Eight students participated in a service trip to Guatemala as a part of an independent study focused on community development. They joined Dr. Cecelia Campoverde and several students from Florida Atlantic University for two weeks in December 2006 to work with The Guatemalan Project. Students lived with host families in El Triunfo and volunteered in social, cultural and environmental organizations. They prepared their proposal for study prior to leaving and kept journals during their trip. Upon their return, they attended a series of discussion/lectures by several different Hamilton faculty;Other speakers on topics of self-efficacy, sustainability, women's issues, and land use were given by Professors Nese Balkan, Erol Balkan, Economics; Tara McKee, Psychology; and William Pfitsch, Biology. Students participated in lectures given by Professors Guerrero and Gilbert in the Sociology Department prior to leaving. The students included a very successful fundraising effort, taking thousands of dollars to Guatemala that will build homes for families, and the culmination of their study was a dinner and public presentation that brought an audience of 60 people together, including a group of students who are interested in recreating a trip for next year. Dr. Campoverde was a featured speaker at the presentation, along with the students. Students who participated in the trip were: Meghan Stringer '07, Laura Hartz '07, Heather Michael '07, Miranda Raimondi '08, Annie Harleman '08, Emily Goughary '09, Melissa Young '09, and Jessie Stromwick '09. The group was also accompanied by Matt Stringer '03 and Anne Stringer P '03, '07, '08.
