This year, 15 WTAMU freshmen will be spending their spring break in an unusual location compared to most college students. These students will be traveling to Honduras with WT’s Readership Ambassador Program.
This year the freshman class read, “Where am I Wearing,” by Kelsey Timmerman. The first story of in the book is about the experience Timmerman had while he was in Honduras.
“Going to Honduras is ideal because it ties to the book,” Kendra Campbell, director of First-Year Experience said. “We were considering other countries, but [Timmerman] mentions Honduras directly and anytime we can go to the location specifically, the better.”More than 200 students wrote and submitted an essay to be judges by a panel and from there semi-finalist were selected and eventually winners were announced. This is not the first time WT’s Readership Ambassadors travel abroad after reading a selected book. Previous locations include Poland, Africa, Turkey and Cambodia. Campbell has been the only person who has traveled to all locations.
“I was fortunate enough to have been selected to travel to Poland a few years ago,” Brant Nelson, an English Graduate student said. “The experience alone taught me a lot and really opened my eyes to things we do not experience in the U.S.”
While in Honduras, the students will interact with the locals and even live with families in the area where they travel. The full details of the trip are still in the air but the students will be involved with some service projects.
“These trips tend to be emotionally difficult, but this one will also be physical demanding,” Campbell said. “One of the things we do every night is process what we are learning and gaining perspective so it’s always an emotional experience.”
Students will participate in a spring semester class that will prepare them for their journey. They will also be blogging all of their thoughts throughout the trip. After the trip, the Ambassadors will begin their community work here in the Panhandle when they attend town hall meetings, schools throughout the community, clubs and many other community events to speak about their experience.
The students selected to travel to Honduras include: Benton Allen, Brittany Castillo, Samantha Hearn, Clara Saenz, Erica Knowles, Marisol Benavides, Zinzan Elan-Puttick, Reid Copelin, Jacob Smith, Hannah Follis, Hope Sorrells, Trent Kelly, Chris Hart, Delanie Crist and Sarah Horn.
