WT students return from Cambodia

By Matt Hamilton

Two weeks ago we brought you the story about the West Texas A&M University Readership Program and their trip of a life time.

Well, those 14 students have returned from their trip to Cambodia and they say the experiences they gained on the trip are irreplacable.

"It was a life changing trip. We went to different NGO's and basically learned to research where your money goes, because what some organizations seem as, they sometimes aren't," said Tyler Sweeney, a Senior Peer Leader and documentary filmmaker who went on the trip.

The trip also made the students realize how lucky they are.

"I also saw all of Cambodia and it made us thankful for all we have."

12 freshman along with two Peer Leaders were chosen out of hundreds who wrote essays to win the trip. This year marks the fourth international trip WTAMU has taken in conjunction with its Freshman Readership Program. The WT students traveled with student essay winners from Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

Cambodia was chosen as the destination because this year's common reader for Freshman Readership Program was The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam. In the book, Somaly talks about her experience of being sold into sex slavery and how she helps others.