Fleeting Capture: Making a Difference

It is not common for students to fully comprehend the magnitude of their work when they arrive in San Ramon - to them it may be a bit of work on some project with a lot of fun squeezed in around it. In truth, it is a lot of work with some fun squeezed around it. And today, again, for the fourth year, I felt our teams made a difference, and I am proud of their accomplishments.

In both cases, presenting our project proposals to the Centro Communidad Chistiana (Community Center) and the Hogar des Ancianos (Senior Center), we presented options that had not been considered by our "clients" - with thoughtful study to support them, giving them a fresh perspective on what is possible for their facilities. And the gratitude expressed by the full Board of Directors of the Hogar was heartfelt, genuine appreciation for our proposal, spoken of course in Spanish with rapid fire excitement.

The Hogar Board and our team

A passionate Nolan Rinta

Presenting to the Centro Communidad

Our superhero: Fernanda!

A special "shout's out" to our Facility Management student, Nolan Rinta, who made the presentation solely and completely in Spanish; to Michael Vearderko for being a strong Project Management leader for both teams, providing stewardship and guidance for both project teams; and most especially to Fernanda Rojas Ramirez, a local university student who provided excellent language translation, interpretation, and friendship, to the entire team of both Construction/ Facility Management students, and to the Integrated Behavioral Health students, and who was quickly adopted by all of us into our activities. This was the first year of an integrated tour with students from three different programs represented. It started out neatly divided along program lines, and in this great end, was an integrated collection of interested students.

A bad picture of a great walking club on top of the world:
(L to R) me, Emily, Caty, Liz and Jason

And of course, I must recognize my compatriot walkers in the adhoc Hilger Walking Club, dedicated to an early morning, sleepy departure at 6:00 AM daily, for a hike lasting 3 to 4.5 miles each morning, with lots of very steep hills. We bonded with every step, and with every step absorbed the early morning culture of San Ramon and the surrounding countryside, which is actually quite active at this hour. I am indebted to Caitlin Kerber, Emily Hedberg, Liz Skweres and Jason Sportel for their companionship and diminishing complaints as the days, and hills, wore on. We will finish with well over 40 miles for the trip.

Finally, I must acknowledge the enduring companionship of my colleague on this trip, Ann Becher-Ingwalsen, Professor to the IBH students, but the "Mother" to my "Dad" as we watched and wondered about our "kids" - ever vigilant we were when we really said we didn't need to be so doting!

Ann - launched and gliding through this tour!

And of course, all's well that ends well, especially when it is a fully stress relieving rainforest canopy zipline tour, and a "celebrando" at Xenia's house.