FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2003
CONTACT: Luis Mercado, Palo Alto College Outreach Services
210.921.5077

Irene F. Scharf Only Texan to Participate in the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program

Irene F. Scharf, faculty/librarian at Palo Alto College, will participate in the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad program. Scharf, the only Texas recipient, will join her cohorts selected from U.S. universities, community colleges and secondary schools to study in Mexico and Costa Rica, June 23-July 23.

The seminar, "Environmental Reality and Indigenous Society: Historic and Contemporary Perspectives," will combine lectures, readings, discussions, and visits to national parks, archeological sites, museums, and institutions that preserve and analyze contemporary indigenous communities. While in Mexico, the group will visit Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Puebla. In Costa Rica, they will visit San Jose, Alajuela, Liberia, Monteverde and San Isidro.

Scarf said, "I am excited about the opportunity to learn first-hand about indigenous cultures, their historical roots and their environmental issues. I will use this information in the history course I co-each at PAC." Scharf will also bring back information on Costa Rica’s successful environmental tourism programs.

Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside, and awards associate degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16.