Originally published by The International Office at The University of Texas at Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – Ruta Maya Coffee Company has announced it will award a $4,500 scholarship to Andres Garza, junior anthropology major at The University of Texas at Austin, to support his study abroad experience in the program Bridging Cultures in Latin America: Maya and Colonial Heritage in Guatemala and Belize.

Given Ruta Maya’s strong relationship with The Mesoamerica Center at The University of Texas at Austin and support for cultural and educational programs for the Maya in Chiapas, the study abroad scholarship is a natural complement to the company’s products and values. Garza was selected through a competitive process and will complete a weekly blog post during the duration of the program.

“We strive to put our resources into research, education and productive efforts that benefit the communities we work with in Latin America,” said Tim Sheehan, founder of Ruta Maya Coffee Company. “We are proud to play a small part in the Mesoamerica Center and help further their excellent work.”

The study abroad program, coordinated by the International Office, is one of the many popular “Maymester” programs offered to students at The University of Texas at Austin.

Based at Casa Herrera, UT’s educational and research facility in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua, Guatemala, the Bridging Cultures in Latin America program gives students an overview of the heritage of Central America through Maya and Colonial culture and history in Guatemala and Belize. Students travel extensively throughout Guatemala and Belize, experiencing archaeological sites, museums, villages, cooperative businesses, natural reserves and protected ecosystems. Students stay with a local family during their time in Antigua and examine how current Maya and people from other ethnic backgrounds continue to adapt to changing global settings.

"We are excited to partner with Ruta Maya Coffee to strengthen connections in Guatemala and Belize and promote increased mobility for our students to Latin America,” said Heather Thompson, director of study abroad. “This scholarship supports our goal of increasing study abroad access for students from underrepresented majors, while also expanding opportunities in nontraditional locations."

UT is ranked fourth in the nation among universities sending students abroad with more than 3,700 Longhorns studying abroad each year on 400 programs in 80 countries.

###

About the International Office

As the central home for study abroad, international student and scholar services, English as a Second Language instruction, global risk and safety, and cross-disciplinary international projects, the International Office provides core services to The University of Texas at Austin while leading the development and implementation of the university’s international academic strategy. Each year, we host more than 5,400 matriculated international students, 600 English as a Second Language students, and 1,500 international faculty and scholars from more than 120 countries. Our commitment to global education is further reflected in the 400 study abroad programs we offer in more than 70 countries to equip students for success in a global workplace. Ranked fourth in the nation for the number of students who study abroad, the university sends more than 3,700 students around the world each year. This success is in large part due to our commitment to creating access and increasing diversity among the students who study, intern, or conduct research abroad, as well as our partnerships with departments, faculty, and academic advisors to facilitate participation through integration into the curriculum. For more information, visit world.utexas.edu