The Botzlers, of McKinleyville, will work with regional agencies on education-related projects (Sally) and on projects in wildlife ecology and natural resources management (Rick) in conjunction with Mexico’s Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).
The couple will undertake a 12-week pre-service training program in Querétaro, Mexico, about 150 miles north of Mexico City. When their region of service is assigned, Sally will seek elementary-level teachers who are interested in having their students participate in ongoing correspondence and shared cultural activities with the classmates of two of her grandchildren (Olivia, first grade, Nate, kindergarten), who are in the Spanish-immersion program at Morris School in McKinleyville.
In his work for the environment ministry, Rick expects to collaborate with land management partners and professional staff in pursuit of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources for Mexicans, including indigenous groups.
At HSU, Sally worked in the School of Education for 17 years, earning her master’s at the Arcata campus and her Ph.D. in education at the University of Southern California, with an emphasis in international and intercultural education.
Rick taught for 37 years in the Wildlife Department. Both entertained a lifelong goal of working for the Peace Corps; they were married one week before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. “We were impressed with Kennedy’s challenge to all Americans to ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ As our retirement from HSU in 2007 drew near,” they said, “we decided the timing was right for us and we joined the growing number of retirees now applying for Peace Corps service.”
Sally has been studying Spanish for four years and participated in HSU’s Spanish language and cultural immersion program in Oaxaca, Mexico for five weeks in the summer of 2006. Both spouses are working toward proficiency in Spanish.
They start language and cultural immersion on March 3 and are scheduled to serve from May, 2009 to May, 2011.
Following their Peace Corps service, the Botzlers plan to continue writing projects, pursue community volunteer work and encourage others, particularly seniors and retirees, to consider Peace Corps service, which is a 27-month commitment. There is no upper age limit.
Earlier this year, Humboldt State climbed to number 14 from 20 among medium-sized colleges and universities nationwide (5,000 to 15,000) that register high scores for Peace Corps service. It is HSU’s highest ranking in the seven-year history of the organization’s Top College List.