Students from Moraine Park’s EDGE program recently returned from a cultural experience trip to New Mexico.
The EDGE, a TRIO-Student Support Services program, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education in cooperation with Moraine Park Technical College. EDGE offers students an individualized educational experience to ensure student engagement and success.
The students on the trip included Diane Hallman, Jordan Cisneros, Mary Jane Scherer, Diana Garcia Pelayo and Devynn Parker. EDGE advisors, Katrina Dudzinski and Karla Breister coordinated the five-day getaway to the Santa Fe area.
“I am incredibly thankful to have been chosen to go to New Mexico with fellow EDGE students,” Parker, a medical coding student from Idaho, said. “I made specular memories and some pretty amazing friends. Although we never saw an armadillo (a joke amongst the group), I wouldn’t have changed anything about the experience.”
The group visited the New Mexico History Museum; traveled through Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was created for World War II; explored the Jemez Historic Site, a 1620s village erected before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock; and toured several other museums and art galleries.
They visited San Miguel, the oldest church structure in the U.S., and one of the oldest houses. Students also saw the Loretto Chapel Miraculous Staircase, considered by some to be the site of a miracle. It wasn’t all about history, however. There was plenty of time for shopping and learning about– and sampling – red and green chiles and other delicious native food. They also spent time at Meow Wolf, a colorful and crazy contemporary art experience and finished the trip with a sunset train ride.
“The rich history, fascinating culture and magnificent beauty of New Mexico made for an unforgettable shared experience,” Breister, MPTC EDGE Advisor, said. “College should be about making memories and learning in and out of the classroom – I would say we accomplished just that.”
Learn more about Moraine Park’s EDGE program.
