Spring 2010 Exchange Students

Congratulations Spring 2010 exchange students!

"I consider myself lucky and fortunate for having been chosen to participate in this program. I am eager to be in Brazil and ready to immerse myself in the culture. I believe this opportunity will help me with my Portuguese skills and in the future. As a Global Studies Major, understanding of other cultures is necessary. This program is an experience I had hoped for, and look forward to gaining much insight on the Brazilian Culture" Sabina de los Diaz, SJSU
"I look forward to the opportunity to be an ambassador for West Valley, and I hope to have a chance to make the college proud of my accomplishments", Greg Hedling, WVC

"My hope is to take all that I can from this experience so that it may serve some purpose throughout my life. Although the process to participate in this program has not been the easiest, I feel that by venturing outside of what I'm used to will help me mature and broaden my education". Brian Ornelas, WVC. " I'm very happy he is pursuing what he wants", Maricruz Ornelas, Brian's mother

"I can't wait to get started! This semester studying in Brazil is going to be a great opportunity to have new experiences. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, trying new foods, and learning as much as I can." Matt Garcia, WVC

"This experience will add so much to my life. I'm very excited to be part of this program and study at Inatel". Rashel Alexin, WVC

Exchange students received a warm welcome from West Valley College and San Jose State University administrators and faculty.
The program committee has selected five students who will travel to Brazil on February 2010 to attend the Fall semester at partner universities in Minas Gerais and Amazonas.
West Valley College president, Dr. Lori Gaskin, congratulated the Spring 2010 exchange students, along with college's staff and faculty.
From right: WV student Matt Garcia; Lance Shoemaker, Business Instructor and Academic Senate President; Dr, Lori Gaskin, WVC President; Bernie Weiss, Director, SV-CITD; student Rashel Alexim; Fred Prochaska, Dean, Career Programs and Workforce Development; student Brian Ornelas and Margarise Correa, Program Manager
Brazilian students Igor Campos and Juliano F. da Silva with SJSU professor Michael Conniff, Director, Global Studies, and Margarise Correa, Program Manager

Education & Business

This Fall, West Valley College and San Jose State University are hosting five Brazilian students from Universidade Federal de Itajubá and INATEL in Minas Gerais, and FUCAPI in Manaus, Amazonas. Besides attending classes at either WV or SJSU, students have an opportunity to visit various Silicon Valley companies and organizations.

On November 20, students visited Hewlett-Packard Company. Software System Engineer for Business Critical Systems, Ahmad Rostami, gave the group a tour of HP's facilities in Cupertino. Students had a chance to see the latest laptops and printers and learn about HP's history, founders, culture and how it became one of the largest technology companies in the world. Thanks, Ahmad, for hosting our group!

On November 6, students had a tour of TiVo in its Alviso's facitilies. They were hosted by Bard Williams, Director, Retail Partner and Intl. Marketing. Thank you, Bard, for your hospitality!

Other activities in the Fall of 2009:

Orientation sessions for aspiring exchange students

Participation in the WVC United Nations day

FiPSE-CAPES Fall 2009 students also had opportunities to visit Google, Intel and NVIDIA.

From left, students Juliano Ferreira e Silvia Moreira,
Google's Manager People Technology and Operations Pedro Cintra, students Henrique Ribeiro and Igor Campos.













For these students from Minas Gerais and Amazonas, it was a dream come true to visit Google. Besides giving the students a tour of the Googleplex, Pedro Cintra also invited students and program manager Margarise Correa to try an organic meal at one of the company's 17 restaurants. Thanks, Pedro, for your hospitality!

The series of visits embodies the spirit in which the exchange program was developed: strengthening relationships between California and Brazilian business sectors and increasing the skill levels of students. Academic institutions in both countries are highly connected with the private sector and the consortia partnership includes two entrepreneur organizations: SVCITD, Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development, and SINDVEL, Association of Industries of Santa Rita do Sapucai. Because of this partnership exchange students have had opportunities to intern at local companies and experience the business culture in different industries in Brazil and the U.S.
Students in a visit to the Intel museum. An below, students with program manager Margarise Correa and Intel's Research Scientist Edson Borin, who gave the group a tour of Intel campus. Thanks, Edson for your hospitality!

On the left, students Henrique Ribeiro, Igor Campos and Juliano Ferreira joined a tour of NVIDIA guided by company’s Technical Marketing Specialist, Paul Jastrzebski, and Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Luis Dib. And below, students try on special glasses to play the newest NVIDIA'S video game. Thanks, Luis, for arranging the visit!

Last Spring, three Californian students attended classes in Brazil. Jessica Hartsell and Emerald Agpaoa traveled to Manaus in January of 2009. “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing this semester than going to school in Manaus, witnessing the growth of an emerging country and how they’re implementing knowledge into the next generation”, said Emerald. The students also had a chance to see the rainforest, make friends and get to know the region and culture.

In the picture: WV students Jessica Hartsell and Emerald Agpaoa on a trip to see the waterfalls in the Amazon rainforest, March 2009

"It's been a life changing experience for students from both countries", says Margarise Correa, Program Manager of the Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development. "Brazil has the largest economy in South America and the U.S. is the major trading partner. By living in the country, students learn the local business culture which is very important since most of Fortune 500 companies operate in there and experts say Brazil, along with India, China and Russia, will be tomorrow's superpowers."





Brazilian students at Apple with company's Sr. System Integrator Carlos Ribas, Sep 2007.
















Students at Intel, Oct 2008 (above), and at the CA Senate Office of Intl. Relations, Dec 2007 (on the left)

Students with Brazilian scientists and engineers at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Sep 2007

The commitment of all partner institutions is the essence of the program success. Faculty, staff and administrators from both regions are highly engaged in the program, working closely to support students to make the most of this experience.

Exchange students with WV and SJSU faculty, staff and administrators on Sep 2007 and on Dec 2008

Business & Academic Events

Some of exchange students parents work at Silicon Valley companies and have shared their knowledge during bi-lateral activities.

Last April, Katherine Hartsell, mother of WV student Jessica Hartsell, went to Manaus to visit Jessica and to give two presentations at partner university FUCAPI. Katherine is a Director in the External Research Office of Sun Microsystems and spoke to students and local small businesses about free software downloads, internships and what might be involved in getting an internship or employment upon graduation either in Brazil or the US, and Computer Sciences students online social clubs around the globe.
Thank you, Katherine!