BOONE, N.C. — Marco Fonseca, academic coordinator for Appalachian State University’s Upward Bound program, which is housed within Appalachian’s College Access Partnerships, and Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international programs and professor in Appalachian’s Department of Government and Justice Studies, received $25,800 in funding from IDEA Vietnam to institute the 2017 Vietnamese Summer Academy. The academy is a four-week study abroad program for middle and high school Vietnamese students.

According to Fonseca, the Vietnamese Summer Academy at Appalachian gives participating middle and high school students from Vietnam the opportunity to integrate and learn about both American and local Appalachian culture through educational, cultural and social events with Upward Bound students, as well as YES Scholars and university and community members.

“The students’ involvement in this program will enable them to improve and refine their English language skills through daily academic courses, collegiate research mentorships and intercultural activities, while enjoying the unique outdoor and recreational activities the Appalachian region has to offer,” he said.

Additionally, Fonseca continued, “This experience will allow the students to build and strengthen self-confidence, competence and independence skills to become well-rounded students through experiential learning opportunities afforded while living and studying abroad. Students will develop, through the experience, a global appreciation and understanding of varying cultures.”

About College Access Partnerships

App State’s College Access Partnerships is housed in the Office of Rural Promise and comprises programs in college access and educator professional learning, including Appalachian GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), Upward Bound, Advise NC at App State, Empowering Teacher Learning, Young Eisner Scholars (YES), GREAT STEM and On Ramp Appalachia. These programs aim to prepare students throughout Western North Carolina to engage in postsecondary learning that provides opportunities for careers in their home region and beyond. For more information, visit https://ruralpromise.appstate.edu/cap.

About the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Government and Justice Studies

Appalachian State University’s Department of Government and Justice Studies offers undergraduate programs in political science and criminal justice, and graduate programs in political science and public administration. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the department has over 600 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate students. Learn more at https://gjs.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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