Spring 2023 Update:

October 30 HC alumna Jocelyn Sabbagh came from Guatemala to give this official recognition from the Guatemalan Ministry of Education to the HC students who raised the funds to install a computer classroom at a school in San Juan La Laguna. Students met with Jocelyn (Director of FUNSEPA) at Copa Cabana restaurant. The project was the service learning portion of the 2023 Guatemala study abroad program. 

Summer 2023

Our students had an unforgettable summer in their Study Abroad program! Based in Guatemala and led by Dr. Tim Steigenga, the group hiked around active volcanos, made artisan chocolate, went horseback riding up mountains and even provided several new computers to over 200 elementary school students. You can find more details down below.

Service Portion

Through a partnership with Funsepa, a non-profit who works to bring in technological and educational resources for sustainable development in Central America, the Honors College was able to build a new computer lab at Enrique Gomez Carrillo Elementary School in San Juan la Laguna. The new lab will service 257 students, most of which are having first time access to computers and e-learning.

The students raised more than $8,000 to fund the technology classroom in this community on Lake Atitlan. Here is a link to our students fundraiser.

The Adventures

The HC students were active all trip! Here you can see students facing the summit of the Pacaya Volcano, climbing the volcano Acatenango (with the active volcano, Fuego, in the background) in Antigua, crossing Lake Atitlán to San Juan la Laguna, making chocolate on open stovetop when they visited San Juan El Obispo.

The FAU Study Abroad Owl got in on the action too, flying up to the peak of the Acatenango Volcano.

¡Hasta luego, Guate!