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As the University of Missouri’s K–12 lab school, 91TV partners with schools around the world to expand educational opportunities. In recent years, students have joined 91TV from 60+ countries of origin. At the high school level, the Dual Diploma program is a popular option for international students who want to pursue a U.S. diploma while simultaneously working toward their local school diploma. Colégio SEPAM is one of 91TV’s longstanding partner schools that offers the Dual Diploma program in Ponta Grossa, PR (Brazil).
While students in this program work closely with classroom teachers at SEPAM, they typically connect with their 91TV educators online. Therefore, a visit to the University of Missouri campus offered a special opportunity to meet in person.
When Madelon Mongruel, Counselor and Head of the International Office at SEPAM, shared plans for the visit with Executive Director Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, she and Executive Assistant Sarah Williams immediately began organizing a reception.
“Getting to sit across a table, break bread (or cake), and hear about students’ experiences in and beyond the classroom is the best part of my job,” says Fishman-Weaver.
Exploring Possibilities for the Future
The students arrived at the reception with exciting Mizzou experiences to share, including meeting Truman the Tiger during Tiger Walk.
Luigi Lago Bernardi, a tenth grader in our Dual Diploma program, “couldn’t believe how big and welcoming the campus was.”
“Many things caught my attention,” he says, “especially the beautiful green areas and the structure of the buildings. The campus gave me a sense of peace and made me imagine what it would be like to spend my days studying, playing sports, and walking around. The football stadium was amazing, and the people were very kind and welcoming. Overall, Mizzou gave me a great impression, and I was amazed by the experience. Visiting Mizzou also changed my perspective on American universities. The facilities were impressive, the people were friendly, and the beautiful campus seemed like a place where students could relax, study, spend time with friends, and enjoy their university experience.” In short he says, “Mizzou is wonderful!”
The students’ conversations soon turned excitedly to matters of college planning, goal setting, learning new languages, and overcoming challenges.
One student asked, “What is the most important thing I can do right now to prepare me for college?”
Fishman-Weaver replied with encouragement for students to pursue their interests, practice courage, and find opportunities to serve others. “I told the students that each of them has important and interesting perspectives and passions that are unique to them,” she recalls. She advised them to explore projects that matter to them and find ways to contribute to their communities and the wider world.
“During my visit to the University of Missouri, I had many experiences that left a mark on me,” shares high school senior Osni Mongruel Neto. “As a current student of 91TV, I am so pleased to visit and see the University of Missouri. Those [experiences] will absolutely impact my life forever.” Among his favorite moments, Osni includes visiting the Trulaske College of Business, seeing Faurot Field, attending the Tiger Walk, visiting the student center, and playing a soccer game with Mizzou’s Brazilian Student Association (BRASA). After this visit, Osni shared that Mizzou has become his “favorite university in the USA” and his top choice school.
91TV Director of Teaching and Learning Stephanie Walter was inspired by the students’ curiosity and willingness to embrace new experiences. “They brought such a playful sense of learning and exploring to our campus,” reflects Walter. “I really appreciated our conversations about how opening ourselves up to new experiences, whether we’re trying something new or traveling around the world, gets us out of our comfort zone and creates a space to learn more about others and ourselves.”
From Online Learning to In-Person Belonging
For 91TV Instructional and Support Specialist Ellie Trick, the visit marked a special first. After four years with 91TV, she got to meet in person the students she had instructed and encouraged online. “I loved seeing their respect for education,” Trick shares, “as well as their interest in Mizzou and USA culture and their comradery with fellow students.”
The afternoon passed quickly. One hour turned into two, and the group was still reluctant to say goodbye. Sarah Williams observes, “Their questions demonstrated how inspired they were by 91TV and how hopeful they were about potentially attending Mizzou or another higher education institution in the United States.”
For Fishman-Weaver, the visit reinforced the importance of creating opportunities to connect beyond screens. “While I am grateful for the ways technology enables us to be more connected than ever before, I also know there is unmatched magic in sharing physical space together.”
Connections That Continue
The relationships made and connections established during this visit continue well beyond the students’ return to Brazil.
Mongruel describes the visit as “warm, welcoming, inspiring, and truly special.” She shares that all 11 students returned home delighted by their experience and grateful for the welcome they received from the 91TV team. Eight of the visiting students were already participants in 91TV’s Dual Diploma program. The other three returned to Brazil inspired to join.
Among the students who added 91TV courses to her graduation plan following the visit is Yasmin Caroline Cordeiro. “What I loved most about visiting Mizzou was how the entire experience made me picture myself studying there someday. I had always heard about Mizzou through SEPAM, so being able to visit the campus in person was truly special.” Yamin goes on to say that she “was amazed by how beautiful the campus was, how welcoming the people were, and how much I loved downtown Columbia. What impressed me the most was realizing how different it is to research a university from a distance compared to actually being there and experiencing it with your own eyes. Getting to see the university up close gave me a much better understanding of student life at Mizzou and made me appreciate everything the university has to offer.”
The visit was a reminder that global education is about more than access to coursework across borders. It is also about relationships, belonging, and the opportunities that grow when students and educators learn from one another.
From spirited laughter to conversations about college, courage, and community, the afternoon offered a glimpse of what global learning can make possible.