Dominican Republic Reception

A reception was part of the week's whirlwind activities as students from the Dominican Republic arrived on the Utah State University campus, Aug. 23-26.

Gathering at the President's Home, the students socialized with President Stan and First Lady Joyce Albrecht. During that reception, President Albrecht presented a commemorative plaque to Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona, the Dominican Republic's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, for her contributions to higher education.

The Dominican students are at Utah State University as part of a unique educational program established in their country. Under the leadership of President Leonel Fernández Reyna, the Dominican government is investing $4 million in the second phase of the Presidential Higher Education Program for Superior Students to fund the educations of the students at USU.

The government previously picked up the $1.5 million tab, including tuition, room, board and books, for the inaugural group of 36 students, all of whom are making successful progress in their respective degree programs or have graduated.

Forty of the new Aggies are freshmen entering various undergraduate programs, including engineering and business, and the remaining 16 are graduate students.