A Wichita State University summer study-abroad program took eight WSU Honors College students to Asunción, Paraguay, for an immersive cultural experience that included visits to schools, universities and community organizations.
Students engaged in topics related to engineering, healthcare, education, arts and cooking. While in Paraguay, they visited Universidad Nacional de Asunción, El Cántaro (a nonprofit that focuses on the arts and music), Hospital Bautista, the CCPA School (a bilingual school) and the Volunteer Firefighters Program.
Students lived with host families during the two weeks and had daily activities as a group Monday through Friday organized by Comité Paraguay Kansas (CPK).
According to CPK Executive Director Mirian Mongelos, the program's impact extends far beyond the students themselves, creating opportunities for meaningful connections and future collaborations between Paraguay and Kansas.
“The schools, universities, community organizations and host families that participate consistently share how these experiences create meaningful connections and open the door to future collaborations and lasting friendships. At CPK, we are proud to help build those bridges, knowing that every exchange strengthens a partnership that continues to grow with each new generation of participants,” Mongelos said.
As part of the honors course, each student kept a daily journal and wrote a research paper, which included interviews and reflections of their experiences.
“Living with my host family for two weeks was definitely the best part of my experience,”
said Tyllor Childers, an honors student majoring in aerospace engineering. “They welcomed
me into their family and showed me different experiences around the city, from concerts
to a nature reserve. My amazing host sister, Betti, showed me new foods and helped
teach me about the culture.”
In addition to living with the host families, students met and interacted with many
Shocker alumni who live in Paraguay.
“Studying abroad in Paraguay was a great experience that taught me more about myself and other cultures. I was able to experience life in another country that helped to expand my worldview,” said Childers, who was a recipient of the Cohen Enhancement Scholarship that covers up to $4,000 of applied learning experiences such as studying abroad.
“I have always loved traveling and learning about other parts of the world, so studying abroad felt like a natural choice. The Honors Paraguay Program was a great fit because it is low cost but still has many cultural experiences and activities,” she said.
The Paraguay trip was led by Ann Burger, associate director of Wichita State’s study-abroad and exchange programs.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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