her family and fought for her own survival as a very young girl was incredibly moving, as were her messages to students about advocacy, philanthropy, individual rights and responsibilities, awareness, family, and the healing power of understanding and love. Students and community members alike were positively affected by this event.