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THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION STUDENTS DISCOVERED
THE WORLD – AND CAREERS

OVER THE SUMMER

by Steven Kissinger
S everal students in The Immokalee Foundation’s programs

ventured far from their small agricultural town over the
summer for study abroad experiences in Germany, Italy,
Russia and the Dominican Republic. Still others left for the big
city – or big university – for educational experiences.
Now home again, they described these times as the best of
their lives, leaving “a profound impact” for many years.
Through the University of South Florida-sponsored “USF
in Russia” program, Jose Flores studied Russian language and
culture for a month. Flores enrolled in an intensive Russian
language course at Moscow State University, the top university
in Russia. As part of another course, Flores visited the Armoury ALFREDO VILLALOBOS-PEREZ WITH DR. CATE AT MOUNT SINAI
museum inside the Kremlin, the Museum of the Great Patriotic
War, and the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, among other sites.
Nadege Severe participated in an exchange program Villalobos-Perez showed the initiative and drive of so
offered by the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf many Take Stock in Children students. He wanted even more
Coast University. Severe traveled to Wurzburg, Germany, and experience shadowing doctors after his prescribed time at
took advanced software classes. While there, Severe gained Mount Sinai. He combed the Mount Sinai website for medical
experience in an internship that included in-country travel and department heads, found 85, and sent emails. Fifteen responded
classes with a global software company. and granted him time in departments including adult
Emmanuel Vega Arreola visited seven cities in Italy during nephrology, children’s nephrology, emergency medicine, breast
a month in early summer in an art and history program offered surgery, pediatric pulmonology and neonatal care.
by the honors college at Florida International University. Angel Mateo and Elizay Perez Bravo spent a week at the
“We compared how the Roman Empire impacts life in the University of Missouri’s Trulaske Business Academy. “The
United States today,” Arreola said. “We also learned about the academy showed me the opportunities I can pursue through
Italian culture and the perspective and values that local people a business career,” Mateo said. “It brought together many
live by. We visited the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, where students from different backgrounds and immersed the group
I had the opportunity to see the Pope. My whole trip was an into the business world. I met students with similar interests
incredible experience, and the biggest lesson I learned is that and was able to build strong bonds coast to coast.”
the human mind and human body are capable of accomplishing Perez Bravo noted the different atmospheres at places of
great things.” business the group toured in the fields of insurance, accounting,
Junette Desrosier spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic marketing and more.
on a medical mission trip, where she shadowed physicians Opening global doors to students of The Immokalee
and took patients’ vital signs. During the Hope International Foundation helps create pathways to success.
program, her unique skills were put to work translating. The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education
Alfredo Villalobos-Perez knew he wanted to pursue programs that focus on building pathways to success through college
a medical career but was unsure of the direction. While and post-secondary preparation and support, mentoring and
participating in a program at the Mount Sinai Icahn School tutoring, opportunities for broadening experiences, and life skills
of Medicine in New York City from early June to mid-August, development leading to economic independence. To learn more about
Villalobos-Perez spent time in both research and patient care. The Immokalee Foundation, volunteering as a career panel speaker
He found his career answer in a question posed by one of the or host, becoming a mentor, making a donation, including the
university deans: “Do you want to treat the disease that is foundation in your estate plans, or for additional information, call
affecting the patient, or do you want to treat the patient that 239.430.9122 or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org.
is being affected by the disease?” Villalobos-Perez shadowed
doctors, observed surgery and attended patient rounds.
Assisting in patient care gave him his answer, and he intends to Steven Kissinger, executive director of The Immokalee Foundation, can
become a physician. be reached at steven.kissinger@immokaleefoundation.org.

68 Life in Naples | November 2017