WHEELING, WV, July 16, 2009 - With an agenda that was packed with educational opportunities and fun, a group of 34 high school age students from Argentina are nearing the end of their five-week stay in Wheeling this summer.

Wheeling Jesuit University’s international offices, under the direction of Eileen Viglietta, welcomed the students and the University’s campus has been their home as they studied English, enjoyed cultural activities and traveled to nearby attractions.

The students include 26 boys and 8 girls from San Pedro Apóstol Bilingual School of Córdoba, Argentina, the second largest city in the South American country. Two chaperones accompanied the students, Mario Cornejo and Maria Jose Peyrani.

Diego Gattesco, an International Trade Specialist for U.S. Export Assistance Center (U.S. Department of Commerce) in Wheeling, was instrumental in arranging the visit of the high school students.

They depart Wheeling on Thursday, July 23 and travel for New York City for a few days before returning to Argentina.

While here in Wheeling, they learned a little about public
speaking, resume writing, CPR and space, along with English classes. They also took part in a Challenger Space Mission at the Challenger Learning Center and experimented with making their own shoebox airplanes. (Airplane activity shown at right.)

They also visit local churches, parks, restaurants, the Heritage Port and took weekend trips to Niagara Falls, Columbus, Ohio and Kennywood Amusement Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The students will present a talent show at 1 p.m., Friday, July 17 in Ignatius Hall and at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, July 23, the group will offer a final presentation on their time in Wheeling in the Discovery Center.