TTU K-12 hosts groups of students from Brazil and Haiti for its first Winter Academic Camp in December.

International Students Make Campus Visits to Texas

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

With international partnerships across the globe, many TTU K-12 students never get a chance to visit the United States or the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock or other regional centers. However, this winter, students from Brazil, Haiti and South Korea made the journey to take in educational and other opportunities afforded by TTU K-12.

TTU K-12 hosted its first Winter Academic Camp in early December. The group comprised 23 students, both from the school's Brazil partner, Liberty Education; and from Bridge Academy in Haiti. They were accompanied by two coordinators from Brazil and the director of the Haiti school.

The group spent time on the Texas Tech campus in Lubbock, staying in the dorms, eating in the campus dining halls and visiting various colleges, including the Whitacre College of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences. They toured some of the athletics complexes including Jones AT&T Stadium and the Womble Sports Performance Center, as well as the National Ranching Heritage Center and the Student Recreation Center. Next, the group spent two days at Texas Tech's Junction center, participating in classes, hands-on science projects and other outdoor pursuits.

Tatiana Behrmann, academic director for Bridge Academy, noted that the trip was a great benefit for their students, but one young student was particularly inspired.

“Upon her return to school, Carena created a Bridge Academy iNaturalist group and has inspired her peers to document the wildlife around us in Port-au-Prince. This is what learning should be for everyone,” Behrmann said.

After the new year, a small contingent of students from ESI, TTU K-12's partner in South Korea, visited campus for a brief stay. The school's coordinator and four middle school students enjoyed a thorough tour of campus, dined at nearby campus-favorite restaurants and shopped for souvenirs at one of the locally owned Texas Tech merchandise stores.

Jared Lay, director of International Partnerships for TTU K-12, was pleased with the on-campus visits.

“I think anytime our TTU K-12 students can spend time on campus, it is a win-win for everyone,” Lay said. “I did enjoy seeing the students from Brazil and Haiti interact with each other and have the common bond of TTU K-12 students. This was the first ever Winter Camp and we were glad to see it work out perfectly. And even though it was a whirlwind couple of days, we also appreciated the middle schoolers from South Korea making their way to see us last month.”

Getting international students on campus helps with a better understanding of not only the TTU K-12 program, but the university option as well, once they graduate high school. Thanks to the leaders of the international partnerships for facilitating these visits!