SHERMAN, TEXAS — Nineteen Austin College students decided to spend their January improving their knowledge and skill of the Spanish language in Costa Rica.  The students took courses at the Intercultura of Heredia and then at Playa Smara.  Students attended class for four hours a day, stayed with host families in Heredia, and had the opportunity to participate in a variety of excursion and activities in Costa Rica. 

Austin College’s four-week January Term, in which students take only one course, provides students opportunity for in-depth study of one subject—often outside their regular area of study.  In addition to on-campus courses in specialized areas of study, many students spend the month in career exploration through individualized study at business sites or in study trips abroad.  This January, Austin College students could be found in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Peru, Scotland, Spain, and Turkey, as well as Washington, D.C., and New York City. 

The students who chose to study in Costa Rica this January are listed below by hometown, along with the local high school from which they graduated and their parents’ names. 

Belton, Texas

Joel Ingrim, Belton High School, son of Mike and Naomi Ingrim.

Benbrook, Texas

Alexander "AJ" Graham, Western Hills High School, son of Jeff and Mary Ellen McBee.

Carlyle, Illinois

Abby McClean, Carlyle High School, daughter of Greg and Clara Jo McClean.

Dallas, Texas

Gloria Carey, Lake Highlands High School, daughter of Leonard and Cindy Carey.

El Paso, Texas

Jose Marcos Guzman, Santa Teresa High School, son of Jose Guzman of El Paso, and Lourdes Guzman of Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Fairview, Texas

Helen Heres, Allen High School, daughter of Barrie and Pete Heres.

Farmersville, Texas

Ashley Ledbetter, Farmersville High School, daughter of Terrie and Donald Ledbetter.

Flower Mound, Texas

Cherie Oertel, Edward Marcus High School, daughter of Robert and Darlene Oerte.

Fort Worth, Texas

Alexander "AJ" Graham, Western Hills High School, son of Jeff and Mary Ellen McBee.

Grapevine, Texas

Rebecca Webb, Colleyville Heritage High School, daughter of Dennis and Donna Webb.

Highland Village, Texas

Jake Pritchard, Flower Mound Marcus High School, son of Larry and Bonnie Pritchard.

Longview, Texas

Amy Holman, Pine Tree High School, daughter of Tod and Eugenie Holman.

Mesquite, Texas

Ryan Buell, Rowlett Christian Academy, son of Denise Buell.

Pearland, Texas

Jonathan Hersh, Alan B. Shepard High School, son of Ed and Shellie Hersh.

Plano, Texas

Florencia Meza-Zepeda, Plano West High School, daughter of Hector and Graciela Meza.

Richardson, Texas

Linda Aitken, L.V. Berkner High School, daughter of Pamela and Joshua Aitken;

Andy Stowe, J.J. Pearce High School, son of Dan and Mary Stowe and Cherie and Doopey DePuy of Richardson.

Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Jose Marcos Guzman, Santa Teresa High School, son of Lourdes Guzman of Santa Teresa, and Jose Guzman of El Paso, Texas.

 

Sherman, Texas

Laura Gallardo, Sherman High School, daughter of Robert and Sara Gallardo.

Sulphur Springs, Texas

Patrick Radney, Sulphur Springs High School, son of Michael Radney of Lone Oak and Cheryl Burt of Sulphur Springs.

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located approximately 30 minutes north of the greater Dallas metroplex in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book “Colleges that Change Lives.”