Start of classes

Classes started this month -- we started the school year with a mass from the bishop, and an address to the student body by Father Freddy. Here are some pictures.


Students congregate outside before mass.


Bishop Juan Vargas arrives on campus.


Administrators line up for some words about the UACs creation.


Student leaders head up the procession into the church.


Department directors in the church.


Father Freddy adresses the students.

Honoring Sister Damon

Last Tuesday, USAID held a lunch in honor of Sister Damon.

It was a beautiful day. The lunch was in the attractive new bus terminal that USAID built last year. Different people spoke, including Father Freddy, Sister Jean, a UAC tourism student named Amyle (in English!), and a higher up in the United States Agency for International Development.

Everyone talked about Sister Damon's dedication to education as a move toward sustainable development, empowerment of the poor and our duty as compassionate and loving people. The only thing that could have made the day better were Sister Damon there herself.


Photo: Sister Jean holds up plaque honoring Sister Damon as USAID's Sergio Rivas, Father Freddy del Villar and host of the presentation look on.

(More photos here.)

Four in one day

On Tuesday, four students defended their research projects, two from vet/animal science and two from agronomy.

First was Saúl Quisbert, who studied the use of the amino acid methionine to improve chicken production. He found that small quantities in the first four weeks of production improved growth and profitability.


Photo: Saúl signs his defense results as Dr. Ramiro Fernández looks on.

Next was Blanca Villegas. She compared semen quality between Anglo Nubian and Saanan goats to help the UAC know which goats were the best for breeding.


Photo: Blanca listens as her advisor Dr. Ramiro Ochoa speaks of her efforts and dedication.

Later in the day, Andrez Florez presented his research about tomato resistance to late blight (Phythophthora infestans, the same fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine). He discovered that the variety that farmers use, Santa Cruz Cada Gigante, is the most resistant variety available to Yungas farmers. This was a special student to me: I was his advisor.


Photo: Prof. Manuel Chino, Advisor Hugh Smeltekop, Director Father Freddy del Villar, new graduate Andrez Florez, Reader Juan Carlos Almanza, Ag. Director José Luis Beltrán.

Our last defense was Cecilia Carrizales. Cecilia's parents died in an accident and she raised her brother and sisters in Carmen Pampa where they studied in the Franciscan-run school. Cecilia married and studied at the UAC while she raised her syblings and her own children (twin boys Nelson and Andrés, then Carla, and most recently Abagail). She also ran -- and runs -- the UAC's coffee program. While all of our students are amazing, Cecilia's achievement is exceptional, and shows what a lot of dedication can bring about. And it was made possible by donors, large and small, like many of you who read this.

Cecilia examined the effect of an organic liquid fertilizer on coffee seedlings, and discovered that applying the fertilizer to the soil around the coffee plant was the most effective form of application. The results of her research will be used by coffee growers all over the Yungas.

Congratulations to Cecilia, Andrez, Blanca and Saúl. The world is yours.


Photo: First Row (L to R): Cecilia's baby Abagail, Cecilia's husband Carlos, Don Reynaldo, Cecilia's sister Claudia, Cecilia, Claudio, brother-in-law Victor Hugo. Second Row (L to R): Nancy, Gladys, Lucila with her baby, daughter Carla, sister Daniela C., Daniela Ch., professor Marcelina. Front: Claudia and Victor Hugo's son.