International High School Students Experience Texas Tech

By Leslie Cranford, section manager

On a hot Saturday in early July, the corridors at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport resonated with the excited sounds of 52 travelers who had just landed, after several transfers and a dozen hours, coming from all over Brazil. The 47 high school students and five group leaders were embarking on an 11-day camp through Texas Tech K-12’s international partnerships and schools in their home country.

Diane Patrick, program manager for the online school’s Recruitment and International Partnerships, completed the group of six leaders: Vivian Fafa (Sao Domingos), Camila Mazia and Lucas Fernandes (Liberty Education), and Jenny Harris and Temy Placedes dos Santos (Bom Jesus).

“It was crazy when they arrived at the airport,” Patrick said, laughing. “We were about the only ones there, as they took up almost an entire plane. And it was pretty amazing that only two bags were missing after two or three transfers for that many people.”

Bringing the international Texas Tech K-12 students to the Texas Tech campus started with one particular Brazilian partner school in 2012. Patrick says the largest group came in 2014 when organizers had to have two camps back to back to accommodate all of the student-visitors. The current Brazil partners have been engaged in the camps since 2018.

The guests stayed at Talkington Hall, close to the Student Union Building (SUB) and walked to the Wall-Gates dorm complex where the cafeteria was. Patrick said the staff at the dorms and the cafeteria were fantastic hosts, always smiling.

During the first week the students explored Texas Tech and delved into diverse programs like banking business at Jerry S. Rawls College of Business, LEGO robotics and forensics at the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering Engineering Center, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources animal science sessions and more.

Evenings consisted of various events. Family and Consumer Sciences was holding a camp that week. On Monday the campers were invited to pop in, and the students loved it. Other events included trips to Main Event and South Plains Mall as well as yoga night at the Student Recreation Center and movie night at the SUB. The Lubbock portion wrapped up with a banquet Saturday and the students each earned a completion certificate.

The campers then left for Texas Tech’s site in Junction, Texas, for a three-day stay that included kayaking and plenty of outdoor adventures. The Junction highlight was the cardboard boats they had to engineer, construct and keep afloat, in a class about buoyancy.

“We actually had to stop one of the boats – it kept going,” Patrick said, recalling their surprise, as most of the vessels sank after a minute or two in the South Llano River.

Patrick said the students like the Lubbock campus portion, but when they get to Junction, it’s out in the wilderness, and they’re a little bewildered – but they end up loving it. One of the reasons, she noted, is the staff (especially instructors Cheyenne Mack and Brett Mosley) are so passionate about what they do; they always make it fun.

“After the three days, they’re like, ‘Camp is over!’” she exclaimed, making an exaggerated crying sound. “The environment for them is so different. They get a lot of hands-on experiences. Of course, the classroom setting is important, but the outdoor part is more engaging to them.”

Lucas Fernandes, one of the group leaders from partner Liberty Education, said it is extremely important for the Brazilian Texas Tech High School students to be physically present at Texas Tech so they can understand the scale of the university.

“The schedule of activities planned for the Summer Camp was undoubtedly excellent for the development of these students and for helping them to choose a career path,” he said. “Staying at Talkington Residence Hall during the period in Lubbock was very important for them to experience the daily life of the university students.

“Participating in the summer camp definitely pushes students out of their comfort zones, greatly contributing to their maturity. The students were able to interact with people from all over the world, and the group was composed of students from different parts of Brazil. This contact with diverse cultures is important for the individual development of each student.”

Jenny Harris, one of the group leaders from partner Bom Jesus, said being a leader for the camp was an incredible experience, especially seeing the profound impact it had on the students.

“For the Brazilian high schoolers, being on campus was truly eye-opening – they got an authentic feel for what a large university is like,” she said. “Although our Brazilian students complete a U.S. high school diploma through our partnership with Texas Tech K-12 and have various cultural experiences similar to U.S.-based students, nothing compares to staying in the dorms, eating at the dining hall, attending classes and unwinding at the rec center. These experiences gave them a real taste of university life and offered a glimpse of what studying in the U.S. could be like in a few years.”

Harris also commented that, for many students who come from bustling cities, the chance to experience an American campfire (complete with S'mores), birdwatching, stargazing and kayaking was unique and memorable. These activities are less common in large Brazilian cities, making the experience even more special.

Harris continued, explaining that for many, it was their first time traveling without parents or family members, which accelerated their development of crucial skills like organization, responsibility, and cooperation. Harris is excited about bringing new groups of students to Texas Tech each year.

Patrick believes the annual summer camp is a great recruiting tool to get students to Texas Tech; most of these students from abroad don’t know what it’s like being on the Texas Tech campus or any American campus.

“My take is, we hope they come to Texas Tech University, but even if they don’t, they at least have that college experience,” she said. “It’s an eye-opener.”

Patrick said they already have a waiting list for next year. Thirty students have put their names down. She smiled and said, “Every year, that’s been the case, because they’re eager to come here.”