EWB Students Travel to Santa Tomás La Unión Guatemala

EWB Guatemala Group

Top (L to R): Mike, Diego, Kaden Crozier, Jaden Brown, Olivia St. Marie
Bottom: Jose, Professor John Rowley, Luke Strizich, Amaya Fischer, Stephanie Metzger, and Morley Mathewson III.

Global learning at Carroll takes many forms. Alongside study abroad, service-based international experiences allow students to apply their skills in meaningful, community-centered ways. In this story, Carroll College students with Engineers Without Borders share reflections from their work in Guatemala, where hands-on collaboration, cultural exchange, and service come together to make a lasting impact. 

Students Put Engineering and Service into Action in Guatemala

Carroll College Engineers Without Borders (EWB) traveled to Guatemala to retrofit school buildings to withstand earthquakes while teaching seismically resilient construction techniques.  The diverse project implementation team consisted of five students from engineering, chemistry, health sciences, international relations, and nursing.  The students were accompanied by a professional engineer from Morrison-Maierle and two Carroll College chaperones.  Working in partnership with local craftsmen, the EWB team rolled up their sleeves to mix concrete by hand and place hundreds of CMU blocks.

"Over the past few years (or decades) we have been able to fulfill a need and develop relationships at La Asunción School through very physical and visible work. It is very gratifying to know that with each foundation we pour and wall we build, the school gets safer and children's lives are potentially saved." ~ Olivia St. Marie, senior, Chemistry, Renton, WA

The 2026 travel team worked with community partners to reinforce a classroom building by constructing concrete wall footings and a CMU shear and bearing wall to the lower level of the multistory building.  The school is located in the community of Xejuyup, which is prone to frequent and strong earthquakes.  Since May 2012, a team of Carroll students, faculty, and professional mentors has been collaborating with community partners to construct over 25 structural support walls that are required to provide adequate protection of the school against earthquakes.  The multi-year EWB project aims to strengthen the school’s structural resilience by constructing additional walls and columns in buildings across the campus. In doing this, the EWB team hopes to create a safe community area for both education, student living, and community emergency refuge.

This trip was overall incredible. I found great joy and satisfaction in many different areas. Seeing what our team could accomplish in a week with hard work and dedication made all of the preparation feel so worthwhile. Developing connections with those at the school and hearing about how our work improves their life truly warmed my heart.

Jaden Brown, junior, Civil Engineering with minor in Hispanic Studies, Helena, MT

The trip occurred between January 4-11, 2026; which coincides with a student registration process at La Asunción School.

EWB Brick

"For me, it was very satisfying to build this wall in such a quick time frame in conjunction with seeing the students, the ones we were doing this project for, sign up for their school term throughout the project. Being able to put something together while also interacting with the people it was benefiting gave the project a much greater sense of fulfillment.  I think it is also a very rewarding experience where you feel like every moment of the day is being used for something good." ~ Kaden Crozier, senior, Political Science and International Relations, Kalispell, MT

The students did an incredible job as representatives of Carroll College.  The long workdays were punctuated with smiling faces and lots of laughing around a pile of handmixed concrete.

"I was very surprised at how immediately welcome and at home I felt when I arrived at La Asunción School. The community members at the school went above and beyond to care for us, whether it was cooking delicious food or showing us around the village of Xejuyup. However, I think I was most surprised by how well we all instantly got along. Most of our Carroll group could speak a bit of Spanish, so we were able to communicate and learn about each other's lives as well as share jokes with them. This entire experience felt very natural, and it is an amazing reminder that even though we live in different parts of the world, we are alike in many ways." ~ Amaya Fischer, junior, Nursing and Hispanic Studies, Nampa, ID

Our students displayed professionalism, cultural sensitivity, incredible work ethic, and a deep compassion for others. Building off a fifteen-year collaboration between Carroll College, the Diocese of Helena, and the Centro Educativo Santiago de la Asunción, future trips will include implementing more structural walls and continued monitoring and evaluation.

"These experiences expand and shape our understanding of the world around us and continue to influence our lives, even after we return home." ~ Amaya Fischer

This new perspective made me appreciate my life back home and also showed me that making a positive impact is possible no matter how small. The impactful connections and progress made on this trip will continue for years to come and every student should want to be a part of that journey.

Jaden Brown

Many thanks are due to those who gave financially and made this trip possible! We are also incredibly thankful to Morrison-Maierle for their donation of a professional engineer to prepare for the construction project & travel with the team from Carroll College for many years.  EWB projects unite student volunteers and community members to build appropriate, long-lasting solutions for infrastructure needs. 

The Carroll College EWB program is run exclusively by student volunteers, overseen by faculty volunteers, and made possible by generous gifts from sponsors like you. You can be a critical part of the impact our students continue to make in Guatemala.  To learn more about supporting EWB opportunities, you can utilize one of these options: