After 22 successful years of collaboration between Goshen College and our Dominican partners the SST program will end. Over seventy people gathered at the Palacio Bella Cristal on the evening of June 29 to pay tribute to the many, many people who have contributed to the program. Williams Velez served as master of ceremonies and special tributes were given by Margot Zahner and Tom Benevento, the current SST leaders; Tom Meyers, director of international education; Raquel Mercedes Fermin, a representative of host families; and Marta Garcia, the director of the language institute.

Although it was hard to put into words, there were attempts to summarize the remarkable collaboration between Goshen College and our Dominican partners and friends. The evening was full of warmth and many kind words of appreciation. Genara Encarnación (Pina), a representative of the families, presented Goshen College with a beautiful plaque that will serve as a perennial reminder of the strong ties between Goshen College students, faculty and the families that were willing to open their hearts and their homes.

Two individuals were given small tokens of appreciation from the college. Patricia Zwier has been a consultant to the program from the very beginning. Her gentle spirit and wise counsel was a vital part of the success of the program. Williams Velez has also been very active in many aspects of the program as he served as program assistant since 2002. His warmth, generosity and delightful spirit were so accessible to many faculty and students. The contribution of both of these individuals is hard to calculate and any attempt to properly thank them was certainly inadequate.

Along with wonderful food, good conversation and a spirit of celebration, the evening included a touch of sadness. Goshen College has surely been blessed by the opportunity to send students to the Dominican Republic. Families enjoyed reminiscing about their adopted sons and daughters and there were many expressions of gratitude to the remarkable team of people who made this an outstanding program. We will surely never be truly leaving the Dominican Republic, a small piece of Goshen College will remain in the memory of so many people who have crossed cultures, reached out to one another and embraced.

May that intersection of heart and spirit always be with all of us.