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Raimundo Ruiz ‘28 was born in Chile and lived there until age 10, when he moved to Michigan and later Florida. When he enrolled at Lehigh University, he learned of the Lehigh Launch Chile program, and saw it as an opportunity to reconnect with his Chilean culture.

“I’m already feeling that connection—realizing, ‘Wow, I’m back here!’” Ruiz, 19, said from the Chilean capital of Santiago. “There have been all these little moments that remind me of my childhood, and I’ve been able to blend that with academic learning and new cultural experiences.”

Lehigh Launch Chile is an experiential, integrative learning experience for first-year Lehigh students. It is being offered in Chile for the first time this year. Through hands-on learning and challenging coursework in a living-learning community, it provides students with new experiences, knowledge, and global perspectives in a setting outside the classroom.

Ruiz, who plans to pursue a master's degree in public health, has enjoyed exploring Santiago and visiting coastal towns, immersing himself in the local culture, history, and language. He has also helped with HIV testing and health education through MUMS, a Chilean social, political, and cultural organization.

Nearly a dozen students are participating in the Lehigh Launch Chile cohort this year. It is the sister program to Lehigh Launch American West, which began in 2020 and features programs in the Rocky Mountains and field-based learning in Wyoming and New Mexico.

The Lehigh Launch Chile students were in the country last week for Fiestas Patrias, a Sep. 18 holiday honoring Chile's declaration of independence from Spanish rule, enjoying traditional food, music, and festivities. Lauren Shocker ‘28 said being invited to her host family’s Fiestas Patrias celebration has been one of the highlights of Lehigh Launch Chile for her so far.

“I ate typical Chilean food, danced to traditional music, and played local games,” said Shocker, a global studies major. “I truly felt like I was experiencing Chilean culture, and I felt honored that my host family would share these experiences with me.”

Students will be sharing chronicles about their experiences in Chile all semester. Visit our news site to read some of these chronicles, including from studnents like Helen Guevara, Phoebe Barnes, and Mari Hanson.

Lehigh Launch was held in Ecuador for two years before moving to Chile this year. The program continues Lehigh’s long tradition of engagement with Latin American countries and scholars that date back to the earliest years of the university.

Lehigh Launch Chile will run through the end of the semester, with several exciting courses, trips, and speakers planned, including a visit from Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble ‘82 in December.

The students will visit the Mamalluca Observatory, a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments near La Serena. Faculty director Hugo Ceron-Anaya said they will discuss the role science and technology plays in creating a positive future for everybody, which ties into a course he is teaching called “Utopias in the 21st Century.”

Cristobal Villalobos, Director of the Center for Education Studies at the University of Chile, will speak with the students about the relationship between education and technology, offering insights into the rise of educational technology platforms and their social impact in Chile and beyond.

The students will hear from other speakers like sociologist Macarena Bohomme, who will present her research on immigration in contemporary Chile, as well as anthropologist Ricardo Amigo Dürre, who will discuss racial perceptions in Chile, according to Ceron-Anaya.  

The students will also hear from various artists. Bernardo Ozayun will host the class for a visit to his retrospective at the Museum of Visual Arts of Santiago. Additionally, artist and art curator Claudia del Fierro will present a reflection on gender and community, while writer Matias Celeron will discuss Chile's past and contemporary political and social inequalities.

Shocker said this is the first time she has visited South America, and that the program has helped her experience new cultures and connect global issues to her own personal experiences, giving her a better understanding of the world.

“I think that going anywhere outside of what you know and experiencing a different culture helps shape your perspective on global issues because it gives you empathy,” she said. “It’s easier to dismiss situations or conflicts that are happening far from home, but traveling and connecting with other people makes these issues feel more personal.”