STEM students go to Bosnia in exchange

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DRSS community outreach director, Arch Grieve, said that at the end of each school year DRSS students participate in immersive projects that help them to discover potential career paths. They are also required to complete a 72-hour internship in order to graduate. The exchange program combines the two with the bonus of experiencing a new country and culture.

The monthlong exchange program began on May 13 in Dayton, where DRSS students worked side by side with university students from Bosnia-Herzegovina. They were the first group to participate in a fledgling entrepreneurship program called The Entrepreneurs Academy. The program was created by The Entrepreneurship Center’s (TEC) president, Scott Koorndyk.

June 5-16, DRSS students had the opportunity to intern with local companies at INTERA Technology Park in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as reconnect with the students they worked with in Dayton.

DRSS student Gloria Campos said she was exited to reconnect with her friend Edna. “It’s really cool because I didn’t even know her before three weeks ago, and then she lived in my house for three weeks while she was in Dayton, and now we’re like sisters. We couldn’t be closer. She’s a part of our family now,” Campos said.

Students from DRSS, the University of Dzemal Bijedic and the University of Mostar were chosen to participate in the program based on essays written as part of the application process.

In his essay DRSS student, Austin Davis said that he had developed an interest business and marketing but wasn’t entirely sure it was something that wanted to peruse as a lifelong career. He said he hoped that participating in the internship program would help him solidify his choice of careers.

The Entrepreneurs Academy gave students the opportunity to receive hands-on learning experiences, and engagement with Dayton area entrepreneurs. Students developed a business plan, basic marketing approaches and received and opportunity to pitch their idea to entrepreneurial experts.

DRSS students then traveled to Bosnia-Herzegovina to take part in the internship opportunity with INTERA Technology Park in Mostar.

DRSS student Bri Perkins said, “I told my sister I wasn’t going home. Everything we’ve done so far has made me fall in love with this place, and I don’t want to go home because I love it.”

Grieve says the students’ overseas experience was long, amazing and exhausting. He said he credits his INTERA partner, Ana Bogdanovic in making the overseas internship experience the best it could be for his students. “She did amazing work putting this all together. It would not have been possible if it wasn’t for her,” said Grieve.

DRSS student Victoria Cockrell said that travel and especially by plane was always something that made her nervous and that this internship was the push she needed to break out of her comfort zone and start traveling.

“All my expectations have been exceeded; destroyed actually. The country is amazing,” said Cockerll.

Grieve also gave thanks to the efforts of Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Dayton Commissioner Matt Joseph for helping make the exchange a positive experience for the students visiting Dayton from Bosnia-Herzegovina. He said Joseph and his wife, Irena, a native of Mostar, provided a host home for some of the students.