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 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 will give 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
Appalachian State University’s College Access Partnerships supports students from the Appalachian region of North Carolina in finding their own distinct path to postsecondary education. This is accomplished by supporting the work of teachers, counselors and educators, along with providing direct services to students. College Access Partnerships offers the Upward Bound and GEAR UP programs, as well as additional resources for students, families and educators. Learn more at https://gocollege.appstate.edu.
About the Office of International Education and Development
The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society.
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
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
