University of Georgia (UGA) Costa Rica is an official international residential campus of the University of Georgia. The campus is located in the small community of San Luis de Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. ¡Pura Vida!
The Dedication Ceremony for the Paul A. Gross Faculty Residence
Paul and Roni Gross traveled to Costa Rica for the dedication of the Paul A. Gross Faculty Residence.
This weekend we celebrated the dedication of our second faculty house – the Paul A. Gross Faculty Residence. The house was completed this past year and has already served as a wonderful facility to host our hardworking faculty.
Paul Gross first came to Costa Rica in 2008 as a visitor interested in entomology courses. His experience interacting with students and participating in everything from hiking trails to ziplining inspired him to establish the Paul A. Gross Undergraduate Student Support Fund to help students attend study abroad programs through UGA Costa Rica.
The ceremony was a wonderful time to honor Mr. Gross for his generous contribution, as well as celebrate the growth of UGA Costa Rica.
Who needs scissors at a ribbon cutting ceremony when you have a machete? The machete is a traditional tool many Costa Ricans use in everyday life, from working on the farm to clearing trails in the forest.Mr. Gross talks with students from the Nature and Environmental Design program. These students designed a plan to provide the two faculty houses a greater sense of privacy and more outdoor living space.
Paul Gross speaks to the audience of students, faculty and visitors about his passion for teaching environments that engage students beyond the classroom.
Mr. Gross first came to the UGA Costa Rica campus as a result of his interest in entomology.
Dr. Quint Newcomer presents Mr. Gross’s wife, Roni, with an Honorary Bulldog for Life certificate.
Dr. Kavita Pandit, Vice Provost for International Education at UGA, addresses the audience during the dedication ceremony.
Gail Hunnicutt first visited the UGA Costa Rica campus as a UGA Trustee. Now president of the UGA Costa Rica board, she has been dedicated to UGACR’s mission of being a premiere international learning destination.
Mr. Gross chats with students from the Nature and Environmental Design program about their experience in Costa Rica inside the Paul A. Gross Faculty Residence.
Cindy Coyle, Executive Director/CFO for the UGA Foundaiton, during her address at the dedication of the Paul A. Gross Faculty Residence.
Beverly Thacker, Cultural Affairs Officer from the US Embassy, speaks about the importance of learning from other cultures.
The UGA Ecolodge was one of the first businesses to obtain a sustainability certification in Costa Rica. Alberto Lopez Chaves, of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, praises UGA Costa Rica’s efforts to continue its efforts in sustainability.
Students from the Nature and Environmental Design study abroad program pose for a photo with Paul and Roni Gross.
The day before the ceremony, Mr. Gross and other UGA visitors had the chance to tour the campus. They had the chance to see everything from student and staff living spaces to our classrooms and recently renovated laboratory.
One of the most exciting portions of the tour was the biodigestor, also completed last year. The biodigestor serves as our water-treatment plant, but also contributes to sustainability by converting waste into methane fuel used by our kitchen. This summer our landscape architecture intern, Olivia Stockert, has been hard at work planting around the biodigestor. The native plant species she has chosen will help hide the structure from view and shield it from the wind.
Roni Gross takes a closer look at a bromeliad on the UGA Costa Rica campus.Mr. Gross examines a fallen Cecropia leaf found along the Casita trails.
UGA Costa Rica Manager Fabricio Camacho talks about the importance of many of the ongoing research projects on campus.
Dr. Pandit shares a lively game of ping pong with Gail Hunnicutt in the recreation center.
Paul and Roni Gross pose in front of the campus weather station, which was made possible thanks to a contribution by Mr. Gross.
