Suffolk News-Herald

Gloria Bohorquez, a visiting teacher from Colombia Teaching at Lakeland High School was honored as Virginia’s Outstanding Cultural Ambassador. A Spanish and French teacher, Bohorquez was recognized for her commitment to broadening her students’ horizons by incorporating cultural lessons in her classroom.

The award was presented from the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF), the cultural-exchange program for teachers that opens students’ eyes to the world beyond their borders. The award was presented at the annual VIF dinner held at the Duck-Inn Beach Club in Virginia Beach on May 30.

Among many activities she introduced to her students were songs, games, magazines and even candy from her native Colombia in order to bring her homeland to life in school.

Marty S. Conner is Lakeland’s assistant principal. He said that Bohorquez is creative and innovative in her approach to exposing students to various cultural and ethnic customs. &uot;She develops and implements lessons that allow her students to become aware and informed about culture, customs, traditions and beliefs,&uot; he said.

VIF also honored 138 exchange teachers working in Virginia as well as the districts and schools that host VIF teachers.

VIF is dedicated to educational excellence and to promoting cultural understanding among students, educators and members of host communities. It recruits the finest teachers from around the globe, matches them with select primary and secondary school positions in the United States and the United Kingdom, and provides them with the tools for success.

Since 1987, thousands of VIF teachers have positively influenced the lives of more than half-a-million students and countless community members.