Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Media are invited to attend this week's closing ceremonies and cultural activities for Kansas State University's Go Teacher program.

As part of the Cohort 2 Closing Ceremonies, an Ecuadorian farewell and dance will occur from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the Grand Ballroom of the K-State Student Union. The farewell, organized by Ecuadorian students, will include Ecuadorian mimes in full costume receiving guests on arrival, performances, salsa dancing and other cultural activities.

The closing ceremonies celebrate the 59 students who have spent the past nine months completing the second cohort of the Go Teacher scholarship program.

A ceremony also will be from 10 a.m. to noon May 10 in the KSU Ballrooms in the Union and will be followed by a noon luncheon with an Ecuadorian menu in the Main and West ballrooms. April Mason, provost and senior vice president of Kansas State University, will speak at the luncheon.

Go Teacher is a scholarship program developed to enhance the English proficiency of teachers in Ecuador and provide them with instruction to improve effectiveness in teaching English as a second languages. Collaboration with Kansas State University's College of Education, Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy and office of international programs brought nearly 90 Ecuadorian students to campus during the first cycle of the program. The third cohort of the program began in January and involves 106 students.

In collaboration with Ecuador's Ministry of Education, Kansas State University is overseeing the expansion of the Go Teacher program at three more institutions nationwide: the University of Kentucky, New Mexico State University and Valparaiso University.

While these farewell events are closed to the public, media are welcome to attend and interview student participants and Ecuadorian representatives. Interested media can contact Rosanna Vail at 785-532-2720 or rvail@k-state.edu.