��ԭ�� & Texas Tech Costa Rica – A Partnership to Global Impact

��ԭ�� — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:21:57 +0000

Last year, ��ԭ�� shared its vision for three distinct Upper School pathways: Inquiry College Prep, Innovation featuring the Innovation Diploma program, and Impact, which includes the newly launched Global Impact Diploma (GiD). Rising Grade 9 students were invited to explore which pathway best aligned with their passions and interests, setting the stage for a more personalized high school experience.

This year, the pathways officially launched, giving students the opportunity to tailor their learning journey in ways that are meaningful to them.

The Global Impact Diploma is designed for students eager to engage in real-world problem solving, cross-cultural collaboration, and purposeful global engagement. Through immersive experiences and professional networks, learners cultivate adaptability, empathy, and global fluency—skills that redefine what it means to be prepared for college and life.

“The Global Impact Diploma is about equipping students to navigate and shape an interconnected world,” said Talisa Slade, Director of Admissions for ��ԭ�� Online and Global Partnerships. “We’re creating opportunities for learners to step into authentic experiences—where innovation, sustainability, and impact aren’t just talked about, but lived.”

Extending the Vision Globally

To bring this vision to life, ��ԭ�� is actively building partnerships with organizations and institutions that share its commitment to authentic, career-connected, and globally immersive learning. One of the first to emerge is with Texas Tech University, Costa Rica (TTU CR).

In May 2025, leaders from ��ԭ�� visited TTU CR to explore how its distinctive model could expand opportunities for GiD students—both on campus in Atlanta and online across Latin America. What they discovered was a partner whose mission and methods align seamlessly with ��ԭ��’s own.

Why Texas Tech Costa Rica?

At the heart of TTU CR’s story is a bold public-private partnership. A group of Latin American investors, eager to bring high-quality U.S. education closer to home, spent years searching for the right university. They ultimately partnered with Texas Tech, a Tier 1 research university known for its practical, entrepreneurial spirit.

“We make sure that everything has the culture and feeling of Costa Rica with all the high-quality standards of Texas Tech,” said Dr. Ellen Rose, Executive Director of Texas Tech – Costa Rica. “Our students graduate with a resume most others won’t have—and they go to the beach on the weekend,” she added with a smile.

Like ��ԭ��, TTU CR places a premium on experiential learning. Students not only master academic content but also step directly into professional environments. The campus, located in San José—a hub for multinational companies like Intel, EY, and MasterCard—is home to just under 300 students, 40% of whom are international. With majors in STEM, business, and hospitality, learners often begin interning as early as their second semester.

“We’ve signed MOUs with 184 companies,” Dr. Rose shared. “Ninety percent of our students are employed before graduation.”

A Strong Fit for GiD Students

When asked what stood out most about TTU CR, Ms. Slade pointed to the seamless integration of local context into global academic programming.

“TTU CR’s commitment to experiential learning was immediately evident,” she said. “Their approach combines academic rigor with immersive cultural and professional experiences, making it an ideal partner for forward-thinking initiatives like GiD. Even their campus, with open collaborative spaces and learning stairs, felt like home.”

This alignment means ��ԭ�� students can expect opportunities that push learning well beyond the classroom. Internships, research experiences, expert-led bootcamps, and cultural immersion programs are just the beginning. Mentorship from TTU CR faculty and industry leaders will expose students to entrepreneurship, sustainability, and emerging technology sectors—all while deepening their global fluency.

“These kinds of real-world, cross-cultural experiences at the high school level are game-changing,” Slade explained. “They build adaptability, empathy, and confidence. They give students access to global pathways typically reserved for university learners.”

Designing the Future Together

students across campuses and continents. Plans include an international internship pipeline, a career readiness bootcamp, and even introducing ��ԭ�� Online to families in Latin America.

“Our students are asking for more. They don’t want to sit in a classroom and talk about global connection—they want to go connect,” said Kristy Lundstrom, Head of School. “We’re designing experiences that are meaningful to self, and consequential to others.”

Building Global Pathways Together

Through the Global Impact Diploma Pathway, first-year students will embark on an immersive learning experience in Costa Rica, hosted in collaboration with TTU CR. Over the course of two and a half weeks, students will extend their classroom learning across five provinces, engaging directly with local communities, ecosystems, and cultural landmarks.

Grounded in ��ԭ��’s pillars of Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact, students will explore Biology, Art, History, and Biodiversity through hands-on research, creative expression, and experiential discovery. Global Impact Diploma transforms the world into their classroom, cultivating curiosity, global awareness, and purposeful leadership that extends far beyond borders.

At its core, the partnership between ��ԭ�� and Texas Tech Costa Rica represents a shared belief: students are never too young to start building their networks and turning connection into opportunity.

By linking ��ԭ��’s Global Impact Diploma with TTU CR’s globally immersive, career-centered approach, both institutions are expanding what’s possible for students—on campus, online, and around the world.

The post ��ԭ�� & Texas Tech Costa Rica – A Partnership to Global Impact appeared first on ��ԭ��.

Personalized Pathways: Redefining Upper School at ��ԭ��

��ԭ�� — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:20:13 +0000

At ��ԭ��, we’re driven by a bold vision: to empower students to thrive as innovators, leaders, and change-makers so they may design a better world. The launch of Pathways in the Upper School next fall is a powerful step forward in delivering our brand promise. Introduced to rising Grade 9 students and their families in December 2024, these pathways are a game-changer—designed to transform how students learn, grow, and discover their purpose. Grounded in our strategic plan, The Impact Ready Project, these pathways represent ��ԭ��’s relentless commitment to fostering student agency so they may act on what is meaningful to self and consequential to others.

Upper School Pathways build on ��ԭ��’s approach of empowering students through inquiry-based learning and real-world problem-solving. Starting in Grade 9, students can choose from three distinct pathways that align with their interests, strengths, and aspirations, all while being supported by dedicated advisors and the entire Upper School community.

Three Distinct Pathways

Trish Bogdanchik, Head of Upper School, emphasizes the range of possibilities: “Whether a student is passionate about STEM, the arts, global citizenship, or entrepreneurship, our pathways allow them to dive deeply into their interests while gaining the skills and experiences needed for success beyond ��ԭ��.”

The three Upper School Pathways— Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact—are designed to engage students through purpose-driven projects, teamwork, and hands-on learning. While each pathway offers an opportunity to have a deep concentration in certain areas, all pathways provide core foundational literacies and meaningful project-based learning experiences through a competency-based approach:

Inquiry Pathway: The Upper School’s flagship program allows students to dive deeper into topics in Humanities, Numeracy, Scientific Inquiry, and Maker, Arts, and Design. It also features iProject coursework, which empowers students to explore, design, and deliver impactful solutions to real-world problems. No additional fee is required for this pathway.

Innovation Pathway: Students on the Innovation Path follow the Innovation Diploma coursework and solve authentic problems for clients across diverse sectors by applying human-centered design. The program is ideal for students who thrive in collaborative, group-based environments. An additional fee is required for this pathway, reflecting its specialized offerings and unique opportunities.

Impact Pathway: Upper School students on the Impact Path participate in the Global Impact Diploma coursework, designed for students eager to analyze the geopolitical landscape, global economy, and cultural dynamics of the world they’ll graduate into. This pathway includes international travel and emphasizes firsthand global experiences. An additional application and fee are required, covering the program’s extensive opportunities and travel expenses.

The Future of Learning
The Upper School Pathways are a testament to ��ԭ��’s bold ambition and purposeful leadership in shaping the future of education. By fostering a culture of inquiry, innovation, and impact, these pathways ensure that every student is equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

“This initiative is a promise,” Bogdanchik reflects. “A promise to walk alongside each student and their family as they explore, design, and deliver on their unique journey of purpose. Together, we are preparing them not just for the next step but for a lifetime of meaningful contributions.”

The post Personalized Pathways: Redefining Upper School at ��ԭ�� appeared first on ��ԭ��.

Global Impact Diploma Archives | ����ԭ��

����ԭ�� & Texas Tech Costa Rica – A Partnership to Global Impact