Lauren Hill, Stetson Outstanding Young Alumna in 2013, with sponsorship by Stetson’s Department of Environmental Science and Gender Studies Program, will host a free screening of her film Beyond the Surface on Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. in the duPont-Ball Library, room 25L. The Library is located at 134 E. Minnesota Ave., on Stetson’s DeLand campus. Following the film there will be a discussion with featured artist Hill. This special screening is open to the public, at no charge. This multi-award-winning film shows how surfing, yoga and ecological creativity are bringing hope and fueling change for local people and the Planet.

In the documentary, Ishita Malaviya, India’s first female surfer, is joined by a unique and talented group of women – Crystal Thornburg-Homcy, Liz Clark, Lauren Hill (Stetson alumna), Emi Koch, and Kate Baldwin. The saturated hues of India set the scene for this documentary that will touch upon eco-tourism, youth and women’s empowerment, biocentrism and personal growth. They have integrated these causes with the pursuit of India’s perfect waves, highlighting the undeniable power of surfing to bring joy amongst suffering. Cinematographer Dave Homcy has captured this rare and inspiring endeavor with the goal of sharing these stories with the global surf community and beyond.

The group is teaming up with Beyond The Surface International, a non-profit organization whose mission is to use surfing as a highly effective tool to assimilate underprivileged, homeless and orphaned children into society. They have been able to strengthen and create communities to promote social justice and peace.

For more information, contact Tony Abbott, Ph.D., associate professor of geography and environmental science at Stetson University, at 386-822-7008, or email [email protected].