Amy Wagner Participated in Lebanon Valley College's First International Service-Learning Trip to Peru

2014 Jul 7

Amy E. Wagner of York, Pa., traveled to Peru in May 2014 with 11 other students and three staff members, as part of Lebanon Valley College's first international service-learning trip. Wagner worked with members of the Misminay community on various educational, cultural, and social projects.

Wagner graduated from Central York High School and is pursuing a bachelor of science in health science.

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, assistant professor of Spanish and a native of Peru, helped organize the trip and developed partnerships with the Misminay community. Dr. Kathleen Tacelosky, chair of languages and associate professor of Spanish, Dr. Paul Fullmer, chaplain and director of the Office of Service and Volunteerism, and Jill Russell, director of study abroad, were also involved in the collaborative planning and recruiting for the trip.

Students and faculty undertook a competitive selection process with student applicants submitting multiple short essays, and the faculty applicants submitting project proposals for 12 and 2 spots respectively. The two faculty members selected, Dr. Ivette Guzman-Zavala, associate professor of Spanish, and Dr. John Hinshaw, professor of history, worked with the students to create a mural. Local students worked with Dr. Hinshaw to create a multi-media art work that inspired students and left a lasting legacy of the trip.

A veteran of two LVC-sponsored Habitat for Humanity trips already, [Kentucky and Mississippi] Gabbie Groff '14, D'16 was one of the dozen LVC students who went on the trip. "I was raised with an enthusiasm for helping others," said Groff. "I'm very committed to changing the world for the better and that can't happen if I just talk about it; I have to act on it. My parents have always reminded me and my siblings that 'to whom much has been given, much is required.'" Groff's summer of service is only just beginning: she will join a group of U.S. physical therapy students later this summer to volunteer and serve in clinics in Costa Rica.

The students and faculty resided with Peruvian residents during their visit, further enhancing the already high-impact educational experience. "Immersion in a Spanish-speaking country for a week afforded the students a unique chance to improve their oral expression of the language," noted McEvoy. "Exposure to different aspects of Peruvian daily life through home stays and explorations of the city also allowed students to develop a greater appreciation of Latin American culture."

Though this week-long international opportunity was undoubtedly a life-changing experience for the students, McEvoy expects this to be just the start of a long-term partnership. "The trip provided a base for the development and implementation of future interactions with the Misminay community (Cusco, Peru), laying down the foundation for future service-learning activities," added McEvoy.

"Service trips are miraculous, particularly more so when they occur internationally," said Fullmer who has been on and led numerous U.S.-based and international service trips, including four to Mexico. "The added educational benefits of experiencing a different culture, and one with a different language, are tremendous. In the case of this trip, interacting with the children that attend Ancoto School (Misminay community) opened up our students to a new kind of service learning."