April 30, 2004

CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine (724) 738-4854; e-mail: gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

HONORS STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO GATHER MAY 16

AT SRU FOR FOUR-WEEK COSTA RICA CONFERENCE

           SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Talented and ambitious honors students from each of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities meet May 16 at Slippery Rock University to study Costa Rica in preparation for an 11-day trip there with the state system’s 2004 Summer Honors Program.

             Students will study Costa Rican history, culture, eco-tourism and healthcare, using an interdisciplinary approach. The goal is building a community of learners who have the ability to take their education outside the classroom, bridging the gap between education and experience. The trip to Costa Rica is May 29 through June 10.

           The state system holds such conferences annually. Universities send only two students each, who receive up to six credits. They will spend two weeks in residence at SRU, and the program brings professors from different academic areas together so that they can provide a fuller scope to students.

•          SRU’s Dr. Steven Doherty, assistant professor of parks and recreation/environmental education, and Lori Zulauf, assistant professor in the School of Business, will teach eco-tourism, a field that focuses on environmentally sensitive vacations;

•          SRU’s Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher, professor of allied health, and Dr. Herman Jones, associate professor of sociology/anthropology/social work, will cover cultural and medical aspects of maternal healthcare in Costa Rica;

•          Dr. Carolyn Prorok, professor geography, geology and environment, will lead a workshop on Costa Rican history and culture.

            “The interdisciplinary aspect of the program is the wave of the future,” SRU’s Dr. Cindy LaCom, professor of English and honors program coordinator, said. “The overlap between academic areas and faculty is going to become a model of interdisciplinary learning.”

           Julie Hepner of Bellevue and Alexa Contes of Beaver Falls attend SRU. Jones, Zulauf, Doherty and Prorok will accompany students to Costa Rica.

# PN, PR, PgN