College of E&T Receives Student Philanthropy Award The Hays Daily News
go to original April 14, 2012

Faculty members from the College of Education and Technology at FHSU spent the last two summers in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, working with non-English speaking elementary school students in an effort to improve the quality of instruction of English and technology.

"By increasing the students' ability to speak English and their computer skills, they have a better chance of finding employment in the food and hotel industry along the beach resort areas of Puerto Vallarta," said Robert Moody, assistant professor of advanced education programs.

"Currently, they live outside the community in Volcanes, which is close to the mountainous jungle areas where few jobs exist. Many of the homes are constructed of scrap materials recycled from the local dump, have no running water, indoor plumbing or electricity and the school they attend can't afford to hire an English-speaking teacher or anyone with current technology skills," he said.

Students and faculty are working collaboratively to make a demonstrable and tangible impact on improving rural Mexican children's quality of life and by sharing and transferring knowledge, expertise and experience through networking and learning.