PAY WITH CREDIT
CARD
Monday - Friday
8.30am - 5pm (US, EST)
1.30 - 10pm (UK and Ireland)
2.30 - 11pm (Western Europe)
AAA News
ROSITA DEL CORRAL (SIGMA DELTA PI)
An enterprising, dynamic and charismatic woman, Rosita del Corral's smile was her most beautiful quality. She was always happy and saw things in a positive light. Her life was defined by the fruition of ideas and undertaking projects working with international students and the development of mutual understanding of different cultures.
Her compassion for others, ability to make friends and her love for the Andean region is reflected in her most important accomplishment as founder of the Academia Latinoamericana de Español.
Rosita del Corral left as a symbol of her passion for internationaleducation scholarships for teachers and professors eager to expose their students to the Latin American culture and the joy of living. These scholarships in her name serve as homage to an exemplar woman with great integrity, who deeply loved her job, her family and her country.
ERIC G. BRIGGS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (SUNY)
Eric G. Briggs was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, growing up in the dairy and beef cattle farm of his parents, where he cultivated a vast appreciation for nature. Toward the end of the Viet Nam War, he was drafted and commissioned to Germany -beginning his fascination with the world. In 1986 he married Rose McEwen, they adopted Lilia Abigail, and formeda close-knit family.He became a professional gardener, and worked as a greenskeeper in New York. From 2004 on, however, as a result of an automobile accident that aggravated the symptoms of a chronic disease, Eric became a full-time stay-at-home Dad—an endeavor he fulfilled with much pride.
Throughout his life he continued to explore the world, traveling to Spain and other European countries, many times in Central America, and in March of 2010 through several South American countries, where he finally satisfied his life-long quest to climb the Inca ruins of Peru.
For Eric, the best way to regard the inhabitants of other countries and the cultures that are different than our own is living abroad for a while. During his life, he sowed numerous and everlasting friendships throughout the world. This scholarship honors the memory of a noble human being, an unforgettable citizen of the world.
MARGARITA KRAKUSIN PH.D (SCOLT)
Colombia native Dr. Margarita Krakusin has dedicated much of her life in service of language acquisition and cultural education and competence, teaching for the past 40 years in universities in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Michigan, working also with Peace Corps training programs.
Prior to retirement, Dr. Krakusin taught at Alma College for nearly 20 years, helping to increase international experiences available to students and to create greater opportunities for international students at Alma. In her time at Alma, the college formed a strong relationship with Academia Latinoamericana de Espanol, sending students for long and short-term programs, and exposing non-Spanish speaking students to a world they otherwise might never have known.
Through this scholarship, her goal for increased availability for international experiences continues to be made possible. Dr. Krakusin is now retired and living happily with her husband in Tampa, Florida.
CANDACE DUGAN, PhD (SWCOLT)
1968 graduate of Alma High School, Candace Dugan has gone on to become "one of the most influential women in Western Michigan" (Grand Rapids Journal of Business, 2008). Successful student and athlete at Oberlin College, Dr. Dugan returned to Michigan to complete her master's in education and to serve women athletes as a coach in cross country, track and junior basketball. Her service to women athletes was recognized by Alma College in 2005 when she was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service.
More recently, her service as a role-model, a leader and her service in supporting women to reach their full potential was recognized with the awarding of the Lakeshore ATHENA Award. Retired from her career in law, she remains an active community member serving as Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees at Alma College, Latin Americans United for ProgressLegal Counsel (pro bono), John Ball ZooBoard of Directors, and the West Michigan Strategic AllianceBoard of Directors.
A remarkable woman and incredible leader, it is the hope that through this scholarship,teachers will have the ability to gain international experience and intercultural competence to help guide and educated leaders of the next generation.
VIVIAN HARVEY (NYSALFT)
Educator and business woman, New York native Vivian Harvey now calls Ohio home. Her life has been defined by constant evolution and challenges. Her knowledge of Latin American culture is admirable and she has visited, promoted and led hundreds of groups abroad – primarily in Mexico, Guatemala and Peru.
Her ability to look to the future, passion for the arts and ongoing support for indigenous communities has earned her various awards and the friendship of hundreds of thankful students who have had the opportunity to share their experiences with her.
Vivian's scholarship is intended to aid an educator from the state of New York in recognition of their professional efforts and search to acknowledge the existence and value of the bi-cultural nature of this area of the United States so influenced by the Latino community and the contributions of that culture.
MICHELLE DE CRUZ-SAENZ PhD (AATSP)
With more than 40 years teaching Spanish, French and Latin, history, culture and literature, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz has opened the world to her students. After four years as an assistant professor, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz began teaching at Strath Haven High School and Middle School where she has remained for nearly 30 years. Having directed and led her first short-term study abroad program for university students in 1978, she has continued to take advantage of travel opportunities for her students visiting Spain, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, and Belgium.
In 1998, Dr. de Cruz-Saenz led her students to Ecuador for the first time for a three week immersion program. In recognition of her efforts to provide international experiences for her students and the value of these opportunities, this scholarship offers Spanish instructors of grades 11 and 12 or university level a two week immersion opportunity in Quito, Ecuador, including a family homestay.
Diego del Corral: La cultura andina encendió su espíritu emprendedor
Diego del Corral tomó el camino opuesto. No se maravilló con una cultura ajena, sino que pensó que esta podría sorprenderse con la suya. Esto ocurrió en 1987 tras un año de vivir en Filadelfia (EE.UU.) como parte de un intercambio para aprender inglés.
Esa experiencia le dio una idea: enseñar español en Ecuador. Esto lo comentó a sus padres, Carlos y Rosita del Corral. El proyecto puntual era crear un instituto de español para que estudiantes de otros países aprendieran sobre la cultura Andina.
En la actualidad, este quiteño de 41 años es el presidente de la Academia Latinoamericana de Español que funciona en Quito, Sucre (Bolivia) y Cuzco (Perú). En estas tres sedes recibe unos 3 500 estudiantes de Europa y EE.UU., cada año.
La vida de Corral no se enfocó en la enseñanza siempre. En 1989, cuando sus padres abrieron la escuela, este hombre de sonrisa amplia inició estudios de De-recho en la Universidad Central. Al graduarse ejerció, por tres años, pero prefirió encargarse del negocio familiar.
Esto se explica con el testimonio de José Berrú, director Ejecutivo de la Corporación de Capacitación Ecuador (Capec), quien conoce a Corral desde 1985. "Él era muy buen estudiante. Pero lo que más lo identifica es su afán de colaboración con los demás. Quizás, por eso escogió la vida académica sin dejar la visión empresarial".
ECUADORIAN EDUCATION LEADER TO ADDRESS ALMA GRADUATES
Diego del Corral, an international education leader who was instrumental in forging an innovative partnership between Equatorialis University in Ecuador and Alma College, will deliver the 2010 Alma College commencement address.
Del Corral also will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the ceremony for approximately 240 graduation candidates.
Commencement takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24 in the Hogan Center. The ceremony will mark the final graduation to be held in the 41-year-old Cappaert Gymnasium, where commencement ceremonies have taken place annually since 1970. Future ceremonies will take place in the new Hogan Convocation Center, slated for completion in August 2010.
A baccalaureate service precedes graduation at 10:30 a.m. in Dunning Memorial Chapel.
“Sr. Diego del Corral is a true visionary who is able to translate a vision into reality,” says Alma College President Saundra Tracy. “Equatorialis University in Quito, Ecuador, was created out of his vision and already is addressing critical educational needs in Ecuador. He is a most worthy recipient of an Alma College honorary degree, and we are privileged to have him officially become part of the Alma College community.”
Alma College and Equatorialis University signed an articulation agreement in February 2009 that opens the door for significant intellectual and cultural exchange between the students and faculty of both institutions.
As part of the agreement, qualified Equatorialis students who have completed three years of undergraduate work will be able to transfer to Alma College to complete their senior year on the Alma campus. The first group of Ecuadorian transfer students is expected in the fall of 2012.
“Sr. del Corral and his family have been long and valued partners with Alma College due to the quality of educational programs they offer in Ecuador and the outstanding experiences our students have had with them,” says Tracy. “They exemplify the values and personalized experience that are hallmarks of Alma College. As such, we were very excited to be selected by them as the first higher education partner for the new Equatorialis University.
“Alma College’s collaboration with Equatorialis University already has generated incredible opportunities for students and faculty alike. We look forward to welcoming Equatorialis students to Alma in the near future and to the wealth of possibilities that will emerge as this partnership matures,” she said.
In addition to his role as director of international relations at Equatorialis University in Quito, del Corral has served as president and board chairman of the O’Higgins Institute of Technology in Quito, Ecuador, and as president and CEO of the Academia Latinoamericana with campuses in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Alma College has maintained a relationship with the Academia Latainoamericana for several years, with a number of Alma students traveling there to develop Spanish language skills.
Del Corral has bachelor’s degrees in political science from the Universidad Central in Ecuador and corporate law from the Universidad Andina, also in Ecuador, a master’s degree in education specializing in technology and communication from the Universidad Carlos II in Spain, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Universidad Central.
DELTA EXCELLENCE AWARD
Academia Latinoamericana de Español has been granted the Price of Excellence by Delta Airlines at the Delta Excellence Award! The Price of Excellence is awarded annually to select companies for their high level of service and customer satisfaction.
Academia Latinoamericana de Español SUCRE has the great honour and was selected BOLIVIAN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2008 by the Latin American Quality Institute. The school was awarded this title in recognition of its outstanding business management.
The Ibero-American Council for Educational Quality granted Academia Latinoamericana de Español SUCRE the IBERO-AMERICAN PRICE OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE 2006, awarding the school’s excellent quality of educational programs.
With a population of nearly 30 million, Peru is expected to expand its GDP growth by 3.0% in 2010, third highest in South America.
This compares with 2.4% GDP growth for the USA and 2.0% for Canada.
The economy, which largely escaped the 2009 recession in the US, is expected to perform smoothly this year. Its primary income will continue to be production and export of minerals currently at high prices (i.e. Gold @ US $1,080 per oz. 22 Dec. '09).
Source: The Economist: "The World in Figures: Countries, 2010"
Spanish in Ecuador - (593 2) 2250 946 or 2267 904 or 2267 905 or Fax: (593 2) 2267 906
Spanish in Peru - Tel. & Fax: (51-84) 243 364
Spanish in Bolivia - Tel. & Fax: (591 4) 6439 613 or (591 4) 6427 085 info@latinoschools.com