2019 Pathway Project…”Excelente!”

Friends, we really enjoy sharing photos. Especially, when they show the wonderful times all had over the two weeks of the 2019 Pathway Project. Remember…the previous three Posts have also included photos.

Just to recap…! On June 10th, Dayan, Jimena, Mariana, and chaperone Catalina departed Costa Rica on their journey to America. First stop, Washington, DC where they were greeted by Zina Griffith. Zina, their official host for the evening and most of the day on June 11th, provided the tour of the most popular sites in our nation’s capital.

The second host was Matthew Krauss and his family who took over late in the evening on June 11th. His family provided dinner, overnight accommodations, and provided breakfast before Monica Hoel, host #3, picked up the guests and made the nearly 5 hour journey to Emory & Henry College.

Arriving on campus early evening on June 12, the guests were greeted, provided dinner and sleeping accommodations. The following Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, our guests were welcomed by additional hosts each day and provided an array of special activities designed to educate, inform, and entertain.

Activities included; serious shopping, an outdoor concert, sculpturing class, nature walk at Hungry Mother State Park, visit to historical Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee, pizza meals, trampoline jumping, volleyball, the “Annual Reception”, and church attendance to only mention a few of the events they enjoyed. 

The hosts from Washington, DC, Warrinton, Virginia, and the army of volunteers who managed the majority of the time while on campus where the best folks representing both the college and “Friends of Copey”.    

One event quickly becoming the “premiere” annual “Pathway Project’ event is the “Annual Reception”. This event is very significant for two reasons. First, the reception offers our guests a single opportunity to actually meet and thank those who are devoted supporters of the Pathway Project. This includes performing their cultural dance and verbalizing their personal appreciation for the opportunity to visit America and the EH College campus. 

And, the “Annual Reception” provides “Friends” with the only opportunity each year to gather in one single location, visit one another, and all together as a quasi organization, welcome our guests.

We were honored to have the college President, Jake Schrum join us this year. President Schrum provided our guests a small gift in recognition of their success and to welcome them to our compus.

This “Annual Reception” grows each year and we look forward to reaching 50 guests attending in 2020. 

The guests enjoyed hanging out on State Street, the iconic main street that divides the two states, Virginia and Tennessee.

Perhaps, one of the best times was when Dayana, Jimena, and Mariana were invited to perform their cultural dance performance on the final morning of the Young Scholars program in front of all the scholars.

You can hardly imagine the thrill and the honor these young ladies felt dressed in their beautiful and culturally designed attire and performing their authentic dance to perfection.

Does it get any better than this? They spent the entire “Young Scholars” week engaged in a variety of activities with other students from around the region learning together and exchanging life experiences.

It is true that young folks often teach each other the best and most memorable lessons. I gaze at the photo showing their performance and I see three young ladies who came to campus to learn…but I also see three young ladies who taught us a few things also.

My heartfelt thanks to all of those on campus who spend so much of their time each summer conducting the “Young Scholars and Leadership” program.

Certainly, “Friends” enjoy having the guests from Copey experience our nation’s capital, visit the EH College campus, enjoy life in southwest Virginia, and greet and meet so many “Friends” who support them.

BUT, the opportunity for these students to attend the “Young Scholars” program is a tremendous benefit. And, it is a true benefit for all the students who attend. Keep up the great work! Thanks Jordan Graham for running such a tremendous program.