Colombia native Dr. Margarita Krakusin has dedicated much of her life to serving language acquisition and cultural education and competence. She has been a teacher for the past 40 years in universities in Colombia, Puerto Rico and Michigan, ans also worked with the Peace Corps training programs. Prior to retirement, Dr. Krakusin taught at Alma College for nearly 20 years, helping to increase international experiences for students and to create greater opportunities for them at Alma. In her time there, the college formed a strong relationship with Latino Schools, sending students for long and short-term programs, and exposing non-Spanish speaking students to a world they otherwise might never have known. Thanks to this scholarship, her goal – increasing the availability for international experiences – remains possible. Dr. Krakusin is now retired and is living happily with her husband in Tampa, Florida.

1968 graduate of Alma High School, Candace Dugan has gone on to become “one of the most influential women in Western Michigan” (Grand Rapids Journal of Business, 2008). Successful student and athlete at Oberlin College, Dr. Dugan returned to Michigan to complete her Master in education and to serve women athletes as a coach in cross country, track and junior basketball. Her service to women athletes was recognized by Alma College in 2005 when she was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. More recently, her service as a role-model, a leader and her service in supporting women to reach their full potential was rewarded by the Lakeshore ATHENA Award. Retired from her career in law, she remains an active community member, serving as Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees at Alma College, Latin Americans United for ProgressLegal Counsel (pro bono), John Ball ZooBoard of Directors, and the West Michigan Strategic AllianceBoard of Directors. She is a remarkable woman and an incredible leader. Thanks to this scholarship, teachers will have the ability to gain international experience and intercultural competences to help them guide and educate the leaders of the next generation.

Joanne Telfer of Hartwick, NY has dedicated much of her life to serve language acquisition and cultural education and competence. She has been a teacher for the past 21 years in high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Georgia, and New York. Currently Mrs. Telfer is teaching at Morris Central School in Morris, NY, at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and at Herkimer County Community College via the College Now Program in Herkimer, NY. She is helping to increase language acquisition and international experiences available to students and to create greater opportunities for international studies. In her time at Morris Central School, Mrs. Telfer formed a strong relationship with Latino Schools, first by personally attending the Academia in Cusco, Peru, and subsequently by bringing students to the Academia in Quito, Ecuador for two-week immersion programs, and exposing non-Spanish speaking students and adults to a world they otherwise might never have known. Thanks to this scholarship, her goal – increasing the availability for international experiences – remains possible.

Educator and business woman, New York native Vivian Harvey now calls Ohio home. Her life has been defined by constant evolution and challenges. Her knowledge of Latin American culture is admirable and she has visited, promoted and led hundreds of groups abroad – primarily in Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. Her ability to look to the future, passion for the arts and ongoing support for indigenous communities has earned her various awards and the friendship of hundreds of thankful students who have had the opportunity to share their experiences with her. Vivian’s scholarship is intended to aid an educator from the state of New York in recognition of his professional efforts, but also to acknowledge the existence and value of the bi-cultural nature of this area of the United States which was so influenced by the Latino community.

With more than 40 years teaching Spanish, French and Latin, History, Culture and Literature, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz has opened the world to her students. After four years as an assistant professor, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz began teaching at Strath Haven High School and Middle School where she stayed for nearly 30 years. She directed and led her first short-term study abroad program for university students in 1978, and continued to take advantage of travel opportunities for her students by visiting Spain, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, and Belgium. In 1998, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz led her students to Ecuador for the first time for a three week immersion program. In recognition of her efforts to provide international experiences for her students and the value of these opportunities, this scholarship offers Spanish instructors of grades 11 and 12 or university level a two week immersion opportunity in Quito, Ecuador, including a family homestay.

20 years ago, Mrs. Suzanne Bell became the Admissions Director of the Academia in USA and without any experience I watched Suzanne’s progress through all this years. Now she is an Ecuador’s specialist and handle all the Academia International affairs like no one else in the world. Her honesty and dedication (that only a mother could have) to the Academia work is unique. She was always eager to do more than any other employee. Her interest in our culture was genuine and deep. In summary, this scholarship under the name of Suzanne Bell is simply because she is a good, honest, funny, enthusiastic and brilliant person. But the most important thing is that she proved that even after her retirement, she could adapt well to a new life, new goals and future.

With more than 40 years teaching Spanish, culture and literature, Dr. Norton has opened the world to his students. In 2005, Dr. Norton led his students to Ecuador for the first time for a four week immersion program. In recognition of his efforts to provide international experiences for his students and the value of these opportunities, this scholarship offers Spanish program for 4 weeks to up to five students from Missouri State University in Quito, Ecuador, including a family homestay.

Director of Education Abroad, Faculty Led Coordinator and International Education Advisor: Latin America, and the Caribbean. Angelina Palumbo is a graduate of NMSU completing her undergraduate in Foreign Languages and Latin American Studies, with minors in Linguistics and History in 2012. She also completed her Masters degree at NMSU in Education: Curriculum and Instruction in 2014. She has traveled to over 30 countries and studied abroad in Guatemala, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina and did research in Spain. With recent trips to Ecuador and Peru, she experienced a magical transformation which she attributes to the people and mountains of the region. Her passion for travel, learning languages and education abroad has provided students with the inspiration, encouragement and support necessary to find their own opportunities abroad.

Eric G. Briggs was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, growing up in the dairy and beef cattle farm of his parents, where he cultivated a vast appreciation for nature. Toward the end of the Viet Nam War, he was drafted and commissioned to Germany -beginning his fascination with the world. In 1986 he married Rose McEwen, they adopted Lilia Abigail, and formeda close-knit family.He became a professional gardener, and worked as a greenskeeper in New York. From 2004 on, however, as a result of an automobile accident that aggravated the symptoms of a chronic disease, Eric became a full-time stay-at-home Dad—an endeavor he fulfilled with much pride. Throughout his life he continued to explore the world, traveling to Spain and other European countries, many times in Central America, and in March of 2010 through several South American countries, where he finally satisfied his life-long quest to climb the Inca ruins of Peru. For Eric, the best way to regard the inhabitants of other countries and the cultures that are different than our own is living abroad for a while. During his life, he sowed numerous and everlasting friendships throughout the world. This scholarship honors the memory of a noble human being, an unforgettable citizen of the world.