WT students head for the trip of a lifetime

12 WT freshmen and two peer leaders are headed to Cambodia Wednesday. / WTAMU

by Travis Ruiz

CANYON, TEXAS -- It's being described as the trip of a lifetime and 14 West Texas A&M University students are about to embark on it starting Wednesday.

The students along with two faculty members are headed for Cambodia. There they will work in service projects including water filtration.

12 freshman along with two Peer Leaders were chosen out of hundreds who wrote essaysto win the trip. This year marks the fourth international trip WTAMU has taken in conjunction with its Freshman Readership Program. The WT students will travel with student essay winners from Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

"I've seen how these trips change the lives of our students," said Kendra Campbell, director of the First Year Experience at WTAMU.

Cambodia was chosen as the destination because this year's common reader for Freshman Readership Program was The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mom. In the book, Somaly talks about her experience of being sold into sex slavery and how she helps others.

"We always try and tie the trip and the service project to the Readership WT book selection, and this year's book offers us some wonderful opportunities to show our students how the actions of just one person can make the difference for thousands of people," added Camphell. "It will be a valuable lesson for them to see it, experience it and learn from it."

The students leave Wednesday afternoon and will return March 21. Upon their return, they will be doing several presentations for community. Additionally, senior Peer Leader Tyler Sweeney will be documenting the trip on camera putting it into a documentary.

"It's going to be a life changing event and I'm really excited for it," said Sweeney. "We are going to be seeing a new country and helping those in need."