Mar 6, 2012

Host families needed

Eighteen students from Central American and the Caribbean will need hosts for the first year of their two-year educational commitment at Central Lakes College, Brainerd. The business management students expect to arrive in early August and be enrolled toward Associate in Applied Science degrees before returning to their homes with new leadership and organizational skills. Nine male and nine female students ages 18-23 were selected through the federal Scholarships for Education and Economic Development (SEED) program. Central Lakes College is the only Minnesota school in 2012 to be funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The college received a $604,737 grant. The students will come from Mexico (four), El Salvador (three), Nicaragua (three), Guatemala (two), Haiti (two), Dominican Republic (two), and Honduras (two). Sixteen are from rural areas and two reside in urban communities.
The SEED scholarships provide training to youth and community leaders from economically disadvantaged and historically under-served populations, including women and ethnic/indigenous groups. The goal is to enable the students to become change agents in their countries’ development.
            Erich Heppner, director of student life at CLC, asks that families interested in hosting contact him at (218) 855-8260 or email eheppner@clcmn.edu to discuss considerations for language, space, transportation, and a monthly stipend.
            Students selected for CLC:
Mexico – Kenia Yareli Curachure Mojica, 18; Tomas Ruiz Enriquez, 19; Juana Maria Camacho Ortiz, 18; Rosenberg Rojas Ruiz, 19.
            El Salvador – Maria Hernandez, 19; Wilfredo Contreras, 18; Jose’ Navarro, 18.
            Nicaragua – Jose’ Tijerino, 18; Roberto Gonzalez, 19; Jordana Zuniga, 20.
            Guatemala – Lesvia Morales, 22; Edgar Rolando Tiu, 23.
            Haiti – Pierre Jn Baptiste, 22; Guerlin Bonamy, 22.
Dominican Republic – Nancy Melendez, 20; Rosa Paulino, 23.
            Honduras – Leyla Castillo, 18; Joselyn Velasquez, 18.