Pan American High School Student Wins Nat Geo Mundo Explorer Contest

Power to Learn was joined by NYC Council Member Annabel Palma to award Pan American High School student Wilmary Rodriguez the winner of the Nat Geo Mundo World Explorer essay contest. Wilmary won a full scholarship for summer travel to Peru with the 2014 National Geographic Student Expedition. All trips in the program are led by qualified trip hosts and a National Geographic expert and are provided by National Geographic Student Expeditions. Sponsored by Cablevision and Nat Geo Mundo, the Nat Geo Mundo Explorer Contest was open to all high school students from Pablo Neruda Academy for Architectural & World Studies, Pan American International High School, the Metropolitan Soundview High School and Bronx Guild High School. Applicants were required to complete a student travel award application, including personal references and a 300 word essay on what he/she hoped to accomplish through world travel and why they should be selected to be the next Nat Geo Mundo World Explorer. Following welcoming remarks from National Geographic representative Rachel Mehaffie, Wilmary read her award-winning essay. Council Member Palma congratulated her and spoke about the benefit of world travel with regard to learning. English teacher Amos Margulies said a few words about the kind of student Wilmary is and what life experiences she's faced that led her to winning this contest.

"Congratulations to Wilmary for writing such an inspirational and moving essay," said Council Member Palma. "Reality doesn't always afford everyone the opportunity to experience the crucial role that travel plays in broadening our horizons. Thanks to Cablevision and Nat Geo Mundo, Wilmary will have that opportunity and can build on her experiences and knowledge by learning about other cultures."