Exploring, and Learning, Across Borders
By Brynne Dunn, Senior Communications Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, AT&T
At AT&T we are passionate about supporting education beyond the classroom.
To me, world travel is one of the most impactful learning experiences you can have during your formative years. When I was 16, I was lucky enough to travel with a group of fellow students to a remote island off the coast of Panama to help build a new school. The four weeks I spent on Arritupo completely changed my perspective on the world and inspired me to pursue a career that would enable me to give back.
That’s why I feel so fortunate to work for a company that supports initiatives like Nat Geo Mundo Explorer. Through this program, DIRECTV, now part of the AT&T Family, and FOX Networks (parent company of National Geographic) are sending 4 deserving high school students on a National Geographic Student Expedition of their choice this summer.
National Geographic Student Expeditions facilitate immersive learning trips that invite students to explore exciting destinations with National Geographic photographers, scientists and writers all over the world.
From a pool of competitive applicants in the U.S. and Latin America, I am thrilled to announce our incredible winners:
- Claudia, an 11th grader from Alabama, will travel on a Nepal Community Service Expedition. Claudia is a National Honors Society Member and Student Council President at Southside High School. She has never traveled outside of the U.S. so she’s excited to immerse herself in village life at the foot of the Himalayas. On her trip, she will help rebuild homes impacted by the earthquake in Nepal and teach English to local children.
- Domenica, a 9th grader from Ecuador, will take her adventurous spirit and love for photography on an India Expedition. Domenica is an honor society member, piano player and basketball star. She is heading across the world to tutor children in a Himalayan school and experience a Buddhist ceremony alongside Tibetan monks.
- Ethan, a 12th grader from Alabama, will embark on a Peru Expedition. Ethan is an AP student and member of the National Honor Society at Bob Jones High School. On his trip, he will discover the wonders of Machu Picchu, hike to remote Andean villages and go white-water rafting through the Sacred Valley of the Inca.
- Lucia, an 11th grader from Uruguay, will exercise her passion for wildlife conservation on an awe-inspiring Tanzania Expedition. Lucia will experience life in a rural village at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, go on a safari and lend a hand on a National Geographic project to help build a boma fence.
These students wrote compelling essays and were selected for their stellar academic records and leadership capabilities. We are so proud to call them this year’s Nat Geo Mundo Explorers, and can’t wait to hear about their journeys this summer!
Congratulations to these extraordinary students, and thank you to National Geographic for reminding us all to never stop exploring.
