Belizeans Students Head to USA for Welding Training  

Today, two students from Saint Ignatius High School in Belize set off on an exciting journey to North Carolina. Seventeen-year-old Flevian Strand and eighteen-year-old Silsa Perez were awarded this trip by the STEM U Foundation of the USA for being the top fourth-form students in welding and non-destructive testing. We caught up with them at the Philip Goldson International Airport this afternoon to hear their thoughts on this amazing opportunity.

 

Jeaneane Neal, Principal, St. Ignatius High School

“STEMU Foundation is an NPO organization in the United States that offers support to STEM studies, anything that has to do with the STEM.  St. Ignatius High School developed and keep developing, changing its curriculum. Fortunately, the Ministry of Education gives us that opportunity. It’s that leverage for us to be able to develop curriculums as it pertains to the abilities of our students.  At St. Ignatius High School, yes, where we have students who are academically inclined, those who can build themselves in terms of spirituality. However, we decided to work on the STEM studies. We have students who want to venture into engineering architecture. And of course, we have the welding and nondestructive testing, which the students are able to tell you about.”

 

Silsa Perez, Student, St. Ignatius High School

“ Taking this advantage means so much to me because I have the opportunity to find more experience outside and not only here. My studies here are only general in home economics, which is cooking the primary, agriculture, which is my primary one, and welding and non-dt.”

 

Flevian Strand, Student, St. Ignatius High School

“ At first, when I heard it, it caught my attention. So I decided to try it. It’s really helped me a lot throughout the years. I’ve learned a lot actually and I hope in the future I learn more because I’m really interested in the program.”