Students go way south of Florida for spring break trip of a lifetime
Georgia Highlands College students from all five of its campuses took their spring break time off to participate in a cultural experience in Costa Rica. The students stayed at the University of Georgia's Costa Rica campus in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
While at the UGA campus, they took a sustainability tour and helped with UGA's reforestation efforts at their campus greenhouse. They took a guided tour through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, tours of a chocolate factory and an organic coffee farm and nature hikes with naturalist guides. They zip-lined through the cloud forest canopy, took dancing lessons and spent a day-and-a-half at Playa Sámara on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
The students concluded their visit with a total immersion experience by staying a full day and night with local Costa Rica families.
Associate Professor of Spanish Mark Greger, who went with the students, said it was not only a great cultural opportunity, but also a good chance to see a very natural part of the world.
“Costa Rica is a country that is known for its natural beauty, including its lush cloud forests, unique ecology and its beaches,” he said. “Costa Rica is also known for being an environmentally-friendly country.”
Students who went:
FLOYD: Savanna Bordelon, Brett Cason, Jamie Doherty (Heritage Hall), Joseph LeFurgey,
Gustavo Olmedo-Gonzalez, JP Popham, Vienna Walker (Heritage Hall)
CARTERSVILLE: Chazmyane Griffin, Lexi Minick, Xinia Camacho Smith,
PAULDING: Malika Jones (Paulding/ Cartersville), Jessi Lestelle, Aubreay Terrill, Sheneqwa Walker
MARIETTA: Kelly Pereira
DOUGLASVILLE: Karley Callaway, Candace Whitfield
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PHOTO: Front row (kneeling): Reagan (UGA naturalist), JP Popham, Xinia smith Camacho, Joey Lefurgey, Lexi Minick. 2nd row (standing): Cristian (driver), Brett Cason, Karley Callaway, Jessi Lestelle, Marie Rucker, Jamie Doherty, Gustavo Olmedo, Kelly Pereira, Savanna Bordelon. 3rd row (starting behind Jessi Lestelle and Marie Rucker) Malika Jones, Alexandra MacMurdo (faculty), Chazmyane Griffin (behind Jamie Doherty), Michelle Boyce (faculty), Aubreay Terrill, Deidre Harp (faculty), Mark Greger (faculty), Candace Whitfield (yellow dress), Vienna Walker.