MOUNT GREENWOOD — Nina Munizzi Lesch, a Spanish teacher at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, received a $1,000 grant for her work in promoting study abroad programs.
Lesch will use the money on an upcoming spring break trip with students to Spain as well as to promote future foreign study opportunities, according to Maura Moran, a spokeswoman for the school at 3737 W. 99th St. in Mount Greenwood.
The spring break trip includes 14 students at the all-girls Catholic school and two chaperones. Lesch, a Mount Greenwood resident, will oversee the trip that goes from Friday through April 2 along with fellow language department teacher Laura Zeilner, of Orland Park.
Lesch, a 1975 graduate of Mother McAuley, was one of 50 teachers in 27 states who won the grant from the Institute of International Education and the American Institute for Foreign Study. As part of the award, Lesch has pledged to continue to advocate for students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities.
“So many of my former students have had wonderful experiences studying abroad. Their email messages to me are filled with excitement and a newfound appreciation of cultural differences,” Lesch said in a written statement.
The upcoming trip to Spain costs about $4,100 and will include cooking classes, museum visits, bicycle tours and more. A portion of the grant money may be used to pay for an additional excursion for students, Moran said.
The money will also be used upon return from the trip to organize a study abroad alumni group. This panel will further speak to students about the value of such trips both in high school as well as college, she said.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, and leaders in every field will need to engage in meaningful international experiences to prepare for the demands of our globalized world,” said Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education.
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