Ambassador Rafael Alfaro, from El Salvador, graduated from Southern Preparatory Academy in 1980. He is a career diplomat, who has been Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador of El Salvador to Canada, Israel, Venezuela, Ecuador, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana. He was a representative of his country to the United Nations in New York, to the Organization of American States and Minister and Counselor of the Embassy of his country to the United States, in Washington D.C. He has also been Deputy Minister of Transportation in El Salvador.

Athens State Success Stories

The Instructional Leadership program at the University of West Alabama helped prepare me to become an educational leader in multiple ways. First, it challenged my educational philosophy. The program introduced me to curriculum and situations that allowed me to become more open minded in dealing with educational curriculum and specifically with people. Also the program prepared me to become a leader by allowing me to work closely with other leadership minded people from across the state and from various backgrounds. The professional relationships that I was able to form in my time in this program continue to pay off for me to this day. I use the advice and encouragement of my former peers often in my leadership roles.

Samford University, and especially the business school, made a significant impact on my life.

Studying at the United States Sports Academy has been a rewarding experience. I've learned a great deal about sports management with the help of instructors who are always accessible and who offer great insights into how the world of sports works.  

Mario Camara, a native of Cancun, Mexico, is a graduate of Southern Preparatory Academy in the Class of 1993. Following graduation he attended the Universidad Iboamericana, Georgetown Law, Universidad Panamericana and the London School of Business. He is a certified lawyer in Mexico and abroad. Professionally he served as CEO of an online banking system, Director of Consultancy for Dubai International Finance Center, Head of Saxo Bank, and currently the Global Head of Legal and Compliance for an international online trading company. He currently resides in the United Arab Emirates.

Coming to UWA is a very good choice for me. It gave me a lot of opportunities and chances to get to know people and learn more about the local American culture. With all the other international students, you are actually building the connection with the whole world. It was an awesome experience when I studied at UWA.

I am confident that my education here has more than prepared me to be a successful member of society.

So far my freshman year at Gadsden State has been great. I have made many life- long friends, especially with the international students.

"After one year, I think my studies and my life here are great. My studies are going well and my professors are very accessible and encourage students to communicate with them. I also have my internship which is helping me to get lots of hands on experience in my field of Public Heath.

"Troy University is full of people with great smiles and open hearts. I never felt lonely or homesick. Being active on campus and having friends from all over the world makes me a well-rounded individual. I felt fortunate to be a part of Troy University. Go Trojans!"  

One year at Jefferson State has passed. There are so many experiences that I have treasured during class time, Phi Theta Kappa and summer activities.  I have learned a ton of knowledge from my friends, Jefferson State professors, and faculty.  Without help from these beloved ones, I could not have obtained those achievements that I’m having now. Thanks to Jeff State for always supporting and broadening students’ academic and career paths.

“I think the best thing about college is that there are millions of options, and you have millions of directions you can go.  It really gives you the chance to explore, to find what you are interested in, to find what you’re passionate about, and then you get more options for the future.”

"My experience with USSA has really helped me personally and professionally. I know there are many people who are in the same situation I found myself in as I started my coursework and I highly recommend them exploring opportunities at USSA."

"Troy University is located in a beautiful small town where the modern industrial civilization has not been impacted.  The school spirit is warmhearted, full of culture and history, and I am so proud that I could be one of the Trojans.  The professors at TROY are so personal.  In the class, they teach us devotedly.  Out of class, they always answer our problems gladly and carefully.  They are like a bright lamp enlightening our life journey."

Whether it be the dedicated faculty, the friendly atmosphere, or the flexible class schedules, I can positively state that Jefferson State prepared me to transfer to a four-year institution. Being an international student from Sweden, I did not know many people when I first attended Jefferson State. However, because of the Jefferson State Multicultural Association, I was able to develop relationships and grow as a person.

“People will smile and say hi to strangers, which was really uncommon in my culture.  I was thinking it is hard to make friends, but after coming here, I feel like I don’t have to make an effort.  They introduce themselves and want to know me, and it came much easier than I thought.”

I’m currently studying pre-engineering at Gadsden State. Gadsden State is a quiet place to study, and the people that I have met are very nice and friendly. One of my long-term goals is to continue my education to earn a master’s degree in the field of new technologies of information and later get a PhD.

" If you are coming to UAB, I would first congratulate you because you have made an awesome decision to come here. It's not a mistake You are going to have loads of fun, and you are going to learn lots of things as well."

"I do not have anything to suggest to improve the course. This was the best class I ever had in my entire live. I have more than 150 hours of University credits in total, so you can be proud to have been the one giving me the best course in all that."

Hello, my name is Zeinab and I’m originally from Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire). Coming to Jefferson State Community College was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The faculty and staff are all great and always willing to help. As an international and first-time college student, the small environment helped me build closer relationships with my teachers and prepared me for my transition to a 4-year institution. Jefferson State has provided me with so many opportunities for intellectual, social, and emotional growth. I have enjoyed my stay there and now I’m ready for new experiences to come.

“What I like the most about here is all the opportunities you can get academically.  I just got involved doing undergrad research, which is something that would be unthinkable in most schools in Spain and probably many schools in America. The fact that Alabama has the necessary resources to offer students this opportunity to get experience before graduating, I think is really cool.”

This past May of 2016 I went to Bundoran, Ireland for a study abroad trip with a couple of schools. That is where we were staying although we traveled all around exploring different places and towns every single day. It was one of the best experiences, I meet so many people there and learned so many new things about their culture. The friends I made on the trip I will have forever, we are already planning more trips together. If you get the opportunity to go abroad, then take it. You don't want it to be five or ten years later looking back thinking that you should've went. And it'll be worth the whole experience.