ELISA Program

ELISA Classroom at Universidad San Judas Tadeo

ELISA Guest Lecturer, Froilán Escobar

ELISA Program
ELISA, established in 2001, was named in honor of the late Ellen C. Long who demonstrated a life-long commitment to building bridges among cultures and peoples through her dedication, sensitivity to and appreciation of different languages and cultures. Thanks to the support and the generous donation of Dr. Dixon Long '51, ELISA has traveled to Costa Rica in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; France in 2002 and 2005; Rome in 2002; and Germany in 2004 and 2006.

Program Definition
ELISA is a fully-funded summer home stay program of language immersion and cultural enrichment offered to qualified Western Reserve Academy students. The program is intended for sophomore students who have successfully completed a second year of language study and who have best exemplified the spirit of Ellen C. Long through their performance, effort and keen interest in the language and culture.

Academic Component and Expectations
Classes are prepared by the host school for only ELISA students, with WRA's foreign language program as the guidepost.  Students are expected to be completely immersed in the language and culture of the country they visit.

Duration of Program
Approximately four weeks, including travel.

Selection Process
Only those students who have shown a strong interest (beyond the classroom) in the culture, the people and the language and who have manifested the ELISA spirit are personally invited to apply and complete the application process if they wish to be a candidate.

The ELISA Committee is made up by a faculty member from each modern languages area and an administrator. The committee takes into consideration the application forms, essays, and recommendations by teacher, dorm master or community member, and advisor.  The dean of students and the Health Center are also consulted once all application forms are submitted.  Students go through a rigorous interview during which they are asked questions and presented with situations by each of the committee members. Points are awarded based on recommendations, an essay and the interview. The top students are chosen and the final numbers depend upon the availability of funds.

ELISA has its own classroom

ELISA has a classroom at the University in Costa Rica. Faculty and the president of Universidad San Judas Tadeo were so impressed with Reserve's students that the concept of "Building Bridges" at the university was made a reality.

ELISA Guest Lecturer, Froilán Escobar González
Froilán Escobar González, an award-winning Costa Rican writer. Mr.González was a host literature professor to ELISA scholars during a recent visit. He has also visited Reserve as a guest lecturer.